Visit Southern California

Celebrations: At Home in Pacific Palisades

/in /by

Celebrations: At Home in Pacific Palisades

From home in Pacific Palisades, discover the wonders of nearby holiday celebrations. Quiet, life-enriching options complement the merrymaking of Yuletide. View the Christmas lights or stop at the Saturday night “Spectacular Rubens: The Triumph of the Eucharist” exhibits at Getty Center. Lighted palm trees sparkle through the New Year throughout Los Angeles.

Real Estate in Pacific Palisades

Home in Pacific Palisades The Palisades is experiencing a very healthy home market. The price per square foot increased about $200 year-over-year to over $1000. The Median Home Price is approaching $3.5 million while the Median List Price has been near $4.5 million. Homes for sale today range from $2 million-$38 million. Lots range from 8000 square feet to 1 acre. Although prices have plateaued, it is still a sellers’ market in Pacific Palisades. Contact Keystone Group Properties when you are ready to look.

Holiday Things to Do

The Getty Center twinkles all through the season, lighting the way for many other spectacular evening shows. Until December 23, take the children to Candy Cane Lane or the Light Festival in Griffith Park in El Segundo. And do not miss the Garden of Lights in Descanso Gardens, its interactive display and light shows. Walk through the Symphony of Oaks there or stroll through Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park where the lighted winter jungle is on full display. Folks ooh and ahh along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

In Torrance, experience the Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights Extravaganza on foot, or arrive in your golf cart for evenings of neighborhood awe. Head downtown Los Angeles to Grand Park where Holiday Lights bring cheer between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. The downtown Walking Tour is magical. And then comes the Storytime Walk in northern Los Angeles along Wakefield Court between Seagull and Haskell Canyon in Saugus.

Water Lights and Boat Parades

Coastal parades are usually held early in December. Since 1989, on the first Saturday in December, the imaginative Venice Christmas Boat Parade has captured hearts. Anything that floats passes under the bridges of the Venice canals. For over 50 years, the Marina del Rey Boat Parade has entertained Southern California. It now kicks off with fireworks from Burton Chace Park.Home in Pacific Palisades

Light up Your Home in Pacific Palisades

Want to be on the other side of the light show? Start collecting your own impressive array of outside decorations. Or make it easy on yourself and call one of the professionals, maybe The Christmas Light Guy Co. Splash color or create a story with purpose to let your own light shine.

Pacific Palisades Real Estate Agents

For information about Southern California homes in Pacific Palisades, please call Bob Cumming of Keystone Group Properties at (310) 496-8122.

Nautor’s Swan Yachts in Marina Del Rey Territory

/in , /by

Nautor’s Swan Yachts in Marina Del Rey Territory

How will you recognize the latest innovation yacht by Nautor’s Swan as it bubbles through Marina Del Rey? The Finish boat builder is unveiling its first 115-foot yacht at the September 2015 Monaco Yacht Show. It’s only a matter of time till one of these sleek watercraft gracefully breezes past Southern California homes along the coast.  Hint: the deck boasts a gleaming, elegantly minimalist feel with fewer rope snags.

Nautor’s Swan Yachts in Marina Del ReyAlthough this is a boat with a price tag upwards of $10 million and costly upkeep, plenty of members of the Nautor’s Swan Club frequent local marinas, including Marina Del Rey real estate. One Nautor Swan is for sale in Marina Del Rey, a Swan 43 bargain priced at $139,500.  Past and present owners are all ClubSwan members.  Club members participate in regattas, cruising rendezvous, and social events around the world.
Exterior/Interior

The “latest, most ambitious vessel” yet is featured in the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Available in two exterior variations, each Swan yacht can be completely customized to suit the tastes of owners. The speedy boat can be equipped for competition with a flush deck. It may also come with a semi-raised saloon.

