Look no further! We have put together a spooktacular list of Halloween events for witches and warlocks of all ages!

Saturday October 22^nd:

Horror in the Dark at Olin Park

Upon entering this freakishly eerie mid-19th century dwelling, you will encounter the vilest of creatures and the most evil of beasts. From within these dark and desolate walls that you have entered, there is little chance of escape. It is run by the Madison Metro Jaycees and the purpose is to raise money for local charities. For 2011, we are again going with The Road Home, an organization dedicated to helping homeless families in Madison get back on their feet. http://www.hauntedwisconsin.com/events/horror-in-the-dark/

Sunday, October 23^rd:

Halloween at Henry Villas Zoo

Halloween at the Zoo is a celebration for the entire community that includes free trick or treating, a Fun Activity Tent and live music. Walk to each treat stop location to fill up your bag with sustainable palm oil candy!  The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm. http://www.vilaszoo.org/events/index.php?category_id=1994

Friday, October 28^th – Monday, October 31^st:

Madison Ghost Walks

Discover the haunted history of Madison, Wisconsin with our 90-minute ghost walk around the state’s Capitol. You can expect to meet the colorful characters, vengeful spirits, monsters, and stories of the people who love Madison so much that even death can’t stop them from staying in the city!  Tours begin at 7:00pm and 9:30pm each night, and prior reservations recommended. http://www.madisonghostwalks.com/

Horror in the Dark at Olin Park

Upon entering this freakishly eerie mid-19th century dwelling, you will encounter the vilest of creatures and the most evil of beasts. From within these dark and desolate walls that you have entered, there is little chance of escape. It is run by the Madison Metro Jaycees and the purpose is to raise money for local charities. For 2011, we are again going with The Road Home, an organization dedicated to helping homeless families in Madison get back on their feet. http://www.hauntedwisconsin.com/events/horror-in-the-dark/

Friday, October 28^th:

Downtown Madison Family Halloween

Afternoon activities (most from 2:00 – 5:00 pm) include Halloween magic shows, hayrides around the Capitol Square, ghostly songs and stories, festive Halloween family portraits, trick or treating at participating businesses, and more.  http://www.visitdowntownmadison.com/events/index.php?category_id=4572

Saturday, October 29^th:

Ghoulish Gallop

Join the fun and festivities with a Halloween themed event. Come enjoy the same great 5K and 10K runs, The Irv Stein Memorial 5K walk, and FREE kids’ activities with the added excitement of Halloween weekend thrown in: Costume contests, fun food, scary music, and any other ghoulish fun we can conjure up! All while raising funds for a great cause! http://ghoulishgallop.com/

FreakFest

The event, which is held on State Street, features a mixture of music spread over multiple stages while revelers wearing their finest costumes parade up and down the city’s main drag.  Advance tickets, are currently on sale at the Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster, by phone at 800-745-3000, online at www.frankproductions.com, or at several businesses in the State Street area. http://www.channel3000.com/freakfest/index.html

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

-  From all of us at the Alvarado Real Estate Group

Another great year to be one of the sponsors for the Willy Street Festival, hang out with our neighborhood friends and past clients and enjoy one of the best Madison area festivals!

Come join the fun on September 17th and 18th, 2011!

This is not just for Near East side neighbors, the Willy Street Fair is for everyone in the Madison area and people come from all over Dane County to celebrate the last days of Summer. The entertainment and fun is everywhere you turn with 6 stages of entertainment, a crazy fun parade at 11am on Sunday, award winning local & national beers, a large variety of foods, hand made arts and crafts and all for a good cause - to support the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center and Common Wealth Development.

Alvarado Real Estate Group is a supporter of this Fair and will have a booth, so come visit us to fill up your water bottle with ice cold water and check out our inventory of great listings in the area. We continue to be actively involved in supporting neighborhood events like these because it is what creates strong communities. Over and over again we meet with clients that want to move into a community, not just a house. It is what makes a neighborhood desireable and helps people feel a part of a community and not just a homeowner on a street. And we all benefit from that in many ways.

We hope to see you at the Fair!

Great Home Buyer classes for people looking to buy in the Madison WI and Dane County areas..and for FREE?! Space is limited so please call Project Home at 608-246-3737 for more information or to register.

Classes will be held Tuesday July 12, 2011 AND July 19th, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 p.m. Homebuyers must attend both sessions in full and a 1 hour counseling session to be scheduled individually. Classes located at Project Home’s Training Center, 1922 S. Stoughton Road Madison WI. 

