During open houses and showings, the goal is to have potential buyers stay for as long as possible and fully view the home. During the summer months, to achieve this, the home needs to be comfortable, for the majority of potential buyers this temperature is between 65 and 70 degrees. Others ways to keep potential buyers cool and feel welcomed in the home is to have a pitcher of water or bottles of water out for them and a snack such as cookies. Potential buyers will feel welcomed in the space and have an easier time picturing themselves in this space.

Come out and help celebrate Sushi Roku’s 2^nd Anniversary and International Sushi Day on Monday, June 12^th and Tuesday, June 20^th. During this event, customers will receive 50% off their food purchases for dine-in and dinner. Between Monday, June 12^th and Tuesday, June 20^th there will be a special Anniversary menu with sushi al carte items. Among some of the special menu items are:

Uni Toast: Japanese bread with caviar and garlic butter sauce

Tuna Pizza

Bamboo Seafood Risotto

Kuma Roll: Crab, avocado and smelt eggs

Summer Ramen: grilled prawns with vegetables and egg noodles

Anniversary Roku Fusion: Vodka with melon juice served with a bamboo straw

Carnival Cake: New York cheesecake with strawberries, cotton candy and rum

Sushi Roku is located at 327 Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island. Sushi Roku blends California innovation, with traditional sushi techniques and fish from the finest waters. For more information or to make reservations, see their website at: http://www.innovativedining.com/restaurants/sushiroku.

Crystal Cove is home to some of the most sought after real estate in Newport Beach. With its high bluff setting Crystal Cove homes have impeccable views. Located at 2 Scenic Bluff, this 6,100 square foot home is part of the Watermark development. This six bedroom, six bathroom home was built in 2002. This home is a plan three model. The home office has a private entrance. There is a detached guest house on the property, perfect for guests or as a pool house. There are expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, white water, Catalina Island, golf course, city night lights and picture perfect sunsets.  This home sits on a very large 21,000 square foot piece of property with a cul-de-sac setting. Outdoors, homeowner’s will enjoy relaxing by the swimming pool and spa. The pool and spa have a waterfall. The private courtyard has an outdoor fireplace and terra cotta pavers. Watermark, like all Crystal Cove communities is a 24 hour guard gated development. Watermark was built by Taylor Woodrow Homes and there are 33 homes in this development.

When you are selling your home, make it sparkle from top to bottom. Do you have gold, silver, or pewter accessories, light fixtures or door knobs, polish them so they shine. Have the carpets professionally cleaned; this will help to remove any lingering odors in the house.  Keep pets well groomed to help keep pet odors and shedding to a minimum. Potential buyers are sure to notice how well kept and maintained your home is.

The 4^th Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival will take place on Saturday, June 10^th. The Balboa Yacht Club will host the Wooden Boat Festival, which will get underway at 10am. Last year this event attracted over 3,000 visitors. This is a great way to experience the uniqueness of wooden boats, of all sizes, power and sail. Guests will experience wooden boats on both land and water. There will be a marine art show happening during boat show, live music and food available. Awards will be given for best-in-class vehicles. Balboa Yacht Club is located at 1801 Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar. This event is open to the public and free to attend.  Free shuttle service will be running all day along from a free off-site parking lot. For more information about this, see their website at: https://newportbeachwoodenboatfestival.com/.

Crystal Cove is part of Newport Coast. A very large percentage of Crystal Cove is made up of Crystal Cove State Park, which is an official California State Park, with beaches, canyons and trails. Located at 46 Timor Sea, this 3,900 square foot home is part of the Windward development. This four bedroom, five bathroom home was built in 2001. Enter the home to a formal entry with a spiral staircase. There is a lower level bathroom suite and a large master bedroom suite on the second floor. The gourmet kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a breakfast nook and opens onto the family room. This home has 270 degree views of the Pacific Ocean, Newport Coastline, Catalina Island, and vibrant evening sunsets. This home sits on a 9,900 square foot piece of pie shaped property. The large backyard has south west facing views. Windward is a 24 hour guard gated neighborhood. Windward residents, as all Crystal Cove residents are invited to join in all the resort style activities offered at the Canyon Club Recreational Center.

