West Austin Lifestyle

West Austin March | April 2013

Your West Austin Neighbor and Realtor

Providing A Lifestyle, Not Just An Address.

The Austin real estate market is changing daily.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

If you are considering buying or selling a home,

ROMANTIC ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

there is NO substitute for experience and proven

8210 Chalk Knoll 6162 Sq. Ft. 4 Bedrooms 4/2 Baths Guest Quarters www.8210ChalkKnollDr.com

performance. My hard work and dedication has translated into being one of the Top Producers in Austin real estate. As a long-time area resident, I have extensive knowledge of the market, neighborhoods and the area’s prestigious properties. With over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, my proven sales record, business skills and innovative ideas, I am confident in being your ideal choice for a realtor.

For a free consultation on what your home may be worth, call me today.

www.StephanieNick.com

RESORT STYLE LIVING IN WESTLAKE 2956 Westlake Drive 6190 Sq. Ft. 5 Bedrooms 5/2 Baths www.2956WestlakeDr.com

One of Life’s Little Pleasures

my listings are selling fast!

Call me to get YOUR home sold too!

B A RTON CRE E K RE A L E S TAT E R E PORT PROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 13 STATUS: PENDING, PENDING – TAKING BACKUPS, SOLD

Showing Your Home

Special Considerations for Pet Owners

Fresh & Light for Spring W E S T L A K E RE A L E S TAT E RE PORT PROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 168 STATUS: PENDING, PENDING – TAKING BACKUPS, SOLD

Stephanie Nick,

West Austin

Realtor®

Million Dollar Guild, CLHMS

512.426.9183

St.Nick@SothebysRealty.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

McCormick & Schmick’s Crab Salad

Data reflects activity from 12/01/12 through 2/21/13. Data gathered from MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Real Estate Report

In Good Taste Featuring McCormick & Schmick’s 512.836.0500 | McCormickAndSchmicks.com

Event Calendar

THE PLEASURES OF

MARCH | APRIL 2013 76th Annual Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo Travis County Exposition Center, March 8th – 23rd 512.919.3005 | RodeoAustin.com Promoting Youth Education – Preserving Western Heritage.

The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo has grown into one of Austin’s premier events, featuring ProRodeo events, daily concerts, livestock show and more. The Star of Texas is proud to host the world’s 5th largest indoor, regular season ProRodeo. Over 2,000 volunteers, donors, and sponsors work to advance the mission by providing scholarships to deserving Texas youth.

CRAB, MANGO & AVOCADO SALAD Ingredients: 3/4 cup diced mango 3/4 cup diced avocado 10 oz. Dungeness crab meat 4 Tbs. pomegranate reduction or light syrup 4 Tbs. citrus-flavored vinaigrette 4 Tbs. chive oil (see recipe below) 1/2 cup micro greens or spicy sprouts tossed in a small amount of the citrus vinaigrette, for garnish Preparation: To create the “tower,” place a two-inch ring mold on a serving plate.

Layer 1: Spoon two heaping tablespoons of diced mango into the mold.

Layer 2: Spoon two heaping tablespoons of avocado on top of the mango.

Finish with 1 1/2 ounces of Dungeness crab meat to fill the mold. Press down lightly to set the ingredients.

Keeping your fingers or a spoon on top of the mold, apply pressure, and gently slide the ring mold up and off of the salad. Rinse and dry the mold before moving on to the remaining plates.

Garnish the top of each salad with the micro greens.

Drizzle pomegranate reduction, citrus vinaigrette, and chive oil on the plate and around the tower.

Chive Oil Ingredients: 2 bunches fresh chives 1/2cup vegetable oil Preparation: Blend the chives and oil in a blender for 5 minutes.

Place the finished oil into a squirt bottle and set aside.

The oil may be made a day ahead of time.

Yield: 4 Servings

Spring is finally here! As colorful flowers are blooming and the cool winter evenings give way to warmer weather, our attentions turn to one of our favorite Capital City pastimes— dining outdoors.

