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  • psst … I’m a Realtor! Thanks for stopping by my website. I would love to help you find your dream home and community in the Hampton Roads or Williamsburg area or to sell your existing home. This website is authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and Mr Williamsburg.com were created as a resource for folks who are exploring a move to Williamsburg, VA , Hampton Roads VA and the surrounding areas of the Virginia Peninsula. On his website you can search homes for sale , foreclosures, 55+ active adult communities, condos and town homes , land and commercial property for sale in Williamsburg, Yorktown, New Kent, Poquoson, and Gloucester, VA as well as surrounding markets of Carrolton, Chesapeake,Gloucester, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth Mathews, Newport News Norfolk, Poquoson, Smithfield, , Suffolk, Surry, Va Beach, Yorktown and York County Virginia You can reach John by email John@MrWilliamsburg.com or phone @ 757-254-813

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    • From the Garden, May 22
      Trenching CeleryBlanched CeleryThe first of the spring celery has been transplanted to trenches for blanching. The ancient celery was of such a stringy and bitter nature that it would be virtually unpalatable if not for this process which much reduces the strings and sweetens the stems. The modern, or “self-blanching,” celery may be eaten green though it, to […]
    • New Podcast – Fifes and Drums: The Music
      Members of the Senior Corps of the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums play the tunes that directed a soldier through his day, from morning’s first light to the night’s last ale. Listen
    • From Our Kitchens: Chicken Pudding
      A favorite dish in its day, this chicken pudding combines elements of a quiche and a cake. Savory yet wholesome, this dish could easily become a favorite in your family, too. Learn More
    • From the Garden, May 15
      Transplanted melons under paper frame“Zatta” cantaloupeThis week we have moved the melons out of the hotbed frame and planted them in the garden under frames covered with oiled paper so that they may not be annoyed by the sun and wind before they have established themselves sufficiently to withstand the rigors of full exposure to the elements. It is of the u […]
    • New Podcast – Fifes and Drums: The Instruments
      Learn the history of the instruments behind the distinctive sound of the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps. Listen

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Sweet spot for Williamsburg VA Real Estate

Posted on May 24, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

So what’s the sweet spot for Williamsburg VA real estate ?. inquiring minds want to know..

Seems like we have a number of them : The 150-200k, 200-250k, 250-300k, and 350-400k price ranges each contribute about 14% of our total home sales or 56% combined.

Note: Sales number are from the Williamsburg VA MLS and correspond to sales from Jan 1,2013 To April 30, 2013

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Note: Sales number are from the Williamsburg VA MLS and correspond to home/ townhome/ condo sales from Jan 1,2013 To April 30, 2013

Are you interested in monitoring home value trends in your Williamsburg or Yorktown VA  neighborhood?  If you would like to receive e-mail alerts when new listings or sales happen in your neighborhood, we can set you up.  There is no cost or obligation to participate in our Nosy Neighbor  e-alerts, just let us know which neighborhood(s) you are interested in following, and we’ll make it happen! Fill out the form here

What’s my home worth ?

Mr Williamsburg offers a complimentary, no obligation market analysis of your Williamsburg VA home.  It’s a great way to get a handle on what your home might sell for in today’s market, with no obligation to list.  Call him today at 757,254,8136 or click here to request more info or an appointment.

Filed under: real estate, Real Estate Statistics, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

Merchants Square Hosts 5th annual Williamsburg Auto Show

Posted on May 23, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

On Sunday, June 9 2013 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Merchants Square will host the Colony Auto Enthusiasts for their 5th Annual Williamsburg Invitational Car Show featuring a collection of 19 Porsches that celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Porsche and the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911.

imageFifty-five carefully selected cars from throughout the world are included in this unique non-competitive, non-commercial display. A special exhibit of vehicles from 1927-1931 will recognize the 85thAnniversary of Merchants Square, while a second will illustrate the dramatic changes in high-end transportation from the 18th to the 21st Century. This exhibit will feature a circa 1775 replica landau from the Colonial Williamsburg collection of carriages, a 1937 Rolls-Royce and a 2013 Tesla.

