Coffee Connections and the Art of the Network

                                         

My younger daughter has often said "if you don't go to audition you won't get the part".  I believe this to be true to most things we want in life.  You can't get hired for a job unless you apply and put your best foot forward for an interview.  

At a young age, I observed the art of schmoozing and as my Dad would say "Kibitzing" which means making small talk in Yiddish.  My Dad was a manufacturers representative through most of his adult parenting life.  His territory was small Mom & Pop stores throughout the New England Region.  If he didn't reach out personally to these vendors he would not have made any sales.  To be top in his field he learned the importance of building a rapport with these customers.  

Throughout my life I have incorporated many of these skills into my approach to meeting with colleagues, real estate clients and contractors who provide service to me.  I have found the idea of building a common comfort zone important before engaging in the goal of our meeting.  Often I did this with a common thread of sharing a cup of coffee.  

Those who know me, also will remember that I am also a huge networker and always seek ways to connect my contacts to mutually benefit each other's needs. This is an area of joy for me.  

I am excited to share that my just released book  Coffee Connections: Finding Common Ground Through My Daily Brew reflects on these topics with a part memoir, part networking tips.  I would be honored for anyone interested to read and post a review.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and freelance writer.  She enjoys her Havenese dog Delilah, reading, writing, travel, yoga and spending time meeting friends over coffee.  

Is the Grass always Greener Next Door? It doesn't need to be....

How do you deal with water conservation while still procuring a green grass?  Can you have both a naturally beautiful space while ethically needing to use valuable resources to maintain it.  A recent article in the Boston Globe said Massachusetts is ready to expand water use restrictions as summer approaches.  Most property owners will have to confront this challenge if they want to adhere to local mandates but still have green backyards.   To see the article click here. This is a trend that is happening across the country.  

I spoke to Jackson Madnick, a Wayland Entrepreneur at a networking event with the  Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce last week. His company Pearl's Premium Lawn Seed may offer the perfect solution.  

After much personal inspiration Jackson set out on a journey  to develop a special slow-growing deep-root grass that requires significantly less water than more typical backyard lawns.  It grows well in all climates of the world. By investing in this product a property owner is able to cut lawn maintenance costs without compromising quality. This product has won several awards including and can be seen in front of the Boston Museum of Science. Click here (see "An Evening of Big Ideas" on page 26).

As seen in these photos you will be the envy of your neighbors with a guilt-free, more environmentally friendly green lawn.  Perhaps your neighbors will start asking "why is the grass always greener at your house?"

Wendy is a Realtor and has just also started to write Copy for real estate related businesses. When selling a home,  she advices her clients that curb appeal is the critical first step in appealing to potential buyers.  Perhaps this is a product that could help enhance yours.   To learn more about Wendy's writing services click here.

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest

We all remember Lumiere singing these words during the scene in Beauty and the Beast when Beauty first enters the Beast's magic castle.  When one becomes a guest there is a moment of escapism when one sometimes forgets the rules of etiquette. As rental agreements are signed, and expectations are outlined between guest and landlord however boundaries and expectations are formally agreed to.  A clear set of expectations by the landlord must be met for the tenant to have the privilege of staying at the property.

In today's real estate world there are both short- and long-term rental arrangements.  Short term rentals can be defined as hotels and or Airbnb type stays.  Long term may be extended term month to month or annual lease terms.  Each type of rental is subject to an agreement of expectations of both the tenant and the landlord.  The tenant must respect the boundaries of the landlord for the agreement to work. Violations may be caused to terminate the stay.  A third less formal stay may be a personal one with family or friends visiting for a period of time.

Since the COVID pandemic there has been some crossover between the traditional and longer term stays as travelers with work at home options seek to visit new travel destinations for longer than usual time periods.  In addition, there have been longer than planned personal visits while family members may work from home to reduce paying rent in high-risk areas. 

When someone does rent using one of the short terms apps, they are subject to review by the landlord.  There are social norms that should be followed to be a good "renter.".  There may be consequences of not being able to rent again in the future if the set boundaries are not met.

