2008 Gretna Heritage Festival - Closing Day

Whew!  Another festival has come to a close and it had to be the biggest one yet if the sales at the Krewe of Choctaw booth were any indication.

Thankfully, we had more volunteers this year to help out, so I was able to wander a little bit more and eat a whole bunch more…I’m holding the city of Gretna responsible for the 5 pounds that I’m sure I gained in the last three days.

Here are some of the sights and sounds of the closing day:

The crowds were unbelievable and the kids were thrilled with all of the rides and games.

Shrimp and crab alfredo from Barreca’s in the Italian Village - YUM!

Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys performed at the Riverfront Stage with the Crescent City Connection in the background.

 

Bonerama makes music with trombones that you have to hear to believe.  I heard them for the first time when they played at the wedding reception of some friends and just loved it.  Check out the video below for a sample…

VideoAd by Mixpo

At the end of the night, Montgomery Gentry closed out the festival.  As I waited for the show to start, I couldn’t believe how many people were packed into the main stage area and lined up along the levee to watch.

Even though my feet hurt, my legs are tired and I don’t want to eat another shrimp for a long time, it was a well spent weekend.  Same time, same place next year!

All photos and video copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

2008 Gretna Heritage Festival - Day 2

Before I head back over to Gretna for the final day of the Heritage Festival, I thought I would share some photos from Saturday.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was incredible and music was being played on 7 different stages all day and into the night.

I missed the big name acts, since I was working at the Krewe of Choctaw booth, but I did manage to take a stroll around and catch some of the local artists (who are my favorite anyway) and sample some of the dishes being put out by the other non-profit organizations.  I hope they were are busy as we were - so far this weekend, we have served over 1,000 pounds of fried shrimp…not to mention the fried catfish and the crawfish pies!

Here’s a peek at some of Saturday’s events….

The crowds were amazing - I’m sure that this year is breaking all previous attendance records.

The Mardi Gras Indians paraded through the festival, following the brass band up and down the streets.

Music, music….everywhere…

And the food…you don’t have to worry about going hungry here!  Here’s a sample of what we ate throughout the day.  I missed getting a picture of the crawfish enchiladas, but if you go out today, be sure to get some.  They were so delicious that I forgot I had a camera!

Hope to see you at the closing day of the festival today - I’ll be the girl in the West Bank Tshirt - reminding everyone what a great place this is to call home!

All photos copyright 2008, Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.

2008 Gretna Heritage Festival - Day 1

I just wanted to share a few photos from the first day of the 2008 Gretna Heritage Festival with you.  I didn’t get a chance to see everything, but I’m heading back out today to capture some more!

Things kicked off with the West Bank’s own Chicken on the Bone on the Market Stage:

After the band finished, it was off to the Krewe of Choctaw booth for the best shrimp po-boys around.

 

The kids had a great time checking out all of the rides and carnival-like games.

The crowds were the largest I have EVER seen on a Friday night at the festival. 

With today’s forecast including more sunshine, I’m sure that Gretna will be overflowing all day.  If you get a chance, check out the booth with the sparkly fleur-de-lis and S&WB logo shirts - they are inexpensive and cute, cute, cute.  Hope to see you there!

All photos copyright Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.

From For Sale to Sold in Under 60 Days

None of us is immune from the news being broadcast every day.  The talking heads of the media have had a laser sharp focus on the economy and the real estate industry, mostly forecasting doom and gloom and making people nervous about their futures.

What the media forgets is that people will always need a place to live - a roof over their heads and a place to call home.  The changes in the real estate market on the West Bank of New Orleans simply mean that qualified home buyers have many, many (did I mention many?) options when choosing which roof it will be. 

All of those choices allow buyers to select the best of the best for their new home - and that’s exactly what they are doing.  I recently listed a beautiful house in Gretna for a seller who did all of the right things to prepare their home for sale.  Combine the preparation with an individual property website, a virtual tour, video, and marketing to other West Bank agents and what was the result? 

The house went from for sale to SOLD in only 53 days!

Do you need some help getting your home ready to sell? Here are some articles to point you in the right direction:

• Are You REALLY Ready to Sell Your West Bank Home?
• Why Do a Pre-Inspection When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home
• Make Your Home the Star of the Neighborhood - Stage It!
• What Buyers Are Saying About Your Home
• 5 Dos and Don’ts for Home Sellers
• 4 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent When Selling Your New Orleans West Bank Home

If you are considering selling your West Bank home, I’d be honored to have the opportunity to share my marketing plan and local expertise with you. 

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

2008 Gretna Heritage Festival This Weekend!

The festival is here!  The festival is here!

My absolutely must attend West Bank festival is taking place this weekend in the City of Gretna and I can’t wait to get out there and hear some great music, eat some fantastic food and try to keep at least a little cash in my pocket while drooling over the beautiful arts, crafts and jewelry that fill the booths.

Starting at 4 pm on Friday, the 2008 Gretna Heritage Festival kicks off with my favorite local band Chicken on the Bone rocking the market stage.  Disclosure:  I’m just a little biased since my hubby is in this band!  The music continues all weekend with performances by Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, KC and the Sunshine Band and Montgomery Gentry.  Loads of local musicians will be on tap as well:  Allen Toussaint, Galactic, Amanda Shaw, Bucktown Allstars, Chee Weez, Dash Rip Rock (wait…I’m having a flashback) and more.

