The winter is officially over, and spring is here! And you know what this means, time to take advantage of the great outdoors, grab your kids and go have some playground* fun in the burbs…. I have polled some of my trusted confidantes, and here are their top five favorite playgrounds in the area, specifically in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and Needham:

Weston

Tavernside Playground, 358 Boston Post Road – Located right in Weston center, this is playground central for all Weston parents with young kids. Swings, see saws, a large, shaded sand box, play structures and so much more.

Wellesley

Perrin Park, 99 Thomas Road – Situated at the end of a quiet street, Perrin Park has a play choice for everyone. Wellesley Patch sums it up, “The large park features a soccer field, a multi-aged playground and picnic tables. The playground is well shaded during afternoon hours, and the park is open to the public from sunup to sundown.”

Warren Park, 90 Washington Street – This park, set right off of Route 16, is always overflowing with families and kids of all ages. Per Wellesley Patch, “The park is beautiful and spacious, with fields for picnicking and a baseball diamond. The park features two playgrounds: a tall structure for children aged 5 to 12 and a smaller structure designed for toddlers. The fields are wheelchair accessible and free parking is located behind the health department building.”

Wayland

Hannah Williams Playground, Main Street – Located steps from Route 30′s Cochituate Village, this playground has been one of my children’s favorites for years, and it just reopened a little more than a year ago after a complete overhaul and renovation. “The playground is open from dawn to dusk and features a jungle gym, gazebo and large grassy area for picnics or small games. The park is maintained by the Town of Wayland; [and], the wood structure in the park was paid for by a community fundraising effort.”

Needham

Perry Park, Beaufort Avenue near Great Plain Avenue – Winning high praise from Needham residents, Perry Park features a baseball diamond, play structures, basketball court and other fabulous playground choices. This is a place for kids of all ages to have fun.

Have you frequented any of these incredible playgrounds? Where do you have playground fun in the ‘burbs, and are your favorites on the list above? I can’t wait to hear…

For more information on this or on the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.

* There are countless playgrounds at elementary and local schools in the area, but we didn’t consider them for this blog post….

Believe it or not, despite the cold weather and bits of snow still on the ground, it’s about about time to start thinking about and planning for the summer. And naturally that means – Outdoor Swimming Fun in the ‘Burbs, which I’m classifying as Weston, Wellesley, Wayland, Needham and the like. I actually had a buyer relocating from the West coast to this area recently ask me about this topic, and I thought – what a great blog topic. So here’s the skinny on outdoor pools in the area*:

Weston

• Memorial Pool, Alphabet Lane - This is the best invention known to man and womankind…. Large pool, sand area with toys, water park, adjoining playground, snack bar and comfy chairs. What better place for the whole family? Open to Weston residents, their guests and non-resident badge holders, the pool is open this year from June 15 – August 18.

Wellesley

• Boston Sports Club (BSC), 140 Great Plain Avenue – According to BSC, “You don’t have to leave town to have a great summer vacation. Our pools and swim complexes offer everything you need for exciting family fun in the sun all summer long.” From toddler, slide, whale/frog and spray pools to lap lanes, sundecks and a poolside cafe, this outdoor swimming complex has it all. You must purchase a pool membership, which is separate from the BSC membership. The pool is open Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• Morses Pond, 99 Turner Road – The Wellesley Patch sums up Morses Pond perfectly…. “With public swimming, lifeguards, swimming lessons, sailing lessons, a playground and picnic areas, this beach is fun for the whole family. The pond is surrounded by trails through the woods for leisurely walkers to enjoy, with the main trail traveling around the pond for about 1.2 miles.” Open to residents and non-residents, Morses Pond is open daily** from June 12 – August 25, 2013.

Wayland, Natick and Framingham

• Lake Cochituate, Park Entrance – 43 Commonwealth Road, Natick, MA - According to Wikipedia, “Lake Cochituate is a body of water in Natick, Wayland, and Framingham. Originally a reservoir serving Boston, it no longer serves that function, and is now a local recreational resource and home to Cochituate State Park.” You can choose from a variety of activities here, including boating, canoeing, swimming, windsurfing, fishing and picnicking. Lake Cochituate is open to all.