The First Time Home Buyer Education classes offered by Project Home and GreenPath, Inc. allow first time home buyers to learn about homeownership in an environment that encourages questions and protects the potential home buyer from being solicited. They learn about the pros and cons of home ownership, money management skills, credit issues, how to choose a realtor and lender, down payment assistance programs, shopping of a home and obtaining financing.

We began this partnership in April 2011 and in the first 3 months of classes we have had 67 individual participants in 50 households. We are reaching the populations targeted – 96% are first time homebuyers and approximately 74% are at or below 80% of County Median Income and therefore may be eligible for most down payment assistance programs.

To receive funds for most down payment assistance programs, potential homeowners must complete education and/or counseling. This program is designed to meet the National Industry Standards for Home Ownership Education and Counseling created by the National Advisory Council of NeighborWorks® America. Our course is 7 hours of face-to-face group education and 1 hour of 1-on-1 counseling.

The Housing Center is a joint venture between Project Home and GreenPath Debt Solutions to expand and sustain affordable home-ownership in Dane County. 

Project Home is a local non-profit organization offering help to Dane & Green County residents for the last 40 years. Project Home’s mission has been to improve the quality and affordability of housing for low-to-moderate income residents. With the rising cost of housing, utilities, and building materials, it is difficult and expensive to tackle the repairs that all homes need. Project Home provides services that will improve homeowners’ comfort, safety, and reduce energy bills.

GreenPath Debt Solutions is a nationwide, non-profit financial organization that assists consumers with credit card debt, housing debt, and bankruptcy concerns. Our customized services and attainable solutions have been helping people achieve their financial goals for 50 years.  The Madison office has been serving local customers for 12 years.  Ellen Bernards has been a housing counselor and housing educator for the last 7 years and was the 2010 recipient of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s Individual Counselor of the Year award.

This information provided by Ellen Bernards, GreenPath Debt Solutions. Thank you Ellen for all you do!

La Fête de Marquette 2011 is coming soon! Come celebrate French Music & Culture starting July 7th through the 10th on Madison’s Eastside (South Dickinson & E. Washington). We love co-sponsoring this event because it helps the Wil-Mar neighborhood center and also because it is a great opportunity to bring our community together for some serious summer fun!

Music, Dancing, Food and Friends make La Fete one of Madison’s hottest summer events. And it gets better every year!

In its sixth year the free music event, which attracts thousands, celebrates French culture and benefits the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, will be staged from July 7 – 10th. The French-themed event occurs on or near Bastille Day (July 14th), the French national holiday.

See the La Fête de Marquette Schedule and bios of Performers.

Music

Musicians from throughout the French-speaking world including North and West Africa, French-speaking Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean will perform throughout the weekend. Artists with roots in the New Orleans, Cajun and Zydeco traditions will again perform primarily on Sunday, Le Jour de Louisiane.

It is hard to recall any Madison music event that could boast a more spectacular or more diverse cast of musical characters. Anders Osborne, Cyril Neville, Rosie Ledet, Glenn David Andrews, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, The Lost Bayou Ramblers and Papa Grows Funk are some of the heavy hitters from Louisiana. While BelO, Maraca, Bombino and Baloji are some of the global celebrities, set to converge on our fair city. De Temps Antan and Raz-de- Marée are two of the finest Quebecois groups from that culturally rich province.

La Fête’s music director, Bob Queen, claims this year will trump all previous years in terms of quality, quantity and diversity of musical acts. “These are all world -class groups. Some are making their first trip to this country or region. Anders Osborne is not to be missed. He is playing with his own band (Sat. last) and then joining a group of legendary New Orleans players in a grand finale on Sunday. Glen David Andrews is Troy “Trombone Shorty“ Andrews‘ 6‘4” older cousin who may supplant his cousin on this year‘s stage. Critics have compared Andrews James Brown and Prince. Baloji from Belgium and The Congo is no slouch and his big band will be playing Millenium Park in Chicago and Central Park‘s Summer Stage (NYC) on his first U.S. tour.”

