Down in a cloud of dust...

After 28 years of burned out neglect, the old Northwest Pacific Railroad (NWPR) freight house was pulled down on September 26th, 2007. Having lived across from the site since 1991, we in the Ussery household where glad to see it go! Probably not quite as glad as our neighbors on both sides of us, who have stared at it daily for many, many, more years than we have. The smiling faces of the Railroad Avenue Irregulars are looking great on the big day!
The Whole Foods with condo project has been going strong for a few weeks now. I'm getting comments from friends almost daily, "Hey Steve, how's it going with the noise and dirt" and "Man, what a big project it is!" We've been living with de-construction in our area off and on for years now, what with the Pini Feed Mill burning in the middle of the night, then taking a long time to be torn down. The Depot site was also the construction yard during the rebuilding of Grant Avenue a few years ago. Remember what fun that was?? And say, how's it going finding parking for you in Old Town?? We all hope it will be worth it when the condos and the mega-Whole Foods finally do open.
Speaking of noise and dust flying, the still quiet Novato Real Estate market is...well, I don't know what it's doing. It certainly is not moving folks like it used to. As of 9/27 there where 19 single family homes for sale, under $600k. The rest of Marin has been slowing, but, not like our Novato market where sales are off 29% from 2006. Lots of well priced homes out there, and lots of sellers who would like to get on with the next phase of their lives. Loans are getting easier to come by and the rates are still historically low and, Marin homes have been a very strong investment for the last 41 years. So, please do think about buying here in Marin!!
Please take care and hope to see you on the streets or a soccer field or softball diamond soon, as we three are cheering, playing and coaching for the fun of it!!

Stick a fork in it...

We won!!

Swami Tommy's BBQ Experience was awarded Best Taste, First Place, this last Saturday at the Great American Blues and BBQ Festival in downtown San Rafael. I'm not certain how many competitors there where, at least seven teams selling and a few teams that just entered their best grilled or smoked meats. On the menu we had baby back ribs, grilled chicken(cooked by Coop and John D), and a rocking good pulled pork sando served up by the college boys from down South. The crowds where fun, the Blues music played was all top notch, if you did not make the scene, be there next year!!
Our action photo shows Caity, Dylan, Susan and the Swami his self with the award in hand.

Cooking in a town near you...

Howdy, just a quick note about our Swami Tommy's BBQ Experience hitting the road for some grilling this coming Saturday, Sept. 15th. We'll be competing at the Great American Blues and BBQ event on 4th Street, downtown San Rafael from 11am until we run out of meat!! There will be live music and up to 7 BBQ teams cooking and a dealing the sweet meats.

Please stop by and say Hi and try some of our cooking...hope to see you there!!

Steve

The Cat Days of Summer...

Hey, hoping this finds you well and still enjoying our Summer here North of the Bay...
I know it's the Dog Days of Summer, but, since we just have Misty the Cat, what's wrong with mixing it up? Speaking of Misty, the photo herewith was taken by Miss Caity, earlier this Summer.

I am still grilling, are you?? Keep getting inspired by my 'bro Swami Tommy, who has been grilling up a storm of late. We will be a rubbin and a smokin some meats in the next few weeks at a few parties in Greenbrae and Larkspur. Cooked a few racks myself on Labor Day, using my gas grill, but, I added a few chunks of pecan wood trying to get a different, smoky flavor. It sure was great stepping on the back deck with wood smoke in the air, ah...Betsy was concerned the neighbors might smell the burning wood and call 911, but there was really no visible smoke, very cool.

The other photo here abouts was taken in August at the Russian River BBQ fest. That's Dan and Sherry serving up the goods, yeah!

Continuing the saga of Novato homes sitting...We did get an offer a week ago on the listing at 639 Plum Street, but it was a "low ball" offer, as a few people have asked. Be sure to check my Plum listing out at our PacificUnion.com site. There have been a few homes priced below $600k here in Novato that did go in to contract in the last few days. First time buyers who I've been showing properties to in the last 2 weeks are no longer listening to the negative press that's been screaming lately and are getting close to buying their first homes. Very exciting times, I really do like working with first time buyers!

Please write, call or stop me and say,

Hey let's get grilling!!

Take care...Steve