Just Listed in 63129 and OPEN this Sunday from 1-3!

 

#2822 Newbridge Court

Beautifully updated and space galore in
the Oakville School District...

 

#2822 Newbridge boasts a fabulous South County location, tucked away in the heart of a quiet cul-du-sac.   This handsome traditional 2-story features tasteful interior décor, a fully-fenced yard, and over 2,100 square feet.

Home features: 4 sizable bedrooms including a Master Suite with private bath and a HUGE walk-in closet, 2.5 baths, a gracious formal living room, a separate dining room, an updated eat-in kitchen (12) with rich mahogany cabinets, a main floor family room with a gas fireplace, a main floor laundry room, and a tidy basement with oodles of storage!

The crown jewel of this property, however,  is the amazing sun porch overlooking the lush back yard complete with a new composite deck (13) and a freshly poured concrete patio.  It is the perfect spot for your shindigs, just in time for summer!

Complete with a 2 car garage, hardwood floors, fresh paint,  professional landscaping (11), new fixtures (13), new water heater (12) and HVAC (13),… this home is a complete package! Beautifully maintained and move-in ready with an amazing location just 25 minutes from Downtown!

Offered for $209,900.    

To view the full MLS listing, including ALL of the photos and stats,  visit :

 http://www.marismatrix.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=2230346498

 

 

Hidden Gem: Lake Sherwood in Overland

I have been intrigued by the history of Lake Sherwood (63114) since I sold my 1st house on it (#1 Crossbow) years ago. A hidden gem that most don't even know exists.

I showed property in the subdivision last week- had to share! An interesting subdivision tucked into Central/North St. Louis County.

Connect with the Overland Historical Society:

Web: http://www.overlandhistoricalsociety.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/OverlandHistoricalSociety

Just for Fun: Funny photos of the St. Louis Arch - Part 2

As I still get a little chuckle from my last "Funny Photos With The St. Louis Arch" post, more Google results of our beloved landmark for you viewing pleasure...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus photo...

 
Mississippi River barge for lunch?  People are strange.  Too fun!

New listing coming next week in South County!

 

St. Louis inventory is low and new, beautifully-updated listings are difficult to come by! I have THREE coming soon: one in Chesterfield, one in St. Charles, & this one in South County- coming next week in 63129.   Want more information?  Call me at 314.298.5275 or contact me via my Social Media icons above!

 

 

St. Louis Summer Savings- Printable coupons for local attractions!

Ready or not, parents...

...here comes summer vacation! Most St. Louis kiddos close out the school year this week, including the Nenonen boys who are officially done on Friday at noon.

Simply, this year FLEW.

"Now what?!" seems to be the common theme among our friends this week, as we pull out our date books to schedule sleepovers, BBQs, and activities for the next 3 months. Luckily, here in St. Louis, the possibilities for summer fun are endless. We not only have terrific family amenities at our fingertips (see my right sidebar under "Things To Do in St. Louis" for links), but St. Louis is unique to most cities as the bulk of our local favorites are extremely affordable or free.

Over the past few years, St. Louis has been touted nationally as the ideal family destination. As a result, our local businesses have responded by offering deals and discounts to entice tourists to the attractions that are NOT free.

Many locals aren't aware that Drury Hotels offers NUMEROUS discounts to local attractions for locals/visitors on their website...

• $1 off admission to the Missouri Botanical Gardens
• $1 off admission to the Butterfly House
• Discounts on Cardinals Tickets
• $2 off an Omnimax ticket at the St. Louis Science Center
• $5 indoor go-carting at Pole Position
• Buy 1, Get 1 Admission 1/2 off at the Magic House
• $2 off admission to the Endangered Wolf Center
• Free Child Tram ticket to the top of the Arch
• $2 off admission to the Rise and Fall of Prohibition exhibit at the Missouri History Museum
• Discounted ticket to 6 Flags
• Buy 1 chocolate chip concrete at Ted Drewes, get one for 1/2 off
• Free shark tooth at the City Museum's World Aquarium
• $3 off admission to Meramec Caverns
• Buy 1 hr tour ticket, get one free at the Daniel Boone Heritage Center
• Discounts on Amtrack Railroad tickets for children and seniors
• 20% off at the Purina Farms gift shop
• Discounts at the Anheuser Busch Brewery gift shop
• Free iPod tour at Cahokia Mounds
• $5 off Caveman Ziplining

Print the deals HERE.

Great, right?  Now, go tell your friends and share my link before the summer fun begins! 

On a personal note, the Nenonens love Drury Hotels! Few know that early in his career, my hubby worked as a manager for Drury Hotels.  15+years later, in his significant work travel, he still uses them as his "go-to" hotel for business comfort and amenities.   We also stay at Drury Hotels often with the boys!

Connect with Drury Hotels...

