The Best Bars to Watch the Red Sox in Boston

Here in Boston, MA baseball season is in full swing and your 2013 World Series Champions are ready to do it all over again. There is no shortage of beers and burgers in Fenway, but, here is a list of the best spots for Red Sox celebrating, whether or not you have tickets.

Cask 'n Flagon. A neighborhood tradition for over 35 years and touted by ESPN as the “Top baseball bar in America”, Cask 'n Flagon has something for everyone. Plenty of beers on tap plus a new updated menu with everything from burgers to Big D's BBQ. Make sure to get there early to get a table. 62 Brookline Avenue, Boston

The Baseball Tavern. With more than 50 years of service to loyal Red Sox fans, The Baseball Tavern has three floors and a roof deck with a prime view of the park. Cheap drafts are on tap with a yummy sports bar menu featuring apps, dinners, and sandwiches. 1270 Boylston Street, Boston

Boston Beer Works. At Boston Beer Works beer does WORK, it's featured not only on tap but in such menu items as beer dough bites with stout cheese and ice cream beer floats. The menu doesn't end at appetizers though, Boston Beer Works has a full menu and is currently highlighting their Southwestern-inspired menu items all month long. 61 Brookline Avenue, Boston

The Lansdowne Pub. If you are looking for a bit of Irish flair for your Boston baseball, head on over to The Lansdowne Pub. Featuring over 57 brews and an Irish feast of a menu, The Lansdowne Pub has you covered. Favorites include corned beef and cabbage spring rolls and shepherd's pie with house made soda bread and Kerrygold butter. 9 Lansdowne Street, Boston

Bleacher Bar. You can't get a better view of the game unless you buy a ticket. Bleacher Bar is tucked beneath Fenway's center-field seats and has a view of the legendary diamond through two giant garage door-sized windows. Get there early if you want a good seat. 82A Lansdowne Street, Boston

If you are traveling into Boston, MA to catch a game and are interested in learning more about what this great city has to offer please contact me.

Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! As a Boston real estate agent, my services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer.

Please contact me when you decide to start your home search.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Buying vs. Renting in Boston, MA

Are you currently renting and wondering if now is a good time to buy in Boston, MA? Rents have been on the rise across the country and Boston was not spared from these increases. With the steady monthly payment of a mortgage you will find that purchasing your own home in Boston will really pay off and will keep you from the constant worry of potential rent increases. But, not everyone is ready to jump into the full homeowner experience of a single family home to take care of. Also, when considering the Boston, MA neighborhoods of South End, Fenway, and Beacon Hill, your single family residences are limited.

Affordability. Condominiums are often priced lower than single family homes. If you want to dive into home ownership, a condo can be a great first step. 
 
Security. Many condos offer gated or locked entries, doormen, or even security professionals for residents. If you live alone, or security is a concern for you, this can be a major perk. In addition, you’re living in close proximity with many other people; in an emergency, you’ll have plenty of people to turn to for help. 
 
Maintenance. One of the biggest benefits to living in a condo is that other people do the maintenance for you. They cut the grass and plant the flowers, they fix the roof, and whatever other maintenance the building needs. If you are a first time homeowner, in poor health, busy with work, like to travel, or you just don’t want to deal with all that work, this is a major benefit to living in a condo. 
 

It's not just about not needing to keep up with lawn work or roof repairs, owning a condo has many lifestyle benefits. While apartment complexes have transient residents frequently moving in and out, condo owners are more likely to invest in building a community. Apartments are managed by corporate entities or a landlord, while condo buildings are managed by the homeowners association.

When you are ready to purchase your Boston home, look to an experienced Boston real estate agent. I'm committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. When making the type of investment that buying a home requires, you deserve to have all the latest market information and the very best advice, both of which I can provide you with. I am always here should you have a question on any Boston, MA neighborhood. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with new neighborhoods and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Mother's Day Activities for Boston, MA

We are springing into May tomorrow, which means Mother's Day isn't far away! Are you looking to take mom out to show her how much you appreciate her? Here are some highlights of mom-centric activities for you and yours in Boston, MA.