In an apartment rental there are guidelines that must be adhered as detailed by the landlord in the rental contract.  If these are not adhered to the renter may have his or her lease terminated either early due to a violation of the contract or upon its renewal.  It will be the landlords decision whether to extend or end the tenant/landlord relationship.  

On the personal front although not specified in a formal contract if a guest extends his or her stay or does not abide by the house rules, he or she may risk a future invitation.  I wrote a blog post a few years ago about how to be both the perfect guest visitor and how to be the perfect host which I recommend referring to on each link.

In each of these scenarios the common thread is that boundaries need to be set by the party who controls the property.  The guest has the privilege of visiting or renting the property and will be paying to use it in agreement to specified guidelines.  As we head towards the summer season and travel begins to open up please read the recommended rental guidelines as suggested in the Boston Globe article here.  The lyrics to Lumiere’s song may continue ring in a guests ears if they follow the appropriate etiquette and are welcomed back for future stays.

Wendy is Realtor with Coldwell Banker and an upcoming author of her first book.  "COFFEE CONNECTION: A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAILY BREW".   Travel is one of her greatest passions.  In addition, she enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  

Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever-changing marketplace.  

Protect your rights, baby boomers and seniors, have an Estate Plan

I saw the movie "I Care A Lot" last weekend.  The title is a spoof on the concept of caring for elders.  The premise of the movie is that a court appointed guardian was given the role of moving a wealthy aging woman into a senior care facility.  It was required that the woman pick up and move into this facility leaving everything in her life behind.  She had no choice and was carried out from her home and moved to the facility.

The backstory is that this movie was actually based on similar true incidents that have occurred in the State of Nevada.  This is an example of major exploitation of senior adults.  There actually are enterprises in that state to allow for-profit guardians to target unwilling rich seniors. Then under court mandates they can require the senior to move to a care facility.  Their assets are sold off and the senior has zero say in the matter.  The court appointed guardians are there only to ring in the money.  Read the feature article in The New Yorker here.  

Each of us should have an estate and retirement plan to protect our rights and acquired assets as we age.  We hear stories of seniors being taken advantage of all the time.  As the population ages, more and more, persons are living longer and with greater independence.  There is greater risk of exploitation as people may become vulnerable to health care issues.  If one does not have a family support system in particular it is important to document health care proxy and estate plans and inform those you feel comfortable with while you are able.  I wrote about this subject and performing due diligence before hiring anyone to care for a loved one, a few years ago in June 2019 but the subject at hand is the same.  Click here for the original post.

If you truly do "care a lot" please take the measures necessary to protect your family and your loved ones.  A little homework will go a long way for a safe and worry free future.

Wendy is an SRES Realtor with Coldwell Banker and an upcoming author of her first book.  " COFFEE CONNECTION: A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAILY BREW".  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”. 

Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

Why It Always Pays to Hire a Pro

You need to make a call and your cell phone crashed!!

Has this ever happened to you?  Last week I upgraded my iphone to the 12.  To set up my new phone I had to pair it with my old one.  Both phones locked up and were unusable for several hours.  I did not have a working landline.  I asked myself what would happen if I had a real emergency.?  

Have you recently moved or tried to set up land line service? Do you know that most major phone carriers do not offer simple phone service.  Particularly on Cape Cod the phone carriers try to upsell you a package that combines internet, cable and phone service.  Sometimes you only need the phone.

This past summer we opted out of an expensive bundling package with Comcast because we had duplicate service at both a primary and second home.  We learned that we could reduce our expenses at the second home by simply installing high speed internet service to stream from our primary home.  With this efficiency, however, came the cost of discontinuing our landline.  As I tried to set up my new phone a few days ago, I realized I was unable to call Apple support since I did not have a landline.

I now recognize the importance of having a dedicated landline for emergencies such as cell service not working.  There are times when the internet can be down and although I recently added a Google voice line on my laptop this would not be useful in such a situation. I am in the process and ordering service from a company called Community Phone.   

This company was started by the founder whose own grandmother needed a landline and instead was sold an expensive bundled package that she could not afford.  This is a common occurrence for many individuals.  