But the signature feature is the teak deck where the boards artistically enhance the natural wood.  In fact, the unique colorations may be captured decades later.  Nautor’s Swan keeps customized teak samples in storage ready to be used for repairs.
The Mast

How does the Swan speed along? Its carbon-fiber mast spans more than 150 feet.  Leonardo Ferragamo, owner of the first Swan 115, is quoted in the WSJ article saying his boat is sailing at 15 knots and he thinks it will reach 25 knots. This is much quicker than the 5-6 knots of a regular sailboat.
The Company

Situated in the middle of the world’s pleasure boating mecca, Nautor’s Swan is right at home in Jajobstad, Pietarsaari, and Kronoby, Finland.  This is a place where boatbuilding is a common hobby. Solleone sailing is as common as a baseball game is in America. In 1966, Pekka Koskenkyla started a yacht company applying finish functionalist design. He enlisted the world’s best naval architects. His company became Nautor’s Swan, winning the Whitbread Around the World Race/Volvo Ocean Race in 1974. The Swan 65 conquered 300-foot icebergs and grave winds.

Nautor’s Swan gained international acclaim, magnetizing top designers and craftsmen to hand-build cruising yachts and distinctive boats. It also faltered after a serious fire and regained footing 25 years later when the Italian Leonardo Ferragamo purchased the faltering company.  The new owner upgraded both interior and exterior elements.  A leader in the luxury sailing yacht market, Nautor’s Swan has built more than 2000 beautiful boats.

Buying and Selling Southern California Homes

For information about luxury Southern California homes for sale and Marina Del Rey real estate, call Bob Cumming of Keystone Group Properties at 310-496-8122.

Boat Parade Celebrates 50 years of Marina Del Rey Waterfront

/in /by

Boat Parade Celebrates 50 years of Marina Del Rey Waterfront

Set along the Marina Del Rey waterfront, the exciting 52nd Annual Holiday Boat Parade celebrated the community’s 50th birthday.  The event kicked off after dark with spectacular fireworks.  A procession of 75 boats of all shapes, sizes, and designs streamed through the waterways under clear skies.  The tradition started in 1962.

Marina Del Rey waterfrontModern 50-70 foot boats, powerboats, tall yachts, deep-sea fishing boats, sailboats, charter boats, powerboats, big hoist boats – you name it.  Each boat had a theme: Fantasy, My Suzy, Holiday Spirit, Any time his Party Time, Believe, Commercial Break, California Creole Mardi Gras, Blue Magic, Take the Cake among them.

The overall theme was Happy Birthday Marina del Rey and it was echoed on many of the watercraft.  Leon Kaplan of 790 KABC served as the Grand Marshall.  Entrance competed for prizes such as Best Lights, Best Music, Best Theme, and Most Creative.  The grand prize was a trip to Delray Florida, the sister city of Marina del Rey.

As seen from Burton Chase Park on the Marina del Rey waterfront, each numbered boat was identified by its array of lights.  With the invention of the LED lights, the Holiday Boat Parade has become brighter than ever.  Dripping lights, snowflakes, lighted candy canes and lollipops, and glow-stick lights blazed forth through the darkened evening.  Some boats posted underwater lights, too.

Marina Del Rey waterfrontBurton Chase was the Los Angeles supervisor instrumental in building the Marina Del Rey waterfront.  Chase obtained the legal sign off from then-President Eisenhower.  Marina Del Rey spans a mere 1.5 square miles.  It has more restaurants per city block than any other city in the nation except New York City.  Many restaurants feature dock & dine docks.

Today, Marina Del Rey is the largest small-craft harbor in the world.  The Marina Del Rey waterfront is being restructured to accommodate the larger boats that are so prevalent in the new millennium.  The project will reduce the number of boat slips from 6500 to 5300.

Folks from neighboring Venice Beach canals joined in the festivities with the Parade of rowboats, kayaks, paddle boards, and more. Santa hats, lots of music, singing, and whales and lobsters as well.  Even Jesus made an appearance.

Buying and Selling Southern California Homes

For information about Marina Del Rey homes for sale and properties in the Southern California real estate market call Bob Cumming of Keystone Group Properties at 310-496-8122.