If you are considering selling your home during the late spring or summer season, don’t forget to make these small maintenance repairs, which are often overlooked. Check all the fascia boards directly under your gutters, these might decay faster than other areas. Clean all the window and door screens, repair or replace and broken screens. Check the weather stripping on doors or windows. Also, clean all decks from winter and early spring debris and then make sure all the boards are in good shape.

The 56^th Annual Athletic Awards Dinner will be held on June 1^st, 2017. This year’s special guest speaker will by Olympian Aaron Peirsol.  During the ceremony, outstanding student athletes from Newport Harbor High School, Corona del Mar High School and Sage Hill School will be honored for their achievements. Also, during this event, special coaches will be recognized. There are both individual tickets and table sponsorships available. Guest Speaker Aaron Peirsol appeared in three Olympics and won seven medals; he is also a world record holder.  Individual tickets are $50 and table sponsorships are $500. The awards dinner begins at 6pm and continues until 8:30pm. This year the Annual Athletic Awards Dinner will be held at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach. The Radisson is located at 4545 MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach. For more information or to purchase ticket, see their website at: https://www.newportbeach.com/events/56th-annual-athletic-awards-dinner-with-olympian-aaron-peirsol/.

Crystal Cove is home to several luxury residential communities and the Crystal Cove State Park. The Crystal Cove State Park offers three miles of beaches, tidal pools, 400 acre of bluffs and 2,400 acres of canyons. Located at 1 Shell Beach, this 9,500 square foot home is part of the Crystal Collection Estate Collection. This six bedroom, nine bathroom home was built in 2012. Built by Rodeo Homes, this custom built estate features a two story foyer. Attention to detail can be seen in the Venetian plaster, limestone floors and in-laid flooring. The gourmet kitchen has butler’s kitchen and opens onto an informal eating area and the great room.  This home has views from nearly every room of the Pacific Ocean, the Newport Coast coastline, Catalina Island, white water and amazing sunsets. This home sits on a very large 16,000 square foot piece of property with a corner lot setting on a bluff. Outdoors, there are approximately 300 square foot of covered outdoor living space. The outdoor kitchen has a barbeque island, bar area and many sitting areas. In addition outside, there is a zero-edge pool and spa. The Crystal Cove Estate Collection is a 24 hour guard gated community.

When you are preparing your home for a home sale, consider re-painting certain rooms if they are painted in bright or bold colors. Potential buyers can be turned off by these colors. Neutral colors, such as ivory, white or beige are appealing to the majority of potential buyers. If you would like to add a punch of color, you can add it in several ways. Colorful throw pillows and afghans in the family room, vases of colorful fresh cut flowers and a bowl of seasonal fruit, can all add a pop of color.

Looking for a fun alternative way to celebrate Mother’s Day, take Mom on a Newport Beach Mother’s Day Cruise. Choose from three brunch cruises, two supper cruises and two dinner cruises.  The Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Cruise is a two hour cruise with gorgeous views, an indulgent buffet and free flowing champagne.  The Mother’s Day Supper and Dinner Cruises features a two and half hour cruise, a boarding glass of champagne, complimentary non alcoholic drinks, the supper menu and live entertainment.  All cruises will have live music and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks. Roses for mom are available for any cruise. For more information about any of the Mother’s Day cruises, see their website at: https://www.hornblower.com/port/category/nb+mothersday.

Crystal Cove is home to several luxury residential neighborhoods and the Crystal Cove State Park. The park is home to the Crystal Cove Historical District with 48 1920’s and 1930’s beach cottages. Located at 35 Offshore, this 10,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Estate Collection. This six bedroom, nine bathroom home was built in 2016. Attention to detail can be seen in the thirty foot wide wrap around deck with pocketing doors, high ceilings on all levels and custom stone work. The lower level has a large entertaining space with a game and television area with an informal eating area, and tiered theater. There is elevator access for all levels. The home has a 7 car subterranean garage. Expansive views can be seen from most rooms and the property of the Pacific Ocean, white water, Catalina Island, Abalone Point and picture perfect sunsets. This home sits on a large 14,000 square foot piece of property.  Crystal Cove is a 24hour guard gated community. All residents are encouraged to participate in the resort style activities at the Canyon Club Recreational Center, which acts as the social hub of the community.