HERE on the web
HERE on Facebook
HERE on Twitter.

Bravo and thank you, Drury Hotels...

Under contract:11523 Mack in Maryland Heights

This is an excellent finale to my day of Sunday Open House fun...

#11523 Mack Avenue in Maryland Heights is officially under contract. A warm congratulations to the Brenners, who are scheduled to close in June!

Hidden Gem: The Wabash, Frisco, & Pacific Mini Railroad in Glencoe, MO

The Wabash Mini Railroad's summer Sunday schedule is officially underway!

What is the Wabash?  Check it out...

The Wabash, Frisco, and Pacific Mini Railroad is a true word-of-mouth hidden gem to most locals.  My parents took me to the Wabash when I was a little and now I take MY children.

Nestled on the western edge of West County (on the border of Wildwood in Glencoe, Missouri) , The Wabash offers one of the most unique experiences in town. Hop aboard a 12 inch gauge live steam train and travel a two mile, round trip, 30 minute route along the scenic Meramec River. Operated by an all volunteer staff, the operation was organized in 1939 and has been operating at the Glencoe site since 1961.

If you are a St. Louisan, you MUST ride the Wabash at least ONE time in your life.  Period.

Though obviously one of the top family attractions in the St. Louis area, it is a unique Sunday activity for children of all ages. Even though my boys have long outgrown their deeply-rooted train obsession, we still go to the Wabash at least one time per summer. It is a gorgeous, gorgeous ride and an experience you can get nowhere else.

Don't wait for the kids and just go! I promise... you will enjoy it!  The perfect "Sunday Funday" adventure.

Nitty Gritty:

The Railroad is open every Sunday, May through October. Trains start their scheduled departures from the station at 11am, departing about every 20 minutes. The final train leaves at 4:15pm.

Tickets are $4.00. Children under 3 and Military Families (with military id) ride free.

WEB: http://www.wfprr.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/wfprr
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/wfprr

HINT:  Want to make it the perfect day?  After Memorial Day Weekend, hit Barney's for lunch afterwards.  It is only 10 minutes from the Wabash...

Closed: #47 Villa Coublay in Creve Coeur

#47 Villa Coublay closed this AM...

A sincere thank you and enormous congratulations Y and T! 
Learn more about the property HERE.

 

 

Union Station Phase 1 REVEAL- Grand Hall lobby

Phase one of the multi-million dollar renovation of Union Station is well underway, and with the opening of the new and improved Grand Hall, the internet is buzzing with videos like this of the impressive rotating light shows...



A little local history lesson...

St. Louis Union Station, circa 1894, was once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world.  Built for $6.5 million and primarily of Indiana limestone, St. Louis Union Station was designed to not only be functional, but beautiful... 

The train station acted as the main central hub between the east and the west for decades, and was designed with three main areas: The Headhouse, Midway, and Trainshed.  

The Headhouse originally boasted a hotel, restaurant, passenger waiting rooms, railroad ticketing offices, and a clock tower....

The crown jewel of the Headhouse, however, was  the gold-leafed Grand Hall...

One of the main gathering spots during the famous 1902 St. Louis World's Fair era, Grandhall featured an impressive 65ft barrel vaulted ceiling, mosaic, Romanesque archways, and the STUNNING  "Allegorical Window" made from hand-cut Tiffany glass and strategically positioned above the Station's main "Whispering Arch" entryway ...

The window features three women, representing the main US train terminals of the time: New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco...   

The Midway, a covered transfer area between the Headhouse and the Trainshed,  provided a place for train passengers to bid farewell and/or welcome family and friends...

Union Station's 11+ acre Train Shed, the largest in the world at the time, included 42 tracks and combined the St. Louis passenger services of 22 railroads at its peak...

Unlike other train stations, trains backed into the Union Station underneath the shed, allowing passengers quick and covered access to the Midway and Headhouse.  In the 1940s, it is said that the train terminal handled a whopping 100,000 passengers per day!  In fact, recall this famous photograph from your US History class of Harry S. Truman proudly displaying the misprint made by the Chicago Tribune after his upset victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential Election?

It was taken at our Union Station as Truman headed back to Washington DC from Independence, MO.  Rich history, to say the least.

In 1976, Union Station was designated a National Historic Landmark.   The advent of planes saw train travel decrease, however, until the last train pulled out of Union Station in 1978.  In 1979, a property company purchased the Station for $5.5 million.  The dilapidated structure sat empty until it reopened in the mid 1980's after an enormous $140+ million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.

As a native St. Louisan and as a teen at the time of the 1980's reopening... it was a big deal.  Truly, the place to be with restaurants, hotels, and shops galore.  While mostly geared towards visitors of our city, it was a very popular destination for locals, as well.  Particularly before and after downtown events, such as Cardinals games and concerts...