Needham

• Rosemary Pool, Rosemary Street and Hillside Avenue – The Needham Patch does a spot on description of this fabulous outdoor swimming facility…. “Maintained by Park and Recreation, Rosemary Pool is the perfect spot for residents to find relief from the heat during warmer months. Built into Rosemary Lake in 1972, this 300′ x 70′ structure contains several unique attributes. Sand can be found on both ends of the pool with lap lanes on the right side and a diving section on the left. Sections of the pool have been designated for young swimmers, and there is a separate path into the water that is handicap equipped.” Open to residents and non-residents, the pool season runs from June 21 – August 23, 2013.

What are your thoughts and experiences of outdoor swimming fun in the ‘burbs? Do you have a local outdoor pool that you and your family especially love on hot sumer days? I can’t wait to hear….

For more information on this or on the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.

* I did not include outdoor swimming pools at private clubs, universities, schools or hotels.

** Morses Pond is also open on certain days and times prior to when it opens for the season on June 12.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to cover the subject of Dry Cleaning Fun in the ‘Burbs. I think this is likely a crucial service for us all. So once again, I polled my fabulous friends about their favorite local dry cleaners, and here’s what they said:

Ann Cleaners & Tailors, 338 Weston Road, Wellesley – I love Heather’s feedback on her favorite dry cleaner. She reports, “We use Ann’s Dry Cleaning in the Fells Market Place area in Wellesley.  We’ve gone there forever and love the little pick me up when Ann is the one at the desk. She always greets everyone with ‘Hello Beautiful’ and asks ‘How do you stay so young?’ At this age, you take every compliment you can get. Plus, she does quick alterations.”

Anton’s Cleaners, 277 Linden Street, Wellesley (pictured above) – four of my friends, Landis, Patty, Linda and Amanda, use Anton’s. Landis says, “I have used them since I lived in Wellesley [she has moved to Weston in the meantime]. I love that they keep my credit card on file and that I don’t have to pay in person.” Patty says that she finds Anton’s to be “nice and reliable,” and Linda and Amanda say they love Anton’s home delivery option.

Chinney’s Alterations and Cleaners, 301 Boston Post Road, Wayland – Kate uses this local dry cleaner. Of note, Chinney’s uses “organic, environmentally-friendly solvents.”

Mayfair Cleaners, 51 Washington Street, Wellesley (pictured here) – Virginia says the reason she uses Mayfair is because she “goes to Four Seasons for nails,” which is just next door.

Personal Cleaners and Tailors, 596 Boston Post Road, Weston (pictured below) – Madelaine remarks, “They are very nice and professional, and it is right in town.” Kathia also uses Personal Cleaners as she likes its “Ecological drycleaning [option], which is non-toxic and harmless to the environment, and as such is becoming increasingly popular among consumers worldwide.”

Tony the Tailor, 21 Washington Street, Wellesley – Yours truly, a.k.a. me, has used Tony the Tailor since I moved to my current house 11 years ago. It’s so close to my home, plus they do alterations. Parking can be difficult, however, especially given all of the stores, restaurants and businesses in the area. Just cash and checks are accepted; no credit cards.

I must admit that I learned quite a bit from this blog. First, I didn’t know about the “green” option that several dry cleaners provide. It makes sense given the world in which we live today. And I was interested to see that most dry cleaners accept credit cards, making it a little easier for consumers. Finally, I was surprised that no one mentioned Zoots as there are several locations in the area, and I tend to see the purple “Zoots” bags on many doorways during my frequent driving journeys through the streets of Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns.

What are your thoughts? Is your favorite dry cleaner on the list above or do you use another company/service? And what makes your dry cleaner special to you? I can’t wait to hear….

For more information on this or on the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.