And don’t forget about all of the delicious food…I’ll be hanging out working in the Krewe of Choctaw booth, serving fried shrimp po-boys, fried catfish po-boys and crawfish pies.  Non-profit organizations run all of the food booths, so stop in and see me and help support your local folks.

Where else are you going to get all of this for the low admission price of $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass?  For a music schedule and parking information visit www.gretnafest.com.  If you don’t want the hassle of parking, the Canal Street ferry has free pedestrian rides to the Gretna ferry landing every hour and free shuttle buses are available at Oakwood Shopping Center and Westside Shopping Center.  Of course, if you live on the West Bank in Gretna, you may be close enough to just walk on over.

I’ll be taking pictures all weekend, so watch for them to be posted here.  Hopefully, I get to see more than just shrimp!

739 Grinell Place Gretna LA 70056- Terrytown Home for Rent

Available for occupancy on November 1, 2008, come check out this terrific single family West Bank home for rent in the heart of Terrytown.  Easy commute to downtown New Orleans, NSA New Orleans and NAS JRB New Orleans.  Why live in an apartment when you can have the privacy of a home, right down to the large backyard.

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• $1,500 per month

Applications for tenants are now being accepted.  Please contact Lisa Heindel for more information.

 

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Ten Hut! Calling All Military Spouses

My good REALTOR friend, Jesse Clifton in Fairbanks, Alaska, recently wrote a post about the 2009 Military Spouse of the Year nominations.  With the New Orleans West Bank being home to both NAS JRB New Orleans and NSA New Orleans, I thought it was great information to pass along.

Although praise is deservedly lavished on military service members serving this country, we sometimes overlook their support system at home; their military spouses.

Long deployments to far away lands are no easy task. Military service members are in harms way and away from the family they love for extended periods of time. The wives and husbands left at home have an equally daunting task in that they’re charged with keeping the home fires burning.

In recognition of their countless contributions and sacrifices, Military Spouse Magazine is accepting nominations for the 2009 Military Spouse of the Year.

Read Jesse’s entire post here.

Do you know of a military spouse that is deserving of this award?  Heck, it could even be you!  Nominations are being accepted through October 8, 2008 at www.msoy.milspouse.com.  It only takes a few minutes of your time to nominate a spouse from any branch of the military, and civilians can nominate candidates too.

One of the coolest things about belonging to a national network of REALTORS is sharing information across the industry that can benefit not only the agents but our friends and clients as well.  If your next PCS takes you to Jesse’s part of the country, be sure to give him a call.

Moving On Up

Are you bursting at the seams of your home, but think it’s not a good time to move up in the current New Orleans West Bank real estate market? 

You couldn’t be more mistaken.  Is the market tough right now - yes it is.  But homes that are priced right and in excellent condition ARE selling and will continue to sell.

While you may be thinking to yourself that you don’t want to "give away" your home at today’s prices, apply that same logic to your newer, larger dream home. 

As an example, a decline in price of 10% on a $150,000 home is equal to $15,000.  That same 10% discount on a $300,000 is $30,000.  Hmmm….looks to me like in the long run you may realize a savings by taking advantage of the current buyer’s market.

Of course, before you jump into the fray, there is the tried and true advice that every seller needs to follow about getting their home ready to sell and choosing the right person to help them do it.

• Home Selling Tips: Curb Appeal
• Home Selling Tips: Clean, Clean, Clean
• Home Selling Tips: Clear the Clutter
• Home Selling Tips: Neutralize
• Home Selling Tips: Staging Your Home
• What to Expect From Your West Bank REALTOR®

Need more information about selling your West Bank home?  Contact Lisa Heindel for professional real estate advice from a local expert.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

New Beginnings

I don’t know about everyone else, but the start of school is kind of like beginning a new year for me.  New uniforms, cool backpacks that haven’t been written on yet, overflowing with all of the fresh supplies for middle and high schools. 

I remember how I started each of my own school years with the same goals - to be organized, to make a study chart, to not allow my assignments to pile up until I was forced to cram into the wee hours of the morning for a test in first period the next day.  ::SIGH::  Of course, those old forces of habit took over and by the end of the first quarter most of my goals were out the window, to be revived when the calendar turned at the end of the year.

Now, my new beginnings are more likely to be focused on the garden than school.  With the official start of fall yesterday, I felt obliged to bring a few of the colors of autumn to my front porch.  I don’t really care that it’s not cool outside yet, or that I’m bound to kill these poor, helpless chrysanthemums that never did anything to me. 

I’ll enjoy them while they last, and when they are gone maybe I’ll go buy a fresh notebook and some new pens to write my 2009 resolutions.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

West Bank Salon to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

I ran into my favorite local hairdresser, Alise Lavergne at Regis Salon in Oakwood Mall, last night and found out that the salon will soon be participating in a national campaign to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

On October 18, 2008, Regis Salon will be offering $15 hair cuts with all proceeds for the day being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Can’t make it on the 18th?  $15 vouchers will be available for purchase and will be good for a hair cut through the end of November.

In preparation for the event, donations of gift basket items are being accepted.  The gift baskets will be raffled off throughout the day, raising even more money to help defeat a disease that has impacted too many.

For more information, appointments or to make a donation, please contact:

REGIS SALON
OAKWOOD CENTER
197 WESTBANK EXPY STE 1225
GRETNA, LA 70053
(504) 362-0274

Be sure to ask for Alise!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

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