As you begin your preparation for a home sale, spring clean your home from top to bottom. Potential buyers will be very interested in the bathrooms, so keep them spotlessly clean. Clean all the vanities, showers, bath tubs and toilets. Clean the floors and the grout between all tiles. Also de-clutter both the vanity tops and the cabinets. This will make the storage space look larger and a cleared off and clean countertop is appealing to potential buyers. Try to give them a spa feel with ribbon wrapped towels, a vase of fresh flowers and hanging fluffy white robes.

Breastlink’s, The Pink Journey will take place on Wednesday, May 10^th. The Pink Journey takes place the second Wednesday of every month and participants will learn about breast cancer and screening guidelines.  The event will tackle topics such as risk factors, genetic testing, breast imaging options, and much more. These discussions are hosted by physicians, nurses and support staff. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend. Breastlink also offers classes for groups. The event gets underway at 6pm and runs for an hour. Breastlink and Finesse is located at 1441 Avocado Avenue in Newport Beach. For more information see the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce website at: https://www.newportbeach.com/events/breastlinks-the-pink-journey-3/.

Crystal Cove has a high bluff setting, giving it some of the best view properties in Newport Coast. In addition to luxury residential developments, Crystal Cove is home to the Crystal Cove State Park, with 400 acres of bluffs, 2,400 acres of canyons, 18 miles of trails and a 1,400 acre marine park. Located at 22 Deep Sea, this 12,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Custom Home community. This six bedroom, eight bathroom home was built in 2007. With a Mediterranean architectural style, this home has it all; a three tiered theatre, a gym, 800 bottle wine cellar, library and a subterranean six plus car garage. This custom built home has amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, the Newport Coastline, Catalina Island, Newport Harbor, city night lights and spectacular evening sunsets. This home sits on an over-sized 32,000 square foot piece of property. Outdoors, the home is surrounded by lush landscaping with mature trees. In addition, there is a 360 degree tiled infinity edge pool, spa, a barbeque pavilion and an outdoor bar. Crystal Cove is a 24 hour guard gated community. All Crystal Cove residents are invited to join in all the resort style activities offered at the Canyon Club Recreational Center, which is the social hub of the area.

Keep your yard in tip top shape, while your home is listed on the real estate market. After you clean up winter debris and prune trees and shrubs, plant blooming annuals and perennials in the garden beds. This will add a pop of color to the yard. Finally, mow the lawn. Edge the lawn alongside the driveway and sidewalks; this will give the lawn a nice crisp, clean line. Try mowing the lawn diagonally, it make the yard look larger.

The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina is having two special Easter events. On Saturday, April 15^th, the Annual Easter Egg hunt will take place. Each year, hundreds of children hunt for over six thousand Easter eggs filled with candy, toys, cash prizes and a token for a bicycle. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to pose for pictures with the children.  The Easter Egg hunt kicks-off at 9am. The Back Bay Bistro Easter Brunch will take place on Sunday, April 16^th between 9am and 2pm. The brunch will include an omelet station, crab cake station, hot off the grill area, pancake station, carving station featuring lamb, smoked fish station, and dessert extravaganza. The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina is located at 1131 Back Bay Drive. For more information about either of these events, see their website at: http://www.newportdunes.com/event/back-bay-bistro-easter-brunch/.

Crystal Cove is part of Newport Coast and it is made up of several luxury residential developments.  Due to its high bluff setting, Crystal Cove has amazing views. Located at 42 Deep Sea, this 12,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Custom community. This six bedroom, eleven bathroom home was built in 2017. Designed by architect David Hohmann, this classic home has modern amenities. The builder was Dugally Oberfeld and the interior was designed by Errol de Jager. The home is designed around a central courtyard. The gourmet kitchen is attached to a great room, has a butler’s pantry and has a breakfast nook. The library is adjacent to a lounge and bar. The garage has nine car slots and a turntable. In addition, the home features a fitness room with a massage studio, billiards room and glass enclosed putting green. This home has amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island, Newport Harbor, Newport Coastline and gorgeous evening sunsets. This home sits on an extra large 21,000 square foot piece of property. Outdoors, homeowners will enjoy entertaining on the patio or loggia, around the pool and spa or in the outdoor barbeque area. Crystal Cove is home to the Crystal Cove State Park and the Crystal Cove Promenade with many shopping and dining options.