As an SRES Realtor I often work with seniors who are rightsizing to a new home or apartment.  Often they do not have a need for high speed internet or a cable package.  These are expensive and may not be practical particularly for those on a limited budget.   Now that I have become familiar with Community Phone I will now advise them about this service.  I honestly believe all home residents should have a dedicated installed landline for emergency call use.  I am looking forward to the installation of my new phone and will share an update once it is installed.  

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

Home Inspections and How to Avoid Becoming an Bad IG Rap

I read a great article in last Friday's Boston Globe about Home Inspector, James Brock who captures and shares the absurd oddities he uncovers during the home inspection process.  If you are somewhat socially aware or have family members who may be, chances are you may not feel proud to have your home featured on his Instagram "IG" posts.  

To avoid such public shaming you may be asking what can one do to prepare their home prior to photos, a sale and an eventual home inspection?

First let me share a bit about the Home Inspection process.  

A home inspection is a visual exam of the structure and systems of a house. It details problems with the property and if serious enough may prevent the sale. The three main points of an inspection are physical condition, items in need of repair or replacement, and the remaining useful life of major systems.

James Brock, of Boston Home Inspections had been known to take photos of unique items he uncovers during this process.  He does this for fun and not to point out defects.  I just learned of his services and reached out to connect with him.  We had a Zoom chat last Friday night to meet and learn about each others business.  My MO is to be able to provide my clients with the best resources to make their transactions in the buying and selling process as seamless as possible.  We are hoping to join in some fun informative Home Buying conversation on Club House in the near future so look my room up @wendybcb.

Typically an inspection is a part of the due diligence of purchasing a property. It is used a negotiation tool for the buyer for any visible defects.  The inspection typically takes  2-5 hours (old homes may take longer), and prices vary depending on size and scope of the inspection (ie: radon). The information disclosed during the inspection is for the buyers purposes and is not typically shared with anyone other than the parties involved in the transaction. 

The point of the Globe article was to highlight visible unusual items that may be discovered outside the box.  The article and this blogpost were written to introduce one to the inspection process in the vien of purposeful awareness.

If you are easily embarrassed or want to have your inspection go as smoothly and minimally intrusive as possible I recommend assessing your property and repairing any potential defects ahead of time.  In addition, if you have any items such as a hanging TRX you may want to store it away.  Likewise if an IG legacy moment of your sold property is your thing, here is a link to Boston Home Inspectors.  Perhaps you have an oddity that will be a featured as Jame's daily post.

To hire an inspector, get recommendations from a trusted Realtor or from others who have used a particular referral. I also suggest looking at the Mass.Gov website for reputable licensed professional home inspectors.  I once had a buyer of my own home, pick ABC Inspectors, the first one in the phone.  They were awful and their report basically said they were unable to examine any of the items per the report because they were obstructed.  First of all this wasn't true and they basically charged the buyer $300 not to do anything but get them out of the sale.  It appeared the buyer wanted an excuse to get out of the sale and buy another property.  We reported them to the BBB and there had been other similar complaints.  Lastly, you may also check online reviews on Angies List or Yelp.  Be sure to ask about references, memberships in professional associations, professional training, and experience.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

Don't be up Schitt's Creek-Have A Maintenance and Emergency Plan

                                             

Do you or each of your home's occupants know what to do if there is a plumbing emergency in your home?  Do you know where the water shut-off value is?  I had a recent issue with a faulty toilet valve and if we didn't know how to shut off the water main we may have literally been headed down "Schitt's Creek". 

Homeownership can be wonderful but it also comes with many responsibilities.  It is important to be aware of the maintenance procedures necessary to keep the property in good condition and working order.  It is also vital to understand the mechanisms in place should an emergency occur.  Property needs to be maintained on a regular basis to prevent future damage.

If you are a new homeowner or plan to buy a home it is always recommended to have a professional home inspection before finalizing the purchase.  Please see my prior blogpost explaining the Home Inspection here.  In addition to the inspection, as part of due diligence in negotiating an offer, this is the buyers opportunity to learn about the inside operations of the home.  

When we purchased our home, my husband who is an engineer type followed the inspector around the house with a notebook and took meticulous notes on each operating system. He learned about areas that could need future attention.  This became a good reference tool for our home maintenance.  