Boston Ducklings Day Parade. The Friends of the Public Garden host the annual Duckling Day Parade, a Mother's Day tradition for over 20 years. Led by the Harvard University Marching Band, the parade will begin in the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and will end in the Public Garden near the famous Make Way for the Ducklings sculptures. Prior to the parade there will be plenty of family entertainment for you to spend the morning. Registration begins at 10:30am at the base of the Shaw Memorial, parade is at noon.

New England Zoo's. Both the Franklin Park and Stone Zoo's will help you celebrate mom's wild side. All mothers enter free on Mother's Day, May 11^th!

Brunch. Make a fuss over Mom this Mother's Day with a special meal out. Some of Boston, MA's finest restaurants are offering special brunches, lunches, and dinners just in her honor. Boston.Chefs.com has a fine run down of the offerings this year and has easy access to OpenTable for reservations.

Spa Day. Mom's have one of the toughest jobs, let her decompress with a wonderful spa day! Boston, MA has plenty of spas to pamper mom with, here is a list of some of our favorites from Hopper.

Don't forget the gift. Whether you are looking for a special piece of jewelry or some beautiful flowers, CBS Boston has a great list of where to shop to get the best Mother's Day gifts.

If you are traveling into Boston, MA to celebrate and are interested in learning more about what this great city has to offer please contact me.

Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! As a Boston real estate agent, my services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer.

Please contact me when you decide to start your home search.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Kitchen Remodel Tips for your Boston Home

Have you considered giving your Boston home an update? Even if you aren't considering selling your home now, you do want to ensure that you can hold on to some of that value that you put in when sale time comes. The kitchen may be one of your best bets as it does hold a good portion of investment dollars. The kitchen is also one of the rooms that potential Boston homebuyers are most interested in. An old outdated kitchen may cause them to loose interest and move on to a different Boston home. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to make a decision on how much to invest and what types of materials to choose.

Amount of Use. Is your kitchen the heart of your home? Do you spend most of your time in it whether feeding your family or entertaining your guests? If so, your kitchen likely gets a lot of use and you will want to consider heavy materials that don’t stain and are easy to maintain. Some of these materials include stainless steel, engineered stone, and granite. Materials that are more fragile like marble, Corian and concrete will probably not be the best choice for your busy kitchen.

Maintenance. Some kitchen counters are gorgeous, but, with that beauty comes a price - not just in investment but in time spent maintaining that beauty. Are you willing to take the time to keep up with counters that are higher maintenance? For instance, stainless steel is durable but, as you may already be aware…fingerprints need to be continually wiped down. Materials such as marble, granite, and concrete need to be sealed regularly. Polishing is necessary for a material like soapstone or Corian to maintain a smooth surface.

Budget. In the end, it all comes down to budget. How much are you willing to spend on your Boston home remodel? 
 
Instead of remodeling, have you considered looking for a home with a kitchen that already suits your taste? When you are ready to purchase your Boston home, look to an experienced Boston real estate agent. I'm committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. When making the type of investment that buying a home requires, you deserve to have all the latest market information and the very best advice, both of which I can provide you with. I am always here should you have a question on a Boston, MA neighborhood such as South End, Fenway, Beacon Hill, or any other. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with new neighborhoods and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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How to Refinance your Boston Home's Mortgage

Interest rates are on the rise but it isn't too late to refinance your rate. If you didn't already jump on the refinance bandwagon of 2013, now is the time, before it's too late and rates have risen too high to make it worthwhile. Here are some tips to help you weed through this process as you look to refinance you Boston home's mortgage.

Shop Around. Your job as a consumer is to find the best APR and the lowest fees. Not all companies offer the same so do your homework and search out the best deal. Not sure how to read a rate sheet? MSN has a great how-to resource.

Maximize your time. It may seem like a good idea to go to your local bank to check for rates, but, they will be limited to only their own bank rates. Going to a mortgage broker will optimize your time by checking 5 or 6 banks to get the best rates of the day.