Although the Europeans have practically elevated dining outdoors to an art form, those of us living in the Southwest also know the pleasures of bringing the indoors out. With so many months of fabulous weather ahead of us, now is the time to begin taking your meals outside.

The Italian term al fresco directly translates to “in the fresh.” There is something absolutely magical about a wonderful meal enjoyed en plein air, where diners take their sweet time enjoying the meal, the company and the ambiance of a beautiful natural setting.

The best al fresco dining combines long, lazy meals with simple and fresh food.

Relax the rules, take your time; this is the perfect occasion to escape without leaving home.

One of the most difficult challenges of having your home for sale is the need to have it in constant “show ready” mode. There is no doubt that your home will sell faster and for top dollar if it is presented in its best light – so most homeowners go the extra mile on a daily basis to insure that the home is clean, clutter-free and looking its best.

Additionally, if you are a pet owner, do not overlook the importance of managing your pets while your home is for sale. It could make or break the success of the entire process!

You’ve planted colorful flowers along the front walkway, hung a brand-new wreath on the door, turned on soothing music, fragranced the home with an appealing scent and opened all of the blinds in anticipation of a showing. Do you realize how quickly the calming and appealing mood you’ve created gets ruined when a barking dog comes charging to the door? Or the smell of a litter box is wafting through the entire home? Or your beloved bird is squawking loudly from the kitchen?

As pet lovers, we tend to forget how others might view our pets. Even if your dogs are perfectly harmless, you must keep in mind that some people are very fearful of dogs. Others have a strong distaste for cats. So in protecting the home viewing experience for potential buyers, you should also protect the safety of your animals.

You will have strangers walking through your home and the potential for unkind actions to your pets is a

Depending on the time of day you’ll be dining, there are several ways to make your al fresco experience all the more special:

Afternoon Tea

Brunch

Set your table with vibrant and colorful table linens. In fact, it’s a perfect occasion to use your sunny French linens that just seem so appropriate in this celebration of le soleil. Decorate with flowers, flowers everywhere and if you’re poolside, enjoy the enchanting views as the sun sparkles off of the water.

Keep the menu casual and fresh. When planning your menu, it’s easier to serve dishes that can be enjoyed at room temperature. A luscious quiche, buttery croissants and fresh berries may be all you need for a delightful brunch. Of course, you may also add mimosas to the menu if you’re so inclined!

possibility. Or, simple neglect could mean that dogs or cats are inadvertently let out of opened doors while the home is being viewed. So, what options do you have in creating the best scenario for your home as well as your pets?

In an ideal situation, your pets could be away from the home during all showings.

If it’s at all possible, bring your pets with you for the day. Whether it’s to work or just running errands, some people have the ability to have their pets accompany them. Other options would be to leave the animals with a trusted friend or neighbor, take them to the kennel for the day, the popular doggy day care facilities or perhaps your groomer. For many families however, it’s just not always practical.

Some people will leave animals in laundry rooms or back bedrooms with a note on the door requesting that visitors do not enter. This is not best though, because it’s never a good idea to have rooms or areas of the home that are not accessible to potential buyers. Even though you feel that they

Sometimes a leisurely afternoon is just what the doctor ordered. Again, take a cue from our European friends and rest and relax over a nice pot of tea. The British advise that there’s not a trouble that can’t be resolved over a cup of tea. Bring out a tray of scones, mini fruit tarts and perhaps some cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches. Voila! You’ve created a wonderful respite in your day.

Dinner

Ahh… the sun is setting, a cool breeze blows across your patio and you’re taking delight in one of life’s simplest pleasures: splendid food and wonderful companionship to enjoy it with. Let the beauty of the evening be the star of the

can imagine what the laundry room looks like, it leaves a question mark in the mind of the viewer as they leave your property.

Your goal is to not have any question marks, only strong positive thoughts from potential buyers.