Potential buyers will start forming opinions about the house, as soon as they pull up to the curb. Help them to create positive opinions. Begin at the front door; create the most inviting entry you can. Clean the area of cobwebs and other debris. Repaint or stain the front door, if necessary. Add a seasonal wreath to the front door.  Replace old door mats with fresh ones, both inside and outside. Finally, add a container of blooming plants to the front porch.

The Crystal Cove Alliance and the Crystal Cove State Park are having their 1^st Annual Art in the Park. The Art in the Park celebration will include their spring art show, “Eye of the Cove.” Art in the Park will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 1^st and April 2^nd. The event will be open each day from 10am to 4pm. The show will include demonstrations and workshops on watercolor, poetry, and sea glass. There will live musical performances from California State University students and the Laguna Beach High School Jazz Combo. On Friday, March 31^st, guests can have an early peak at the show, at the artist reception. Friday evening, the reception will begin at 5pm. The artist reception is free for all Crystal Cove Alliance members to attend and is open to the public for $10 per tickets. The Friday evening event requires reservations Art in the Park is being held in the Education Commons in the Crystal Cove Historic District.  The Crystal Cove State Park is located at the crossroads of the Pacific Coast Highway and Los Trancos in Newport Beach. For more information about Art in the Park or to make reservations, see their website at: http://www.crystalcovealliance.org/art-park-celebration/.

Crystal Cove is part of the Newport Coast section of Newport Beach. Crystal Cove is just north of Laguna Beach, between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway. Located at 6 Shore Walk, this 7,500 square foot home is part of the Sea Crest development. This five bedroom, six bathroom was built in 2007.  Attention to detail can be seen in the vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and travertine floors. This home has unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, the Newport Beach coastline, Catalina Island, Palos Verdes, Newport Harbor, city night lights and stunning sunsets. This home sits on an over sized 18,000 square foot piece of property with a cul-de-sac setting. Outdoors, homeowners will enjoy strolling among the many citrus trees and gardens. There is an outdoor courtyard with a fireplace and a covered loggia. Sea Crest is a 24 hour guard gated neighborhood with just 29 custom built estates. All Sea Crest residents, as are all Crystal Cove residents, are invited to join all the resort style recreational activities at Canyon Club Recreational Center.

Prior to listing your home on the real estate market, work on de-cluttering, de-personalizing and staging your home for the sale. Remove knick-knacks, personal photos and excess furniture. By removing excess furniture, your home will appear larger. You do not want potential buyers taking time to look at your personal photos and items; you want them spending that time looking at the home. Finally, stage the home giving each room a specific purpose and a warm and welcoming feeling.

On Monday, March 20^th the 2017 Boys and Girls Club Annual Golf Tournament will tee off at 11:30am. The tournament will be held at the Costa Mesa Country Club on the Las Lagos Course. In addition to golf, there will be raffles and lots of great food. All proceeds will fund programs at the Central Orange County Boys and Girls Club. The Boys and Girls Club of Central Orange County serves the communities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange and Santa Ana. Registration begins at 9:30am with the first tee off at 11:30am. The Costa Mesa Country Club is located at 1701 Golf Course Drive. To register for the tournament or for more information, see their website at: www.boysandgirlsclub.com/golf.

Crystal Cove is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Coast, just north of Laguna Beach. With its high bluff setting, Crystal Cove has tremendous views. Located at 24 Tideline Bluff, this 3,700 square foot home is part of the Nautilus 2 development. This four bedroom, five bathroom home was built in 2004. The kitchen features all stainless steel appliances, wine storage and a large kitchen island. Attention to detail can be seen in the home’s sound system, epoxy garage floors, and decorative moldings. There is a private casita on the property, perfect for guests. The views of the Pacific Ocean, white water, Newport Harbor, Catalina Island and gorgeous evening sunsets are seen from both the home and property.  This home sits on a 6,100 square foot piece of property. Outdoors, the yard is filled with both citrus and fruit trees. In addition outside, there is a built in barbeque, Viking cook top, outdoor living space with a fireplace and loggia. Nautilus is a 24 hour guard gated community. Among the many amenities are a community pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, fitness center and barbeque area.