Acoustic Café Breakfast

Another of the festival highlights will be the Sunday morning Acoustic Café Breakfast with a live stage show hosted by 105.5 Triple M’s Jonathan Suttin and Kitty Dunn. The Café runs from 9 am to 11:45 am and will feature memorable acoustic performances by Quebec’s Raz-de-Marée and Louisiana’s Lost Bayou Ramblers. A wait-staffed breakfast of scrumptious quiche prepared by State Street’s Barakas is the featured menu item and served to your table by East High School French students and participants of Wil-Mar’s Teen program. Sponsored by Alvarado Real Estate Group (yay!).

La Tente De Danse

Because of the incredible, vibrant dance tent sessions last year, La Fete organizers have established a new large tent dedicated to Quebecois and Cajun dance. La Tente De Danse will offer a wall-to-wall dance floor with a stage for live music. Quebec’s Raz-de-Marée (Tidal Wave) and Cajun phenoms Ryan Brunet et Les Malfacteurs (The Outlaws) will keep the tent buzzing. There will be a small ticket fee to support this new venue. La Tente De Danse is sponsored by RP’s Pasta, MadCat Pet Supplies and Wisconsin Public Radio.

Food

As always, there will be incredible food and drink from a host of vendors including— Baraka’s, Nattspil, Lao Laan-Xang, Smokin’ Cantina, authentic Cajun cuisine from Double S BBQ, Southern Style Seafood delights from HMI Catering, Jamerica, Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream and many more.

Willy Street Co-op Annual Meeting & Party

The Willy Street Co-op (presenter of the Fête) kicks off the celebration with its annual membership meeting Thursday evening, July 7th.  Featured that night are New Orleans’ Papa Grows Funk boasting OffBeat Magazine’s pianist-of-the-year, John Gros, in the lead. The incredible guitarist Bombino from Niger will show folks why he is taking the world by storm and reminding people of a Tuareg Jimi Hendrix.

The Willy Street Co-op’s Annual Meeting & Party is open to the public after 7 pm or become a Co-op equity-paying member (for just $10!) at the event and get a FREE Dinner (including beverage) gifts and chances to win prizes.

Ferris Wheel

The vintage, 1930s-era Ferris Wheel (which was just added last year) will be back and provided a perfect escape (if needed) with picturesque views of the Capital dome and Fête de Marquette’s colorful grounds.

This event has grown incredibly and attracts music lovers from all over the Midwest! Hope to see you there!

Another great event is coming soon to the great Near Eastside neighborhood! What do we love most about the Marquette Waterfront Festival? The music, the friends, the dancing, spending time outside, the beer? It is must be the combination! Here is the great description of this year’s event from the Marquette Neighborhood Association website:

Yet again the Marquette Neighborhood Association is conjuring up two days of unsurpassed excitement for the Marquette Waterfront Festival. The community will celebrate atop the whip thin spit of land known as Yahara Place Park on June 11th and 12th . This is the 22nd edition of the event and there will be a totally sensational group of performers around representing our neighborhood and diverse regions of the nation and the World. The music will be joyous and raucous and sweat-inducing danceable. We ask that you please come both days to enjoy the show and the seductive breeze at Lake Monona’s shore.

Saturday, June 11th, 2011 Waterfront Schedule

• 12:00 – The TakI All-Stars
• 1:30 – Grupo Candela
• 3:00 – Fareed Haque & The Flat Earth Ensemble
• 4:45 – Aurelio Martinez Garifuna Soul (Honduras)
• 6:30 – Yoro Ndiaye & Yoonwi (Senegal)

Sunday, June 12th, 2011 Waterfront Schedule

• 11:45 – Harris Lemberg Trio with Special Friends
• 1:15- Sleeping in the Aviary
• 2:45 – Robbie Fulks
• 4:30 – The Campbell Brothers
• 6:15 – The Bottle Rockets

We hope to see you there!

Here in Madison we have our own style. And part of this lifestyle in Madison WI that we love is our ability to be at the forefront of making a difference in the world. It seems that most people I meet in Madison understand that Global Change Starts at Home. At home in our own beliefs or our driving habits, energy use or our food choices. That statement is pretty broad but it also focuses on what we have the ability to control too. And one thing that we have seen many new Madison homebuyers get excited about (yes, they get excited!) is the opportunity to start composting in their new backyards.

The City of Madison and Dane County will hold their annual home compost bin and rain barrel sale on Saturday, May 7.  This one-day only sale will feature the Earth Machine Home Composter and the Systern rain barrel.  The Earth Machine will be on sale for $45, tax included and the Systern will sell for $55 tax included.