This show is open to the public at no charge.  All who attend are encouraged to make a cash donation in support of the wonderful service provided by the Williamsburg area Meals-on-Wheels, who will have a special display at the center of the car show.

Inspired by the rich architectural heritage of the 18th century, Merchants Square blends the atmosphere found in the adjacent Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg with 21st-century shopping and dining.Most retail stores open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and noon on Sunday.  Individual store hours vary.  The hotline, 757 565-8889, and the Merchants Square website, merchantssquare.org, contains information about any schedule changes for outdoor events due to weather. Find them on Facebook.

The Colony Auto Enthusiasts are a group of more than 50 Ford’s Colony residents with a common passion for cars: antique and modern, foreign and domestic. Inquires regarding the car displays may be directed to the Colony Auto Enthusiasts:  info@colonyautoenthusiasts.com.

Filed under: 365 Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

Virginia Arts Festival-Festival Williamsburg- A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend of Marvelous Performances May 23‐26, 2013

Posted on May 22, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

For the 11th spectacular year, the Virginia Arts Festival brings a whirlwind weekend of great performances to the historic city of Williamsburg. Co‐presented with the City of Williamsburg and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Festival Williamsburg offers residents and visitors the best of Broadway, jazz, classical music, and more, Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 through 26.2013

This Memorial Day Weekend begins on Thursday, May 23, with the first of a unique new series: the Williamsburg Winery Concerts. There’s a delicious repast for the body and soul in each of these concerts! On Thursday evening, enjoy fine dining and selections from the Williamsburg Winery’s award‐winning wine collection; then savor the superb artistry of the Miami String Quartet, praised in The New York Times for its “rich, precisely balanced sound and broad coloristic palette.” Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Music Director and renowned pianist André‐Michel Schub, along with Virginia Symphony violist Beverly Kane Baker, join the Quartet for an all‐Brahms program, music as rich and beautiful as the offerings on the menu. And if you prefer a Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval to the Williamsburg Lodge brunch, enjoy the Friday, May 24 performance, with wine and menu tastings from Williamsburg’s finest restaurants, followed by a performance of Shostakovich and Mozart classics by pianist Schub and the Miami String Quartet. After each performance, concertgoers are invited to linger and meet the artists in this intimate setting.

Friday night, May 24, brings eight‐time Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval to the Williamsburg Lodge for a show that dazzles. The versatile, virtuosic performer and composer is an audience favorite across continents, at home in every style of music from his beloved jazz to classical, and master of many instruments, from his phenomenal trumpet to piano, percussion and more. Prepare to be amazed by Sandoval’s musicianship and charmed by his stage presence.

imageSaturday, it’s Bravo Broadway at the Williamsburg Lodge, when a trio of stars gathers for an evening of favorite show tunes. Debbie Gravitte has charmed audiences from Broadway (Les Miserables) to the movies (The Little Mermaid); Christiane Noll received both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for her performance in Ragtime; and Doug LaBrecque has thrilled theater audiences in The Phantom of the Opera and Showboat. Choose from two performances, 5:30 and 8pm and enjoy a cabaret experience with reserved table seating.

Sunday sizzles when the legendary Hot Sardines mix le jazz hot of Paris with the salty stride piano of N’Awlins. This is the kind of music Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller used to make: straight‐up, foot‐stomping fun—and with this band that’s a literal description: a tap dancer’s feet count as two members of the rhythm section. Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy an evening of sheer entertainment with this beguiling band.

legendary Hot Sardines mix le jazz hot of Paris with the salty stride piano of N’Awlins

Festival Williamsburg Performance Schedule

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Festival events may be purchased at www.vafest.org  or (757) 282‐2822. Tickets for Festival Williamsburg events may also be purchased at Williamsburg Municipal Building, 410 Lafayette Street, M‐F 8am to 4:30 pm or at the Williamsburg Lodge, May 23‐26, with no service fee.

Williamsburg Lodge hotel packages are available at 1‐800‐447‐8679.

Filed under: 365 Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia, Concerts, Entertainment, Nightlife, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

Free passes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for Military.