Happy New Year! Always at this time of the year, it seems to be a rite of passage to do a look back and analysis of the previous year. And so I figured I would do the same – looking back at the Top 10 2012 blog posts*. I picked the Top 10 blogs based on you – your feedback and comments via social media (Facebook, Twitter), online (my website, the Pinnacle website, Weston Patch) and/or live, in person. And here they are (drum roll please):

• 1. What Kind of ‘Burb Home Buyer Are You? – Which ‘burb town characteristics best fit you and are most important to you when buying a home?
• 2. Screened-in Porch: Yea or Nay? – The compelling and not-so-compelling aspects of having a screened-in porch.
• 3. The Optimal Choice for Your Master Bathroom – If you only have the space and resources to choose one, which is the optimal choice for you - a master bathtub or shower? And what about from a resale perspective?
• 4. Weston and Wellesley Featured in Boston Magazine’s “Swanky Town Smackdown” - The magazine touted the 10 Best Suburbs of Boston as Brookline, Weston, Lincoln, Wellesley, Manchester, Newton, Winchester, Lexington, Concord and Belmont (in order of the highest to lowest median home price), and then the towns were rated on a variety of categories, including “Prettiest Outdoor and Green Spaces,” “Main Street/Town Center Cuteness Rating,” and “Commute Time to Boston.”
• 5. Trash Disposal in Weston, MA: Public or Private? – A brief synopsis of Weston’s public and private trash disposal options and scenarios.
• 6. The Ideal Direction for Your Home: North or South-Facing? – There are so many things to consider when buying a home – location, type of home, living area, move-right-in or fix-it-up, lot size and utility, condition…  Does the direction in which your potential new home faces enter into your decision-making process?
• 7. What to do with that Popcorn Ceiling? – Is a popcorn ceiling something you can or can’t live with? And what about when buying or selling a home?
• 8. Kids Birthday Party Fun in the ‘Burbs – If you have children and live in the ‘burbs of Boston, where to have your child’s birthday party is most likely a question that you have pondered at least once a year.
• 9. Tree Faces in Weston and Wellesley Real Estate – Adding a little whimsy to your yard with some fabulous tree faces.
• 10. Buying a House with a Pool: Keep it or Fill it in? – To keep the pool or fill it in – that is the question? Have you faced this question – and ensuing decision – during the home-buying process?

And here are a few of my personal favorites – blogs in which I just loved the subject matter and especially enjoyed writing:

• 10 Things You Might Not Know About Weston, MA – Are you familiar with US Weekly Magazine’s “25 Things You Don’t Know about Me,” which features celebrities getting personal and sharing some lesser known facts about themselves? Well, this is basically the same concept applied to Weston, MA.
• The Advantages to Living in the ‘Burbs – Some of the fabulous benefits to living in the ‘burbs, like finding a parking place and getting the kids into the car becomes as easy as 1-2-3….
• The Importance of a Dining Room – Nate Berkus and Barbara Corcoran share some tips on how to maximize the look and size of your dining room, which can be one of the most important rooms (after the kitchen) in the house when it comes to re-sale.
• 5 Simple Steps to Optimize Your Entryway – Hats off to Nate Berkus once again…. How to enhance the look of your entryway and optimize a potential buyer’s first impression when selling your home.
• Buying a Home and the Hearing Sense – Where do you as a buyer fall on the noise spectrum – tolerant, intolerant or somewhere in between?
• Appealing to the Visual Sense: Selling a Shiny, Sparkling Home – Some things to do to make your house sparkle, shine and appeal visually to as many buyers as possible the first second they walk through the door.
• Mario Testino’s “In Your Face” at the Museum of Fine Arts – great exhibit, great artist/photographer, great subject matter, great friends, great dinner, great evening overall – that about sums it up…..
• Snow Plowing Fun in the ‘Burbs – This was my last blog of 2012, and I especially liked it for two reasons. First, I polled my friends and shared their input – and that’s always so fun when writing my blogs. And second, the shared information actually helped some people whose snow plowers had failed to show up and plow after the December 29 snow storm. Love that!

And of course, I always get a kick out of the blogs covering The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, Emmy and Oscar Fashionistas, holidays and celebrations, area store openings as well as fun, local happenings. I hope you enjoyed the 2012 blogs as much as I did, and now on to the new year, new content, new perspectives and much more…. Happy 2013!

For more information on this or on the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.

* The Weston MA Pinnacle Report and Weston MA Homes Sold blogs were excluded from consideration.