Putting your dogs into the back yard during showings often doesn’t solve the dilemma either. While potential buyers will be able to roam through your home at will, outdoor living environments are just as important to buyers and they’ll want to feel comfortable walking the entire property at their leisure.

Putting animals in a room, but with a child-safety gate enclosing them, is a better idea as people can still view the room. Even better, if your pets are crate or kennel trained, visitors can actually walk into the room while your pet is safely kept away.

Your Realtor should make a note on the MLS listing that there are pets in the home and any special instructions visitors should heed. That way, potential buyers can be expecting dogs, cats,

PETS AT HOME? Keeping Your Property “Show Ready”

show and set your table with elegant and subdued linens and tableware. Now is the time to break out the votive candles to add atmosphere as the Austin sunset gives way to twinkling stars.

Create a menu that is back-to-basics.

Dining al fresco is not meant to be fussy and super-sophisticated. Instead, it’s a salute to the pleasures of all things simple and delicious. A caprese salad, lemon-garlic roasted chicken (that can be prepared the day before), roasted eggplant and zucchini, and a loaf of crusty Italian bread is heaven.

So, here’s to living in beautiful Austin and to taking it outside! Enjoy the next several months of enviable weather and take all the delight from it that you can!

(or a snake!), rather than being startled when arriving at your home. It also gives those with pet allergies an opportunity to take any necessary medications to alleviate any allergic reactions.

A note near the front door may be helpful too as added insurance that everyone is aware of the presence of pets.

Having pets tends to create other issues besides how to handle them during showings. Your home may need some extra care to bring it to its best.

Make sure that there are no lingering pet odors in and around the home. Clean the cat box and the yard of waste at least daily. Keep your carpets and furnishings fresh and deodorized. The use of an air neutralizer may be beneficial. Take extra care to remedy any stains in the carpeting, scratches on doors or chewed-up baseboards.

It’s often a lot of effort to keep your home looking its best while for sale. Obviously having pets puts an entire different set of issues into play. But your hard work and attention to detail should pay off in the end if you’re able to sell your property faster and at a higher price point.

15th Annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk Auditorium Shores, March 23rd 512.891.9090 | ServiceDogs.org Enjoy our beautiful spring weather with your four-legged buddy! Help celebrate Texas Hearing and Service Dogs’ 25th anniversary of Turning Strays Into Stars! A beautiful 1-mile stroll around scenic Lady Bird Johnson Lake, plus doggie world record attempts, games, free samples of the best products for your pooch and more!

Ballet Austin: Cult of Color, The Art of Trenton Doyle Hancock Austin Ventures Studio Theatre, April 4th – 7th 512.476.2163 | BalletAustin.org Take in one of Ballet Austin’s most innovative collaborations. In a most unusual ballet in two acts, we take a mythological journey with Sesom, a vegan priest who is thrust into an epic voyage to bring color to the black and white underworld. Trenton Doyle Hancock’s comic book-style characters intrigue and enthrall with humorous, original choreography and an equally outrageous and inventive score.

Old Settler’s Music Festival Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, April 18th – 21st 888.512.7469 | OldSettlersMusicFest.org Set in the Central Texas woods and featuring some of the best live entertainment in Texas, the Old Settler’s Music Festival is a fantastic event for families. This signature music event features Grammy Award-winning Americana, acoustic jazz & blues, bluegrass, old-time local faves and award-winning artists from around the world.

15th Annual Umlauf Garden Party Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, April 25th 512.445.5582 | UmlaufSculpture.org The Garden Party celebrates the art of sculpture and the work of 20th century American sculptor, Charles Umlauf.

Proceeds are dedicated to the Umlauf’s education programs and its long-term garden restoration project.

Unique to the Garden Party is the Celebrity Seeds Auction, featuring decorated terra cotta pots and small garden containers created and/or decorated by local celebrities and well-known Austinites. More than twenty of Austin’s fine restaurants serve delectable samplings of their cuisine, paired with complementing wines.