Protect your credit. Narrow down your lender choices down to two or three before having your credit pulled by them. You don't want several banks pulling your credit as it can affect your credit score. If you know you don't want to do business with a particular bank do not allow them to pull your credit.

What are your options? Depending on how much you are borrowing and what terms you want, you have several options to choose from in mortgage products. Mortgages come in anything from the standard 30 year fixed to 10 or 15 year fixed rate or as much as a 10 year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage).

If looking to refinance your Boston home, I hope you can utilize these tips to your advantage. Should you decide that now is not the time to refinance and that you would rather sell your Boston home, please know I am only a click a way if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Container Gardening in Boston, MA

Did you think that you needed a yard to garden in Boston, MA? Think again! Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets, and flowerpots are a sampling of containers that are perfect for your patio or porch garden. To get the most from your container gardening consider these guidelines for choosing a container.

• Cheap plastic pots may deteriorate in UV sunlight and terracotta pots dry out rapidly. Glazed ceramic pots are excellent choices but require several drainage holes.
• Wooden containers are susceptible to rot. Redwood and cedar are relatively rot resistant and can be used without staining or painting.
• The size and number of plants to be grown will determine the size of the container used. Deep rooted vegetables require deep pots so consider the size based on what you are planting.
• Make sure your pot has adequate drainage. Holes should be 1/2 inch across. Line the base of the pot with newspaper to prevent soil loss. If using quite large pots with short-rooted plants you may find that filling the bottom of the pot with shipping peanuts will be useful. It lightens the load of the pot and also helps with drainage.
• Set containers on bricks or blocks to allow free drainage.

What should you grow in your Boston, MA garden? The options are endless from annual flowers to vegetables and herbs. Some vegetables that work especially well in containers are lettuces, carrots, radishes, spring onions, and tomatoes. You can have a bevy of vegetables right outside your condo. No need to go to the store to get a salad, just pop onto your balcony and snip some homegrown veggies. Better Homes and Gardens has information on planting guides, based on region, and container planter guides and plans, if you'd like to do some planning.

I hope you are able to take advantage this spring and get a lovely container garden going outside your apartment or condo. Boston, MA is such a lovely city to enjoy in the summer, I cannot wait for the warmer weather to be here. If you are currently renting and are interested in buying a home in Boston, MA, please contact me! Please know I am only a click a way if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Easter Brunch in Boston, MA

Easter Sunday is approaching and Boston, MA has a plethora of options from casual dining to full fledged champagne brunch. Whether you are looking for a place to go after church or your annual Easter egg hunt, I've got you covered. Check out some of the options I've rounded up and make sure to book your reservation today!

Abbey Park. A special brunch buffet at Abbey Park will be available on Easter Sunday from 10am-2pm. $30 per adult; $12 per child (5-12); free for children 4 and under. 617-696-8700

Aragosta. Celebrate on the Boston, MA waterfront at Argosta with brunch, an Easter egg hunt, and a cruise around the harbor. Reservations required. Brunch is from 6:30am-4pm with an egg hunt at 12pm, and cruises 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Price is a la carte. 617-994-9001

Beacon Hill Bistro. A three-course prix fixe brunch at Beacon Hill Bistro is perfect for families and friends alike. Available from 10am-4pm, $39 per person. 617-723-7575

Cafe Fleuri. There is something for the whole family at Cafe Fleuri, including a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar for adults, a chocolate bar, and a visit from the Easter Bunny, complete with face painting for the kids! Seatings available throughout the day. Pricing is $91 per adult; $47 per child (5-12). 617-451-1900

The Butcher Shop. The whole family is invited to The Butcher Shop for a special Easter lunch with a unique a la carte menu. Available from 11am-4pm. 617-423-4800

My friends over at Boston Chefs have several more options for Easter Sunday Brunch in Boston, MA if you want to see the full list of what Boston restaurants have to offer. If you are traveling into Boston, MA to celebrate and are interested learning more about what this great city has to offer please contact me.

Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! As a Boston real estate agent, my services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer.

Please contact me when you decide to start your home search.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

Connect with me:

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