Posted on May 21, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg & SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed services through its Waves of Honor™ military salute program. The program provides free admission to the SeaWorld® ,Busch Gardens® Parks, and Sesame Place® for members of U.S. armed forces and as many as three direct dependents through 2013. Waves of Honor follows Here’s to the Heroes. Created in 2001, the program has awarded more than 6.7 million theme park tickets to service members and their families.

 “It has always been our honor to host members of the military and their families at our parks each year,” said Jim Atchison, President and CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Waves of Honor is our way to say ‘thank you’ to these dedicated service men and women who sacrifice so much to preserve the freedom we share in this country.”
The Waves of Honor program includes the following parks SeaWorld® Orlando,  SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens® Tampa, Busch  Gardens Williamsburg, Adventure Island®, Water Country USA®, Sesame  Place® and Aquatica San Diego*. For information on operating hours and schedules, please see below: SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld San Antonio SeaWorld San Diego Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Gardens Williamsburg Adventure Island Water Country USA Sesame Place Aquatica San Diego* (Monday – Friday Weekday admission only)
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed services through its Waves of Honor™ military salute program.
The program provides free admission to the SeaWorld® and Busch Gardens® Parks, and Sesame Place® for members of U.S. armed forces and as many as three direct dependents through 2013. Waves of Honor follows Here’s to the Heroes. Created in 2001, the program has awarded more than 6.7 million theme park tickets to service members and their families.

 
Any active duty military, activated or drilling reservists, or National Guardsman representing any of the five service branches is entitled to one complimentary admission to one of the participating parks under the program. He or she need only register, either online at www.wavesofhonor.com or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a valid active military identification. All dependents 10 and older must present a valid military dependent identification for entry into the park. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents.
 
SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, and SeaWorld San Diego operate year-round. The remaining parks are seasonal. Each park’s operating schedule is available online.
 
Inactive, standby and retired reserve members, military retirees, U.S. Merchant Marine and civilian Department of Defense workers are ineligible for the program. The program does not include Discovery Cove® in Orlando or Aquatica® Orlando. Rules of eligibility can be found at www.wavesofhonor.com and are subject to change. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment reserves the right to terminate the program.
 

Filed under: Busch Gardens, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

Williamsburg VA Real Estate Market Update: April Home Sales Soar Yet Again for April 2013

Posted on May 21, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

April 2013 Market Observations

The Williamsburg VA  real estate market continues to demonstrate it’s incredible strength in April  2013 with home sales up a whopping 44% over the previous April.

The closed median home price in April 2013 for the Williamsburg  VA market , which includes the City of Williamsburg, James City County and Upper York County’s housing data, was $285,000 an increase of 9.4  percent from April 2012

Williamsburg Home Contract Activity

Contract activity, which is a leading indicator of home sales, continues to point in an extremely positive direction. This April was 13% above last year

With available inventory levels being less than a year ago, and robust contracted activity, the month’s supply of inventory is currently 8 months compared to over 13 months in April 2012. The month’s supply is also referred to as the absorption rate which indicates that if the current market conditions were to continue; this is how many months it would take to deplete the available inventory.

Williamsburg home sellers this month are experiencing an average 98.51 percent sales price to list price ratio. This average is a 2.36 percent increase over 2012.. The increase can be attributed to high demand and limited inventory.

Total inventory for sale is at 817 homes, a 23 percent decrease from the 1065 homes on the market in April of 2012 .The limited amount of inventory continues to inflate pricing and intensify demand for properties.

      The pace of closed sales increased dramatically this month showing a 26 percent reduction of days on market down to 67 days.

        image

         

        See real time data here for Williamsburg VA home sales statistics

         

        Click here for real time stats

        Read a detailed summary report for home sales in Williamsburg -March 2013

         

        What does this mean for you?  Well, we’ve had a strong market this year with steady home values and an increase in market activity.  If you’re thinking of selling anytime soon, consider going on the market to take advantage of the increased number of buyers, list prices, sales prices, and fewer days on the market before sale..

        Psst.I’m a real estate agent.