It’s that time of year again…. WINTER, which means snow and ice, which in turn means plowing the driveway and shoveling the walks. And though we missed the bullet last year and had a winter with virtually no snow, I don’t think we’ll be as lucky this year. Given this, I wanted to get some information on “snow plowing fun in the ‘burbs” out to you in a timely manner, especially since we’ve already had our first snowfall, and we still have the entire months of January, February and March ahead of us.

From a personal perspective, we have a snow blower in our household, and so the truth of the matter is that I haven’t hired a snow plower in several years. Therefore in an effort to get you accurate, up-to-date information, I polled my Weston, Wellesley and Wayland friends, and here’s what I found in large part:

1. Most people hire their landscapers to take care of their snow plowing as well. This way they have already established a relationship of trust, reliability and good faith, which is key when you need to have your driveway plowed in order to get to work, your day’s activities and/or your children’s school.

2. Plowers will come to your property pre-snow and stake your driveway lines so they know where your driveway ends and grass begins, for example, so they can refrain – as much as possible – from digging up your grass with their plows.

3. People usually ask their plowers to come only when it has snowed 2″ or more.

4. Many people have their snow plowers shovel their walkways too for a nominal price.

5. Cost really depends on the complexity and length of your driveway. The last time I used a snow plower in 2009, the cost was $50 per plow, and my driveway is not long and very straightforward without any twists and turns. It seems to be that $50 – give or take – is still basically the going rate. That being said, plan to figure on more money per plow for a longer, more complicated driveway.

Here is a list of snow plowers in the area that my friends recommend:

A Blade of Grass, Wayland, MA, 508 -358-4500 - Heather, says, “They are [generally] reliable and also salt the walk and driveway when necessary.”

J. Gallerani Landscaping, Wellesley, MA, 781-239-0497 - Tracy has used J. Gallerani Landscaping for snow plowing since she moved to Wellesley in 2008.

Kenny’s Landscaping, Hudson, MA, 978-618-5528 - According to my friend, Mo, “We use Kenny’s Landscaping for our landscaping year-round as well. They have been reliable and come early when there is snow to be plowed and a follow-up if needed…. They also get out and shovel around the garage at our request. We’re happy because we don’t do a thing. Although we do shovel our own walks and deck, however, they offer that service as well.”

Lynch Landscape and Tree Service, Wayland, MA, 978-443-2626 – Audrey and Madelaine both use Lynch Landscape and Tree Service for their snow plowing needs. Audrey says, “What’s nice is that they have the plower assigned to my property come stake the driveway in December, which also helps him see the curve of the driveway in advance. They also will sand or salt (for extra) if you ask, and do the walk for about $20 more. If they damage my walk, or move pebbles on the pebble driveway, they fix it in the spring of course for no charge.” Madelaine highly recommends Lynch and adds that they are very reliable and professional.

Renovo’s Landscape and Construction, Marlborough, MA 508-485-8669 – my friend, Lisa, just starting using Renovo after calling five-seven snow plowers to ascertain their fees and business practices. So far, so good….

Tom McMahon, 978-457-1616 – Landis says, “My landscaper is my plow guy – and he is [competitively priced]…. I pay him an extra $10 to shovel my front and back walkways….”

Wayne Osmond Landscaping, Weston, MA, 781-899-1737 - Jessica has been happily using local resident Wayne Osmond for years.

Weston Landscape & Tree, Sudbury, MA, 978-443-3384 - Sarah says, “We use Weston Landscape for everything and really like them…. The key for us is that they know our lot and know us (i.e., if we need an extra plow or want them to be there at a certain time in the a.m. so we can get out for work, etc.).”

Weston Property Management Landscaping Company, Weston, MA, 781-647-4350 – this is the company I used for my plowing services years ago, and I was pleased with their work. They were reliable and did a quality job.

I hope this information helps those of you who are just moving to the burbs and may not have a snow plower or be familiar with the process. For all of you other ‘burb-ites, whom do you use for your snow plowing needs or do you have a snow blower like we do? I can’t wait to hear….  And Happy New Year too! Best wishes for a fabulous, fantastic, awesome 2013!

For more information on this or on the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com), to answer any questions or for a complimentary home appraisal.