In Good Taste Featuring McCormick & Schmick’s 512.836.0500 | McCormickAndSchmicks.com

Event Calendar

THE PLEASURES OF

MARCH | APRIL 2013 76th Annual Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo Travis County Exposition Center, March 8th – 23rd 512.919.3005 | RodeoAustin.com Promoting Youth Education – Preserving Western Heritage.

The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo has grown into one of Austin’s premier events, featuring ProRodeo events, daily concerts, livestock show and more. The Star of Texas is proud to host the world’s 5th largest indoor, regular season ProRodeo. Over 2,000 volunteers, donors, and sponsors work to advance the mission by providing scholarships to deserving Texas youth.

CRAB, MANGO & AVOCADO SALAD Ingredients: 3/4 cup diced mango 3/4 cup diced avocado 10 oz. Dungeness crab meat 4 Tbs. pomegranate reduction or light syrup 4 Tbs. citrus-flavored vinaigrette 4 Tbs. chive oil (see recipe below) 1/2 cup micro greens or spicy sprouts tossed in a small amount of the citrus vinaigrette, for garnish Preparation: To create the “tower,” place a two-inch ring mold on a serving plate.

Layer 1: Spoon two heaping tablespoons of diced mango into the mold.

Layer 2: Spoon two heaping tablespoons of avocado on top of the mango.

Finish with 1 1/2 ounces of Dungeness crab meat to fill the mold. Press down lightly to set the ingredients.

Keeping your fingers or a spoon on top of the mold, apply pressure, and gently slide the ring mold up and off of the salad. Rinse and dry the mold before moving on to the remaining plates.

Garnish the top of each salad with the micro greens.

Drizzle pomegranate reduction, citrus vinaigrette, and chive oil on the plate and around the tower.

Chive Oil Ingredients: 2 bunches fresh chives 1/2cup vegetable oil Preparation: Blend the chives and oil in a blender for 5 minutes.

Place the finished oil into a squirt bottle and set aside.

The oil may be made a day ahead of time.

Yield: 4 Servings

Spring is finally here! As colorful flowers are blooming and the cool winter evenings give way to warmer weather, our attentions turn to one of our favorite Capital City pastimes— dining outdoors.

Although the Europeans have practically elevated dining outdoors to an art form, those of us living in the Southwest also know the pleasures of bringing the indoors out. With so many months of fabulous weather ahead of us, now is the time to begin taking your meals outside.

The Italian term al fresco directly translates to “in the fresh.” There is something absolutely magical about a wonderful meal enjoyed en plein air, where diners take their sweet time enjoying the meal, the company and the ambiance of a beautiful natural setting.

The best al fresco dining combines long, lazy meals with simple and fresh food.

Relax the rules, take your time; this is the perfect occasion to escape without leaving home.

One of the most difficult challenges of having your home for sale is the need to have it in constant “show ready” mode. There is no doubt that your home will sell faster and for top dollar if it is presented in its best light – so most homeowners go the extra mile on a daily basis to insure that the home is clean, clutter-free and looking its best.

Additionally, if you are a pet owner, do not overlook the importance of managing your pets while your home is for sale. It could make or break the success of the entire process!

You’ve planted colorful flowers along the front walkway, hung a brand-new wreath on the door, turned on soothing music, fragranced the home with an appealing scent and opened all of the blinds in anticipation of a showing. Do you realize how quickly the calming and appealing mood you’ve created gets ruined when a barking dog comes charging to the door? Or the smell of a litter box is wafting through the entire home? Or your beloved bird is squawking loudly from the kitchen?

As pet lovers, we tend to forget how others might view our pets. Even if your dogs are perfectly harmless, you must keep in mind that some people are very fearful of dogs. Others have a strong distaste for cats. So in protecting the home viewing experience for potential buyers, you should also protect the safety of your animals.