To put this in laymen's terms, think of your annual medical examination. A good doctor will discuss areas of potential concern and give the patient techniques for preventative care as well as wellness follow up.

Sometimes a household emergency may arise and it is very important to know how to address the situation.   Before moving into a property, I suggest learning where all the shut-off emergency valves are.  It is important to have a plan for anticipated home maintenance issues with a list of appropriate service vendors.  As mentioned, I was inspired to write this blog after a plumbing leak occurred at my house. When an emergency occurs you may otherwise panic and scramble to find the contacts needed.  A recent article in Growing Magazine  cites the most common household emergencies and how to address them. 

In anticipation of home maintenance issues that can occur, I put together a Home Maintenance checklist by season for my clients some time ago.  If any interested reader is interested in a copy feel free to email me at wendy@wendybcb.com and put "Home Maintenance List" in the subject line.  

With proper maintenance and a well formulated emergency plan you will be ready to ease into the New Year with peace of mind and not have to travel down "Schitt's Creek".  Wishing you a great start to 2021.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her fb page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

 

Resources for Renting Out Property

With the current pandemic and every changing real estate landscape maybe 2021 will be your opportune time to invest in real property.  My guest blogger Patrick Young wrote this very informative blog post with many great links explaining and detailing the steps to consider before making this large investment.  

If you are a serious investor I recommend speaking to a real estate agent as well as financial professionals including a tax advisor and financial planner before jumping in to the market.  I am always available to work with you to start this journey.  

I thank Patrick for this post.  Enjoy!!

 

Owning rental property can be very lucrative, but it can also be a big job. If you’re thinking of buying a property to rent out or have just gotten started, you’ll need a few resources to make the process a smooth one. Preparing a property for tenants or maintaining a vacation rental can entail various tasks, but you can make it a bit easier by getting organized with these tips. 

Finances 

Should You Create an LLC For Your Rental Property? 

Create an LLC Using a Formation Service 

Tax Deductions for Rental Property Owners 

5 IRS Rules for Renting Out Your Vacation Home 

How to Stage and Prep a Rental 

Getting the Property Ready for Viewings

Clean the Floors/Carpets 

Store Items You Don’t Need 

Upgrades 

Add a Garage or Carport 

Update the Driveway 

Landscaping 

Repairs You May Need to Make 

Getting your rental property ready to roll will take some time and effort. However, when you officially have everything squared away, you’ll attract renters to your home in no time! 

Connect with experienced and talented realtor Wendy Bornstein of Coldwell Banker is available to find your next home! Click here or call 781-444-7400. 

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It is important to have the right professionals in place for each step of the home buying process.  I am always happy to introduce my clients to both reputable lenders, tax and financial advisors and legal counsel.  If you would like more information please feel free to contact me.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She is available to help sellers prepare for the prospect of selling a home either virtually or in person.  For more information please email her at wendy.bornstein@nemoves.com or check her website at www.wendybcb.com.

Title Insurance- what is it and why is it needed?

 Property Deeds

When one sells or buys real property it must have a clean and clear title.  After reading an article in today's Boston Globe I thought I would blog about what this means.  The heading on the article in the business section was "Can you help me get my $20,000 back".  The subject of discussion was about a couple who learned the hard way that there was a cloud on the title of a condo they were in process of selling.  The mortgage on the condo had transferred to a few different financial institutions since issuance and although paid off the record of discharge had not been properly assigned.  Due to numerous changing of hands between the final lending institutions the paper trail got lost and was not realized.  This made the sale process extremely difficult until resolution several stressful months later. For more details click here.  

For those new to the housing market you may be asking what is Title?:

Title is the legal document that identifies the owner of given property.  It establishes legal ownership of real or personal property. Title Insurance protects the owner from anyone who may try to take the property.  When there is a transfer of ownership from one owner to another or when an owner finances a property the lender will have a lien on the title until the mortgage is paid in full.  The Massachusetts Government website provides very useful information on title insurance recommendations and requirements here.  In the situation mentioned the mortgage was paid in full but the documentation did not reflect this discharge.