When you are selling your home, it is just as important to stage the outside as it is the inside. No matter the time of year, you can do some staging on the outdoors. During the winter months, keep the outdoors as neat as possible and add a wreath to the front door. Also during winter months, place a photo album on the kitchen table with pictures of the outdoors in other seasons, especially summer. Even if your outdoor space is just a patio or terrace, dress it up with a small table and chairs. It extends the indoor living space and gives potential buyers an idea how to use the space.

Basilic Restaurant is celebrating their 20^th Anniversary this February. All month long, there will be special menu items as nightly specials. Chef/Owner Bernard Althaus will be recreating some of the original menu items throughout the month for guests to enjoy. Althaus was born and raised in the Alps in Switzerland; his cuisine has a French Swiss flair. Favorite dishes include Swiss Onion Soup, John Dory Filet and Crème Brulee. Basilic opened in 1997. The restaurant is open Tuesdays through Saturdays for dinner. Basilic Restaurant is located at 217 Marine Avenue on Balboa Island. For more information about this month long celebration or to make reservations, see their website at: http://www.basilicrestaurant.com/.

Crystal Cove is made up residential developments, shopping areas and mostly by the Crystal Cove State Park. The park is has hundreds of acres of canyons, 18 miles of trails and 3.2 miles of coastline and beaches. Located 9 Del Mar, this 15,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Custom home community. This six bedroom, nine bathroom home was built in 2010. Attention to detail can be seen in the salt water aquarium, custom mahogany work and automotive turn table in the garage. The home features a 10 person home theater, game room and elevator to all the levels of the home. The home and property have views of the Pacific Ocean, Newport Beach Harbor, Pelican Hill Golf Course, Palos Verdes, Catalina Island and gorgeous sunsets. The home sits on a very large 30,000 square foot piece of peninsula front row property. Outdoors, homeowner’s will enjoy entertaining around the swimming pool, in the pool pavilion and around the fire feature. The gardens have mature canary palms and water features, surrounding a putting green. Crystal Cove is a 24 hour guard gated community. Residents are encouraged to take part in all the resort style activities offered at the Canyon Club Recreational Center.

When you are staging your home for a sale, stage the rooms with purpose. Show potential buyers what each room is used for. Choose just one purpose for each room, not multiple purposes confusing potential buyers. Take away the clutter and extra furniture from a room. Update the paint with a neutral color, such as cream or beige. Next, put furniture back in the room, but furniture just for one purpose such as a bed and dresser for a bedroom or a desk for a home office. Potential buyers will have a clear picture of how the space works.

Join Chef Rich Mead, as he teaches a class on braising. This class will be held in the Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens on Sunday, February 26th. Chef Rich Mead is chef and owner of The Farmhouse, which is the restaurant in Roger’s Gardens. In this class and demonstration he will teach braising techniques. Chef Mead will talk about using fresh seasonal ingredients in braising recipes. This is a technique which can be used to prepare a meal in advance and just be heated up prior to serving. The class will begin at 10am and last two hours. This class is free to attend. The Farmhouse is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road in Corona del Mar. For more information about this event or to sign up, see their website at: http://rogersgardens.com/seminars-events/cooking-with-chef-rich-mead-braising/.

Crystal Cove is part of the Newport Coast section of Newport Beach and is just north of Laguna Beach. This area is a wonderful mix of luxury real estate, shopping and dining and outdoor activities. Located at 9 Del Mar, this 15,000 square foot home is part of the Crystal Cove Custom Home community. This six bedroom, nine bathroom home was built in 2010. Among the many special features of the home is a two story family room with a salt water aquarium. The study or office has mahogany finishes and the room has ocean views. Other features of the estate include a ten person home theater, game room and billiards room. The home and property have fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean, white water, Newport Harbor, Palos Verdes and the Pelican Hill Golf Course. This home sits on a very large, 30,000 square foot piece of peninsula property with a west facing. Outdoors, homeowners will enjoy strolling through the canary palm trees and among the waterfall and water features. Outdoor entertaining will be exceptional around the swimming pool, in the pool pavilion and on the putting green. Crystal Cove Custom Homes are in a 24 hour guard gated development.