You will have strangers walking through your home and the potential for unkind actions to your pets is a

Depending on the time of day you’ll be dining, there are several ways to make your al fresco experience all the more special:

Afternoon Tea

Brunch

Set your table with vibrant and colorful table linens. In fact, it’s a perfect occasion to use your sunny French linens that just seem so appropriate in this celebration of le soleil. Decorate with flowers, flowers everywhere and if you’re poolside, enjoy the enchanting views as the sun sparkles off of the water.

Keep the menu casual and fresh. When planning your menu, it’s easier to serve dishes that can be enjoyed at room temperature. A luscious quiche, buttery croissants and fresh berries may be all you need for a delightful brunch. Of course, you may also add mimosas to the menu if you’re so inclined!

possibility. Or, simple neglect could mean that dogs or cats are inadvertently let out of opened doors while the home is being viewed. So, what options do you have in creating the best scenario for your home as well as your pets?

In an ideal situation, your pets could be away from the home during all showings.

If it’s at all possible, bring your pets with you for the day. Whether it’s to work or just running errands, some people have the ability to have their pets accompany them. Other options would be to leave the animals with a trusted friend or neighbor, take them to the kennel for the day, the popular doggy day care facilities or perhaps your groomer. For many families however, it’s just not always practical.

Some people will leave animals in laundry rooms or back bedrooms with a note on the door requesting that visitors do not enter. This is not best though, because it’s never a good idea to have rooms or areas of the home that are not accessible to potential buyers. Even though you feel that they

Sometimes a leisurely afternoon is just what the doctor ordered. Again, take a cue from our European friends and rest and relax over a nice pot of tea. The British advise that there’s not a trouble that can’t be resolved over a cup of tea. Bring out a tray of scones, mini fruit tarts and perhaps some cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches. Voila! You’ve created a wonderful respite in your day.

Dinner

Ahh… the sun is setting, a cool breeze blows across your patio and you’re taking delight in one of life’s simplest pleasures: splendid food and wonderful companionship to enjoy it with. Let the beauty of the evening be the star of the

can imagine what the laundry room looks like, it leaves a question mark in the mind of the viewer as they leave your property.

Your goal is to not have any question marks, only strong positive thoughts from potential buyers.

Putting your dogs into the back yard during showings often doesn’t solve the dilemma either. While potential buyers will be able to roam through your home at will, outdoor living environments are just as important to buyers and they’ll want to feel comfortable walking the entire property at their leisure.

Putting animals in a room, but with a child-safety gate enclosing them, is a better idea as people can still view the room. Even better, if your pets are crate or kennel trained, visitors can actually walk into the room while your pet is safely kept away.

Your Realtor should make a note on the MLS listing that there are pets in the home and any special instructions visitors should heed. That way, potential buyers can be expecting dogs, cats,

PETS AT HOME? Keeping Your Property “Show Ready”

show and set your table with elegant and subdued linens and tableware. Now is the time to break out the votive candles to add atmosphere as the Austin sunset gives way to twinkling stars.

Create a menu that is back-to-basics.

Dining al fresco is not meant to be fussy and super-sophisticated. Instead, it’s a salute to the pleasures of all things simple and delicious. A caprese salad, lemon-garlic roasted chicken (that can be prepared the day before), roasted eggplant and zucchini, and a loaf of crusty Italian bread is heaven.

So, here’s to living in beautiful Austin and to taking it outside! Enjoy the next several months of enviable weather and take all the delight from it that you can!

(or a snake!), rather than being startled when arriving at your home. It also gives those with pet allergies an opportunity to take any necessary medications to alleviate any allergic reactions.

A note near the front door may be helpful too as added insurance that everyone is aware of the presence of pets.

Having pets tends to create other issues besides how to handle them during showings. Your home may need some extra care to bring it to its best.

Make sure that there are no lingering pet odors in and around the home. Clean the cat box and the yard of waste at least daily. Keep your carpets and furnishings fresh and deodorized. The use of an air neutralizer may be beneficial. Take extra care to remedy any stains in the carpeting, scratches on doors or chewed-up baseboards.