Madison location information: Alliant Energy Center. Customers should use the Olin Ave entrance. 9am – 3pm.

Middleton location information: Middleton Public Works Garage 3300 Laura Lane. 9am – 1pm.

For more information check out the City of Madison website and visit the Alvarado Group resource guide for making a difference in your home.

It’s the Spring Bike Fair in Madison WI!

Sunday May 1st, 2011, 11am – 3pm
Wright Middle School, 1717 Fish Hatchery Road

Celebrate the return of spring and the promise of many fun-filled days of biking by participating in the first annual Bike Madison Spring Fair. The Bike Madison Spring Fair is an opportunity to get ready for spring by learning or refreshing your skills with workshops such as Bike Maintenance 101, Bike Commuter 101 and many more.

The Bike Madison Spring Fair will feature MSCR kids activities, a chance to try out Metro Transit’s Rack-n-Roll program, Madison Police Department Bike Tours. The Bike Spring Madison Fair is a FREE family event.

Information provided by the City of Madison – Spring Fair website. For more resources and information about Biking in the Madison area click here.

Bike Madison Spring Fair Activities Include:

• Madison School Community Recreation Family Fun Activities – All Day!
• Madison Police Department South District Bike Tours at 1p.m. and 2 p.m.: Each ride will be approximately 45 minutes long. You will be required to wear a helmet to participate in the ride.
• Planet Trek Dane County information and Bike Tour at 1:00p.m.: Information and maps will be available for Planet Trek Dane County, a scale model of the solar system along the bike path from Monona Terrace to Mt. Horeb. We will also have a group ride leaving at 1:00 to make a loop from the Sun (Monona Terrace) to Jupiter and back to Wright Middle School.
• Metro Transit Rack-n-Roll Program: Learn how to use the bike racks before you travel. Ask questions and practice on a Metro bike rack.
• Bicycle Registration: A Four-Year Bicycle Registration costs only $10.00 and is a good way to help protect your important means of transportation, recreation and exercise!
• Madison Police Hula Hoop Making: Who doesn’t like a hula hoop? Madison Police Officers will be on hand to help you make your very own hula hoop.
• City bike initiatives: The City’s Bike Madison staff will share the exciting bike planning initiatives occurring in Madison. Pick up a 2011 Bike Map.
• Local bike advocacy groups: 20by2020, Wheels for Winners, Freewheel, and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will be on hand to talk about their programs and events.
• Transporting children by bike demo by Williamson Bicycle Works: Children of pre-cycling age will still love traveling by bicycle – there are different solutions for different ages.Brought to you by:
  City of Madison Bike Madison Program, MSCR, Madison Police Department, Metro Transit, UW Space Place, 20by2020, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Williamson Bicycle Works

Madison Area Market Update

The spring real estate market is here and even though the trees are still bare, it is warming up nicely, offers are being put together and there is optimism in the air. This is the first year (of the past two) that we haven’t had a tax credit out there to “jump start” the market. Now we know the market is moving at a pace that is driven by the consumer and not by a deadline from the government. Are we moving in an upward direction? No, not yet – we are steady and flat. In fact prices dropped in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 2010. But number of sales were the same. We are still chugging through interesting real estate times. If you love MLS data and area stats you can find more 1^st quarter market data here. If you are thinking of buyer or selling this spring – contact us!   

Stay up to date with our most recent listings, click here and sit back for some fun house shopping. Or pass the link on to friends you know that are thinking of buying. Our website has the best mls search capabilities out there.

Upcoming Events

Come visit with us at Isthmus Green Day at Monona Terrace all day Saturday, April 16th, from 9-5pm. We’ll have balloons for the kids and a drawing for a Rain Barrel. If you can’t make it on Saturday you can connect with us on facebook!

Farmers’ Market downtown Madison starts on Saturday! We have an info packed blog post with the Madison area Farmer’s Market schedule for all the great local markets offered during the week. It is fun to make the Capitol Square farmers’ market a family outing but the reality is that to sustain your family’s local eating habits it is important to have a place close to home that is convenient and easy for you. Thankfully Madison offers markets all over town!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to New Homeowners Todd on Thorp St., Brandon on Steensland Dr., Chris on La Crosse Ln, John and Lauren on Hillside Circle, Tim and Melissa on Velvet Leaf Dr., Sue and Jenna on Quinn Circle, Sara and JC on Derby Down, Justin and Catie on Eggum Ct, and Mike and Heather on Sunflower Dr. We hope you LOVE your new home and your new neighbors.