        Filed under: Real Estate Statistics, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

        Colonial Williamsburg Honors Military Service Over Memorial Day Weekend with FREE Admission

        Posted on May 21, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

        Free Admission Honoring Those Who Serve

        Active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, and their dependents receive free Colonial Williamsburg admission for the entire Memorial Day weekend—May 24–27, 2013.

        Memorial Day Commemorative Program:  May 27th from 10:00-11:00am

        Gather for a modern service honoring military veterans who died while serving their country. A procession with Fife and Drum support will proceed from the Palace to Bruton Parish Church and the French gravesite. Wreaths will be laid, prayers given, and volleys fired at each stop to honor soldiers of the American Revolution and Civil War interred nearby.

        In addition , Colonial Williamsburg is proud to offer a Military Discount:

        Available to active-duty and immediate family members: visit your MWR/ITT offices at your military installation to obtain an exclusive Military One Day Plus Pass, or receive 10% off on Multi-day Tickets at our walk-up ticket windows.*

        Call 1-800-447-8679 for more information

        http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/special-offers/honoring-service/

        Filed under: 365 Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia, Deals/Specials/Coupons, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

        Historic Gardening Symposium @ Bacons Castle

        Posted on May 20, 2013 by mrwilliamsburg

        You are cordially invited to attend the Historic Gardening Symposium, hosted at the oldest known English formal garden in North America on Saturday, June 8th, 2013.  The Symposium will take place between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Bacon’s Castle in nearby Surry .Virginia.

        You will enjoy presentations on 17th and 18th-century Virginian gardening practices, the archaeological discovery of the original garden, and the recent historical research that may influence the future interpretation of our 17th-century Bacon’s Castle Garden, as well as a guided tour of the garden. 

        Tickets are $35 and include a boxed lunch.

         Attendance is limited to the first twenty-five registrants. Register by May 25th, 2013 and receive $10 off the ticket price.

        To reserve your place, please visit Historic Gardening Symposium Registration or  contact tballance@preservation.org. with any questions.

        image

        Expected Itinerary:
        11:00 a.m.
        John Custis and the Transatlantic Plant Exchange:
        Speaker, Wesley Greene, Colonial Williamsburg‘s Historic Trades Gardener
        John Custis was the most active Williamsburg resident in the transatlantic plant exchange during the first half of the 18th century. This talk is based on excerpts from Custis’s 12 year correspondence with the English plant collector Peter Collinson focusing on the plants they traded and the challenges of sending plants aboard ship in the age of sail.
        12:00
        Lunch Break. Boxed lunch included with ticket
        12:30 p.m.
        Discovering the Lost Garden:
        Nicholas Luccketti, Archaeologist, James River Institute for Archaeology.
        In 1983, The Garden Club of Virginia had been asked to fund an archaeological study to determine the position of a 19th century garden and then help with its restoration. Unexpectedly, the study also found an 18th century garden covering a huge rectangular 17th century garden, making this garden the oldest English Formal Garden in North America. We are honored to have Nicholas Luccketti, lead archaeologist on this project return to speak about the significance of this dig.
        1:30 p.m.
        Arthur Allen II’s Pleasure Garden:
        Will Rieley, RLA and Margaret Bemiss, Author of Historic Virginia Gardens, both representing the Garden Club of Virginia
        The 1660s saw the beginning of the development of the public “pleasure garden”, which grew to become the center of English social life for the next 200 years. This talk discusses the new research that shows Bacon’s Castle’s Garden results from young Allen II’s education in England. Classical proportion were well-known in England in the late 17th century and the garden at Bacon’s Castle was intentionally laid out to be a grand garden, as befitted a man of his station and the grand house it was to complement.
        2:30
        Tour the Garden with Bacon’s Castle’s Head Gardner, Valerie Balentine.

        Want to go ?

        Saturday, June 8th, 2013

        11:00am-2:30pm

        Location

        Bacon’s Castle

        465 Bacon’s Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883

        Contact

        baconscastle@preservationvirginia.org

        757-357-5976

        Filed under: 365 Things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia, Gardening in Williamsburg VA, williamsburg va | Leave a Comment »

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