It’s often a lot of effort to keep your home looking its best while for sale. Obviously having pets puts an entire different set of issues into play. But your hard work and attention to detail should pay off in the end if you’re able to sell your property faster and at a higher price point.

15th Annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk Auditorium Shores, March 23rd 512.891.9090 | ServiceDogs.org Enjoy our beautiful spring weather with your four-legged buddy! Help celebrate Texas Hearing and Service Dogs’ 25th anniversary of Turning Strays Into Stars! A beautiful 1-mile stroll around scenic Lady Bird Johnson Lake, plus doggie world record attempts, games, free samples of the best products for your pooch and more!

Ballet Austin: Cult of Color, The Art of Trenton Doyle Hancock Austin Ventures Studio Theatre, April 4th – 7th 512.476.2163 | BalletAustin.org Take in one of Ballet Austin’s most innovative collaborations. In a most unusual ballet in two acts, we take a mythological journey with Sesom, a vegan priest who is thrust into an epic voyage to bring color to the black and white underworld. Trenton Doyle Hancock’s comic book-style characters intrigue and enthrall with humorous, original choreography and an equally outrageous and inventive score.

Old Settler’s Music Festival Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch, April 18th – 21st 888.512.7469 | OldSettlersMusicFest.org Set in the Central Texas woods and featuring some of the best live entertainment in Texas, the Old Settler’s Music Festival is a fantastic event for families. This signature music event features Grammy Award-winning Americana, acoustic jazz & blues, bluegrass, old-time local faves and award-winning artists from around the world.

15th Annual Umlauf Garden Party Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, April 25th 512.445.5582 | UmlaufSculpture.org The Garden Party celebrates the art of sculpture and the work of 20th century American sculptor, Charles Umlauf.

Proceeds are dedicated to the Umlauf’s education programs and its long-term garden restoration project.

Unique to the Garden Party is the Celebrity Seeds Auction, featuring decorated terra cotta pots and small garden containers created and/or decorated by local celebrities and well-known Austinites. More than twenty of Austin’s fine restaurants serve delectable samplings of their cuisine, paired with complementing wines.

West Austin March | April 2013

Your West Austin Neighbor and Realtor

Providing A Lifestyle, Not Just An Address.

The Austin real estate market is changing daily.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

If you are considering buying or selling a home,

ROMANTIC ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

there is NO substitute for experience and proven

8210 Chalk Knoll 6162 Sq. Ft. 4 Bedrooms 4/2 Baths Guest Quarters www.8210ChalkKnollDr.com

performance. My hard work and dedication has translated into being one of the Top Producers in Austin real estate. As a long-time area resident, I have extensive knowledge of the market, neighborhoods and the area’s prestigious properties. With over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, my proven sales record, business skills and innovative ideas, I am confident in being your ideal choice for a realtor.

For a free consultation on what your home may be worth, call me today.

www.StephanieNick.com

RESORT STYLE LIVING IN WESTLAKE 2956 Westlake Drive 6190 Sq. Ft. 5 Bedrooms 5/2 Baths www.2956WestlakeDr.com

One of Life’s Little Pleasures

my listings are selling fast!

Call me to get YOUR home sold too!

B A RTON CRE E K RE A L E S TAT E R E PORT PROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 13 STATUS: PENDING, PENDING – TAKING BACKUPS, SOLD

Showing Your Home

Special Considerations for Pet Owners

Fresh & Light for Spring W E S T L A K E RE A L E S TAT E RE PORT PROPERTY TYPE: RESIDENTIAL • NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 168 STATUS: PENDING, PENDING – TAKING BACKUPS, SOLD

Stephanie Nick,

West Austin

Realtor®

Million Dollar Guild, CLHMS

512.426.9183

St.Nick@SothebysRealty.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

McCormick & Schmick’s Crab Salad

Data reflects activity from 12/01/12 through 2/21/13. Data gathered from MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Produced by UpscaleRealEstateMarketing.com • 877.660.0996

Real Estate Report