Living and Working in Gratitude (Locally of course!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our friends and past clients that continue to refer your friends, neighbors and family. It is what keeps our business strong and successful. Thank you for supporting our local, independent business. We also make sure we work with other local businesses too and one of our favorite resources is through Dane Buy Local. They have a great online directory!

Your neighborhood Realtor friends,
Sara & Carlos Alvarado, Kathryn Wunnicke, Julie Campbell, Darcy Haber, Robert Grether and Eric Turnquist
Alvarado Real Estate Group | 608.251.6600 | team@thealvaradogroup.com | www.TheAlvaradoGroup.com

Sara and Kathryn at Isthmus Green Day

This is one of our favorite expo’s. It is the earth friendly expo and Madison’s finest!

April 16th, 2011 from 9am – 5pm come down to the Monona Terrace and visit local businesses, organizations and learn from the informational presentations.

This year the Alvarado Real Estate Group will be there to:

• Showcase our great Madison area listings
• Educate on the benefits of working with an EcoBroker
• Introduce you to the Slow Home Movement

Informational & entertaining presentations:
* An amazing line-up of speakers talk about shortening the distance from farm to table.
* The Fabulous Beekman Boys from Discovery’s Planet Green reality show share adventures from their urban-to-rural life with goats, chickens, pigs, and one diva of a llama.
* A townhall discussion on healthy food in schools features farmers, students, parents and school representatives.

Fun for little ones too!
Isthmus Green Day’s Family Play Zone has hands-on activities, arts and crafts, sponsored by Aldo Leopold Nature Center, MSCR, and Friends of the Henry Vilas Zoo.

Tickets are $5 at the door or in advance at the Isthmus office, 101 King Street in Madison.
Free admission for children under 12, and if you walk, take the bus or ride your bike.
Bring donations for Goodwill and get in free, too!

We work with many Madison area first time home buyers. We sit and drink coffee or tea together and our clients tell us their dreams in a home. With first time home buyers we usually hear things like: We are tired of sharing walls with neighbors, we want more privacy and we want to paint the walls whatever colors we want. We want to invite our friends over to to grill on the deck. And of course:

We want a yard. A place to let the dogs play. A place to garden. A place to grow food, plant flowers. A place to compost or build a chicken coop. 

So we help them buy their first home. They get their yard. And then what?

They love their new home but don’t know what to do now that they have the yard. We have heard it many times. And now in perfect partnership with Sustain Dane we are excited to bring you a springtime seminar:

MY IDEAL BACKYARD: Turn your yard into a sustainable oasis. 

Part book club, part get-your-hands-dirty workshop, these series of interactive classes teach how to put together a sustainable backyard. Learn the building and gardening skills necessary to install a raised bed, to put in a water catchment system, and to build a chicken coop—and then make them happen!

Throughout the program, participants meet with experts and practitioners to learn the reasons for backyard gardening—and then will take those skills to their own homes.

Each week, participants meet at one person’s backyard and install that week’s lesson.

Limited availability so sign up today!

DATE & TIMES

• Thursday, March 17th, Madison Children’s Museum, 6:30 – 8 pm
  Initial design: Kate Hieber-Cobb, Madison Area Permaculture Guild
• Saturday, March 26th, Madison Children’s Museum 1—2:30 pm
  Review Backyard Designs
• Saturday, April 2nd, 1 —4 pm
  Install garden beds: Megan Blodgett, Willy Street Co-op
• Saturday, April 9th,1 — 4 pm. Madison Children’s Museum
  Introduction to Chicken Coops: Julie King, Rooftop Ramble Coordinator, Madison’s Children Museum
• Saturday, April 16th, 1 — 4 pm
  Install a chicken coop
• Saturday, April 23rd, 1 — 4 pm
  Install water conversation and irrigation systems: Jim Guither, rain barrel program
• Saturday, April 30th, 1— 4 pm
  Worm bins and bee-keeping: Kiera Mulvey, Madison-area Agriculture Supported Coalition
• Saturday, May 7th, 1— 4 pm
  Canning, jarring and enjoying your backyard: Sustain Dane staff

SIGN UP TODAY! Or contact Phil Busse at Sustain Dane with further questions: phil@sustaindane.org, 608.819.0689