 

 

 
In recent years, however, locals have genuinely worried about the future of Union Station as the shops and restaurants have slowly closed down, leaving this historic landmark a virtual Ghost Town...



In 2012, Lodging Hospitality Management bought the station and its 539-room hotel for $20 million with the goal of restoring it to its original glory.  I am not going to lie, locals have been nervously sitting on pins and needles while closely following the project to see what direction is was going. 

LHM revealed BIG plans for the structure and has made ever bigger promises to the city including a 2 level family entertainment area, a parking lot climate-controlled Ferris wheel, new restaurants, a fabulous new event and convention space, and more. 

I was aware that the Union Station hotel, now a Doubletree, had undergone a massive $30+ million renovation.  In fact, I followed much of the progress on Instagram as craftsman associated with the City Museum posted real-time renovation photos, including this AMAZING original plasterwork detail found behind a wall in March of this year...

That being said, it wasn't until the recent public reveal and opening of the renovated Grand Hall (now Doubletree hotel lobby) that locals have been able to grasp the TRUE vision of Lodging Hospitality Management and future for our beloved Union Station...

The most interesting feature of the reno?  3D ceiling projections, each 30 to 45 seconds in length, that will be shown at least hourly over the bar and restaurant featuring craft cocktails, and gourmet  "small bite" dishes. 

A little peek of what you can expect...







Neat, right?  Add it to your local "bucket list", St. Louis!

Connect with Grand Hall at...

St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103

Web: http://www.grandhall-stl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandHallSTL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrandHallSTL

Reduced! Now only $129,900.

 

In close proximity to the popular Midland Walking Trail Loop
in the heart of Maryland Heights...

 

#11532 Mack Avenue is located on a quiet street in the heart of the Central Corridor and the Pattonville School District. This charming ranch boasts a sizable fenced corner lot with perennial landscaping, tasteful interior décor, and a fantastic finished basement that DOUBLES your living space!

Home features: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths including a spacious basement bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and separate shower, an updated eat-in kitchen with storage galore and newer appliances included, original hardwood floors, an attached garage,  and a basement with a spacious recreation room and sizable laundry / storage area. 

Heading outside, the corner lot is adorned with mature trees, a private fully-fenced area for children or pets, and a versatile carport that could very easily be used as a covered patio with trellis and lighting! 

Complete with vinyl windows, fresh paint, new fixtures, a home warranty offered to the Buyer at closing, and the phenomenal Maryland Heights location and amenities… this home is a complete package! Beautifully maintained and thoughtfully updated with an amazing location just minutes from I-270, Clayton, and the airport. 


See the full MLS listing HERE.
 

Unique Property: The Gocke House in Overland- plans by Frank Lloyd Wright

Every so often, I enjoy featuring a unique property from the St. Louis area. The Gocke House in Overland has always fascinated me!   As I was in the area last week showing properties, I dropped by to snap a couple of photos...



The Gocke House, circa 1910 and located at #2615 Poe Avenue in Overland, was designed by St. Louis architect Lawrence Ewald, from plans published by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  The structure, compromised almost entirely of steel, concrete, and tile was designed to be "fire proof" and was published in the Ladies' Home Journal- April 1907 by Wright in his article "A Fireproof House for $5000".  It is said that the only wood (combustible) materials used in the building of the structure are in the doors and window sills.

Personally, as a FLW design fan and a true lover of historic houses, I never miss a tour of one of his well-preserved properties.  Mr. Wright's infamous motto, "I believe a house is more a home by being a work of art", resulted in mind-blowing design like this...

this...

and this...

The above photos were all taken from the GORGEOUS Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, Illinois, which I have visited no less than a dozen times over the years.  Stunning. 

Many of Mr. Wright's designs remained untouched and intact longer than MOST architects of his time as he would routinely drop by his "masterpieces" and scold the homeowners for making ANY changes to the décor- tablescapes included!  Simply, the story of FLW is fascinating, as was the method to his madness. SIDENOTE: Consider picking up a copy of "Loving Frank" for a personal look at the eccentric character behind these homes.  My copy is well-worn.

While the Gocke House was obviously NOT built by Frank Lloyd Wright and totally lacks the detail that a FLW house boasts, it is an important property nonetheless.  The fact is, as far as early 20th century architecture and design goes, this property (along with all FLW design plans) is unique and boasts extremely design-forward contemporary lines for its time...  

DETAILS:  The property sits on 1.72 acres and boasts 3700 square feet  and 4 bedrooms/ 4 baths in the main house, 2 one-bedroom guests houses,  a 700+ square foot barn, an in-ground pool, and a private tennis court.

The last sale was for, wait for it, only $375,000 in May of 2013.  The agent disclosed that the rental income alone in the 2 smaller guests houses is over 1000K a month.  Deal of the century.

Here are a few more peeks of the property, taken from the last MLS listing, if curious...