What’s New:

Out Door Festivities are Finally Here

June is JAZZY

 

Join Jazz lovers for the annual Blue Note Jazz Festival. Enjoy concerts in the cozy Blue Note Jazz Club at 131 E. 3rd St in the Village or in larger venues across the city.

See the entire line up of artists and get tickets at http://www.bluenotejazzfestival.com
Summer Flicks

The Annual HBO Bryant Park Film Series kicks off on Monday June 16th and runs through August. The success of these free outdoor films has spawned a lengthy list of similar programs throughout the city. From piers to parks, rooftops to the Intrepid–click here to see the different film lineups throughout the summer in every borough for every taste.

 

Great Performances

Summer is never boring in the city that never sleeps. In fact, it could be these live performances that gave birth to that description of New York!

Shakespeare in the Park
Begins June 3rd and runs through July 6th with “Much Ado About Nothing” at Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Free. Wait in line or join the online ticket lottery here.

SummerStage
Enjoy music, comedy, theater, dance, lectures, and movies during the City Parks Department’s annual programming. Free concerts are popular, so arrive early. The entire lineup of acts is here.

Celebrate Brooklyn!
Join in the fun at the Prospect Park Bandshell for free music, theatre, dance and film performances from June to August. See the complete line up for the summer by clicking here.

River to River Festival
Free events that take place in public plazas, parks and some unusual sites as well. It includes series such as the Hudson River Festival, which features free musical performances in and around the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden, and the Evening Stars Music and Dance Festival, which features free outdoor performances by leading dance companies and music ensembles. For more information click here.

Pride Week
Events start June 24th and run through the end of the month with the annual Pride March at noon going down Fifth Avenue. Following the parade there will be the PrideFest street fair, and the celebration ends with the Dance on the Pier. Get more information here.

American Crafts Festival
380 juried artists, entertainment, and craft demonstrations in tents outside Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on June 14th and 15th. Get more information here.
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Did You Know…

James Joyce Day is on
June 16th

Bloomsday commemorates and celebrates the life of Irish writer James Joyce during which the events of his novel Ulysses (which is set on June 16th 1904) are relived. Joyce chose the date as it was the date of his first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle (incidentally, they walked to the Dublin suburb of Ringsend). The name is derived from the protagonist in Ulysses, Leopold Bloom.

Symphony Space’s 33rd annual ode to the language, life, and love in James Joyce’s work centers on his short story collection, Dubliners, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The event will feature readings by Cynthia Nixon, Malachy McCourt, Marin Ireland, National Book Award-winning author Colum McCann, and others of several of the book’s stellar stories, including the beloved final story “The Dead.” Between readings, songs from the stories will be performed by soprano Lisa Flanagan with introductions by Irish writer Belinda McKeon.

 

Summer Eating

 

Sample 150 US craft beers and taste food from local restaurants at the NYC Craft Beer Festival June 20th-21st. Get tickets here.

The NY Botanical Gardens is hosting The Big Backyard BBQ and Music Festival takes place on Daffodil Hill at the NYBG June 14th-15th, get tickets here.

 

 

Staging your apartment for sale 7-10 of 10

before_collage

7. If you are not taking your pets with you on your vacation, by all means make arrangements for them to stay elsewhere. Litter boxes, pet food or the presence of an animal wandering around are all big no no’s when it comes to making a sale. Remember too, that many people are allergic and much as we love Fido and Fifi, bear in mind that not everyone will! Alternatively, a live-in pet sitter can make it possible for your pet to remain at home, but be sure that any animal is in a crate during showings, preferably outside the main living areas of your home;

8. Fresh flowers, strategically placed, add a feeling of elegance, but only use them if you can make arrangements with either your cleaning help or a concierge, etc., to change them out frequently enough to prevent them from spoiling;

9. Make sure that you leave your apartment at a comfortable temperature. If this means leaving the air conditioning running on low, do it. You don’t want buyers oppressed by an overheated or stuffy space; And,

10. Leave your keys with your real estate agent and prepare to have a great vacation while he or she does all of the work. Arrange to have a back up set of keys available to your agent, or, if you’re apartment will be on a lock box, make sure that someone close by–a neighbor, concierge or building maintenance personnel know how to deal with any sticky issues getting in, such as a security system if you have one.

Staging Your Apartment to Sell: 4-6 of 10

townhouse

4. Right before you leave, be sure to clear out any dirty laundry in the bathroom hamper or in kid’s rooms, closet floors, etc., and then after a thorough cleaning, hang fresh towels and add a decorative item or two which will not require maintenance, such as a small arrangement of artificial flowers, or a lovely candle. As with the kitchen, however, strive to keep the counter tops, vanity, etc., as clear of any other personal items as you can. Also unplug any electric air fresheners throughout your apartment. Scent, like color, is a highly personal choice and you don’t want to risk losing a buyer because they’re put off by the scent;

5. You will, of course, want to have your apartment thoroughly cleaned by a trusted professional as you’re leaving for your vacation. And yes, this time, someone is going to need to do the windows as well! That way, you’ll be assured that potential buyers will find your home in spotless condition. Make arrangements for a cleaning service to come in periodically while you’re away as well, since dust gathers even when we’re not around!;

6. Arrange to have your mail held either at the post office or in a neighbor’s home. You do not want it piling up while you’re away on a table or kitchen counter where it will create an impression of sloppiness or prevent a buyer from seeing a clean space. Also, be sure to have any package deliveries, newspapers, etc. held elsewhere as well. You don’t want buyers tripping over piles to get in the front door!;

Staging Your Apartment to Sell: 1-3 of 10

home_staging

In addition to editing back your personal items, here are some additional things you’ll want to consider to set off your apartment to its best advantage for selling:

1. Since the purpose of staging your home for sale is to create a feeling of spaciousness, make sure that you clear any obstructions to free movement in and around each area of your apartment. Look at furniture that blocks access to a window, or a path to another room and either remove it or reposition it to allow buyers free movement throughout your apartment. Similarly, make sure that all children’s toys, magazine piles, books, etc., are neatly stored where they belong;

2. Consider painting your apartment white. Color, like other accessories, is a highly personal choice and at minimum, you should consider repainting rooms that are currently painted in strong or unusual colors. Again, this is not a commentary on your personal taste, but simply a way to increase the likelihood of a quick sale. It’s hard to predict how a buyer will react to your choice of bright color or if a certain color is not a favorite, etc. Certainly consult with your Real Estate agent first about whether he or she feels repainting is advisable. Also look at any painted area that needs retouching. Are there scratches on your front door? Nicks on cabinetry or baseboards that need a quick touch up? Get those minor repairs done now, so that your buyer isn’t bothered by all the small imperfections. Even though these are minor fixes, taken all together, they can leave a potential buyer with the impression that there’s a lot of work to be done and he or she may offer a substantially lower bid based on that general impression, so head it off at the pass!;

3. In the kitchen, make sure that all counters are clear and hide bulky appliances and other kitchen counter clutter in cabinets. Once again, the idea is to allow the buyer to see open space where he or she can imagine seeing their own things. And since you’re going to be away, be sure to toss anything in your refrigerator and freezer that could go bad in your absence, since the last thing you want is an unpleasant odor pervading the room. Similarly, be sure to clear out all kitchen garbage before you leave;