Now lets explain what a Deed is: A Property deed is the written document used to transfer real estate from a seller (grantor) to a buyer (grantee).  This document is prepared as part of the closing process when a home is sold and will be initiated by the lender.  The deed for the above transfer could not be completed without the bank discharge.  Realtor.com explains the process of this in more detail. There are five primary types of deeds.

Lastly Title Insurance is important to protect the owner against any financial challenge to the rights to a Title.  A home owner can buy a title insurance policy for a few hundred dollars to guarentee they are buying a title that is free and clear from another parties claims. In the situation above I am not sure if title insurance would have made a difference for a clerical error. In other instances where this is a true defect or falsification on the title the insurance would mitigate financial risk.  A defect on the title is called a cloud. Claims may include a tax or mechanics lien against a property. In rare instances someone may forge a deed to falsely transfer the property to another owner without the owners awareness. Attached is a link to learn more about the necessary steps to protect ones property assets  click here. 

It is important to have the right professionals in place for each step of the home buying process.  I am always happy to introduce my clients to both reputable lenders and legal counsel.    If you would like more information please feel free to contact me.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She is available to help sellers prepare for the prospect of selling a home either virtually or in person.  For more information please email her at wendy.bornstein@nemoves.com or check her website at www.wendybcb.com.

Thinking of moving? Now is a great time to repurpose Covid Fatigue to Prepare Your Home.

The real estate market is HOT in suburban and non-urban areas particularly since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. This is a great time to sell or at least prepare your property if you are thinking of a near future move.  Since most of us are homebound over the next few months I thought I would share some steps you can take to get started.  Instead of succumbing to Covid fatigue perhaps this project will re-energize you.  

Take this opportunity to declutter, organize and fix up your space if needed. The goal will be to present the property as being well maintained. While it may be tempting to do a renovation or remodel, a renovation should only be done if the seller plans to stay in the home longer term to enjoy it. In general this cost will not be recuperated from the buyer. 

I always recommend minimal spending on home renovations unless there is a repair that will become a potential issue during an inspection.   Spend money wisely on cosmetic items that will give the home a fresh feel. 

If you have structural repairs that are of concern these should always be addressed as they will need to be disclosed by a seller.  While most of us are at home this is a great time to get estimates on needed repairs. You may be able to schedule these while working from home.  (Of note, Coldwell Banker offers a unique program called RealVitalize that allows sellers the opportunity to make needed repairs without upfronting the payment.  The settlement of the cost will be taken out of the proceeds of the sale.)  

More often than not there are many simple things a seller can do to prepare the property for sale on his or her own. Keep in mind that there is only one opportunity for a first impression, so you want to make it a good one. Why not take advantage of the time you have now to get started?

Curb appeal is key.  A seller should spruce up landscaping as well as exterior home features.  Touch up paint on home trim, door, outside lighting and the mail box will signal that the outside is well maintained.  Also it may be a good idea to buy a new welcome mat and check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling, and reseal if possible as well. .

Depending on the season or where you live you may want to trim hedges, clean the yard and plant bright flowers during spring time, keep lawn well watered in the summer, rake leaves in fall and keep outside walks clear during winter months.   

Inside the most important first step will be to declutter.  I recommend going through each room and determine which items you no longer need. The key is to show the property in the best possible light without distractions. Once decluttered go through each room and look for cosmetic items you can easier fix up to make the home feel fresh and clean.  

Some easy ideas may include cleaning all appliances, replacing any old worn or broken cabinet knobs and door fixtures. Also you may want to buy new guest towels and a a shower curtain to spruce up the bath.  Remember first impressions count and you want to do what you can to make a best first look.  Need more suggestions?  Feel free to reach out.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She is available to help sellers prepare for the prospect of selling a home either virtually or in person.  For more information please email her at wendy.bornstein@nemoves.com or check her website at www.wendybcb.com.

Due Diligence When It Matters for Real Estate Clients and Voters

As a Realtor, my role is to advocate for the best interests of my clients.   I take this fiduciary duty very seriously and am always pursuing opportunities to improve my skill set while exploring new tools to improve the client experience.  Buying real estate is a major decision for a Buyer.  As a Buyer client advocate my most important role is to guide clients in doing their "Due Diligence".  This involves having an independent home inspection of the property and if required additional inquiries for potential concerns such as Radon, Lead, Septic or other issues that may arise as well as involves researching questions that I may be unable to answer.  For a quick overview of the inspection process shared in a prior blog post click here  I think it is important to know as much as one can before making a decision that impacts one's financial and living situation.

We are now in the midst of a very important Presidential election.  The stakes of this election could not be any higher between Trump and his opponent Joe Biden.  There is a (about 40%) core base of voters who support the current president no matter what.  They are following whatever he says no matter how dishonest and harmful at the expense of the rest of us. 

There are still several undecided voters, which is a bit surprising this late in the game and I am writing this blog post to appeal to you primarily.  Do your home work.  If you want to learn about plans please go to www.JoeBiden.com.  Joe has detailed plans for COVID response, infastructure, building back the economy and much more.  Ask trump supporters what his success record and clear plans are.  For contrast can you find much on www.donaldtrump.com?    

There is much information in the news media and it is important to know your sources.  A startup company headed by Vanessa Otero has launched a project through Ad Fontes Media to identify and evaluate news sources.  She offers webinars and tools to allow readers to do their homework and decipher the media out there and offers online classes for students.  I first learned about this resource from my brother and author of the Blog, BlindspotBlog.US, Maxwell Stearns who is on her Advisory Board.  I have taken a few webinars and found them very worthwhile.  Many news outlets have been compromised and have sources that are tied to the Kremlin.  See yesterday's WSJ article which discusses some recent findings.  In addition much on Facebook is tied to fake accounts.  It is critical to find your way through the weeds.  

 I hope all voters will make their vote decision based on accurate and relevant information and not fall abyss to political pressure.  There is a lot of misleading information out there and much of it can be dangerous.  The propaganda is out there and it can be damaging.  

As a responsible American Citizen and Voter it would be irresponsible for me to encourage anyone to vote without knowing the details of the candidate (ie: covid testing, tax returns).  I BEG you to do your homework.  I BEG you to take this election seriously.  Truth Matters, Transparency matters.  If you see information regarding each candidate being surpressed ask why?  Lastly, if you need information on the voting process itself please check Plan Your Vote.

As a Realtor,  I always encourage my clients to do their homework before making a decision.  You must be your own advocate and if hiring a fiduciary representative they will work to protect your interests.  

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her fb page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.

Working together through Sean Penn's non-profit CORE-Community Organized Relief Organization

I was listening to an interview on the Howard Stern Show, the other day with Actor Sean Penn.  Although I did not know that much about him personally, I learned a lot about his character and have to say I am quite impressed with the work he is doing.  He is not a self obsessed person and is truly using his gifts to make the world a better place.  

I have great respect for people who are working to make the world a better place and follow the concept of Tikkun Olam and are not in it for their own self glorification.  I am writing this post to share information about his important work during this pandemic.  He is extremely humble and I have not seen much information about his non-profit except for learning about it during the interview stream.   As he stated in another part of his interview one is truly blessed when he or she is free to be able to explore one's curiousities.  

Sean has intellectual curiousity and has always been on the fringe of learning about controversial characters through his film work.  He has now taken this to a new level which led him to create a non-profit organization called CORE-  Community Organized Relief Organization to build a network of Covid test sites throughout the country.  Part of his vision is to register volunteers who may have been exploring the world through service in organizations such as the Peace Corps but are currently home due to the pandemic.  The initial focus was in his home state of California but he is now expanding throughout the country and is building the testing infastructure one would expect from our Federal Government n response to the Covid pandemic.  He has taken his innate curiousities and paired them with his skills to make a difference in our country.  For more information about the click CORE.

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She too has an innate sense of curiousity which she enjoys exploring by meeting new people and learning about life through travel, reading and the arts.   Although limited in ability to meet in person due to the pandemic she is always available to network and meet on Zoom, the phone, email, facetime and any other mean to communicate.  She is always open to chatting over a virtual medium while sharing a cup of coffee. 

The Show Must Go On While Socially Distancing - part 2 updated

Hi everyone I have updated last weeks blogpost with relevant shows to watch as of this week.   Hope you enjoy reading and streaming this weekend.  
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If you love theater like I do,  I have been overwhelmed with the amount of content available to watch while being socially distanced at home.  Whether you have a home theater or a laptop there are new show that are both live and previously recorded productions that are posted almost daily.  I started to keep a list of these and wrote a a blog about this last Friday which I posted 2 weeks ago Friday website. .   This is an update to that original post "Live Stage Front Row Seats" 

Andrew Lloyd Webber shows will continue to stream for free on Friday nights 7pm and be up for one week only.  Appropriately for the holidays this week you can watch Phantom of the Opera if click HERE   For future shows click here  Webber.


FOCUS FEATURE MONDAYS: And lastly through the end of April we can enjoy long weekends as the art-house producer/distributor Focus Features will stream a film from its library of releases on its Facebook page every Monday. (There’s no charge, but there’s a link to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.).  To stream click  Facebook

Improv Boston- Live shows- some free some pay or donate. click here

Lionsgate Live! A Night at the Movies!
Join host Jamie Lee Curtis and special guests for an interactive event with real-time chats, movie trivia, challenges and more.  Every Friday for the next four weeks Lionsgate's will have a free livestram of their most popular titles starting with The Hunger Games, followed by Dirty Dancing, La La Land, and John Wick on www.youtube.com/lionsgatelive at 9PM.

Daily updates  Stars in the House: Caroline, or Change reunion
Showtune savant and SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky (Disaster!) and his husband, producer James Wesley, are the animating forces behind this ambitious and very entertaining new series to benefit the Actors Fund. Twice a day, at click here for latest  2pm and 8pm, they play host to a different theater star for a live, chatty interview interspersed with songs. (Rudetsky is an expert at sussing out good stories.) Dr. Jon LaPook, the chief medical correspondent for CBS News, provides periodic updates on public health; surprise virtual visitors are common as well. The guests at today’s matinee edition are Sharon D Clarke and other actors from the suspended Broadway revival of Tony Kushner and Jeanine’s Tesori’s beautiful and profound 2003 musical Caroline, or Change.

And from the NYT sharing:

Lady Gaga Leads a Superstar-Studded Special

Saturday at 2 p.m. digital broadcast; 8 p.m. television broadcast

It doesn’t get much bigger than this. On Saturday, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Paul McCartney, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo and dozens more stars will be joining together for “One World: Together At Home,” a Global Citizen and World Health Organization special event in support of the fight against Covid-19. The broadcast will also highlight stories from health care heroes around the world, with messages of gratitude from those they’ve treated.

When: Streaming at 2 p.m.

Where: YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Prime Video, Instagram, Twitter and Apple

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A Live Reading From the Billie Holiday Theater

Saturday at 8 p.m. on Facebook

The Billie Holiday Theater is hosting a special online reading of the James Sheldon play “Reparations,” which tells the story of a recently widowed white book editor who invites a younger black writer to her apartment. The show was the centerpiece of the theater’s fall 2019 season, and a majority of its original cast will reunite for this reading, including Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Kamal Bolden and Gys de Villiers. Last year, The New York Times called it “a play that turns expectations on their heads.”

When: 8 p.m.

Where: The Billie Holiday Theater Facebook

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“Tommy Boy” Movie Party

Saturday at 8 p.m. on CYA.live

For the 25th anniversary of the Chris Farley, David Spade comedy “Tommy Boy,” Paramount Pictures will be offering a virtual screening event hosted the film’s director, Peter Segal. (Segal will likely reflect on his experience working with Brian Dennehy, who played Big Tom in the movie. Dennehy died on Wednesday.) Viewers can interact via text and video with other fans as well as with special guest hosts. Tickets are $1.99.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: CYA.live


from last week's post 

The virtual Seder streamed last Saturday and was fun for anyone who missed it.  It is still up and worth watching.


FLEABAG the original London Theater Live show the Netflix series was based on will be streaming for 2 weeks on Netflix for a $5.00 donation to charity .  for more info click HERE.   

Wendy grew up in the MetroWest area of Boston and has been a Realtor for over 10 years now with Coldwell Banker Needham. She loves to write and share her passions about the local community, theater, travel, her dog and much more.  She is now working virtually and would be honored to help with any real estate needs.  She is only a click away.