It’s Week 6 for building our new home in Rochester MN and the house has been sheetrocked and taped! What does that really mean, you ask? Well… in normal person-speak it means that there are real live walls that are ready to be painted! Hurray! Jay and I just sent along our final paint selections. Fortunately we wanted to go really neutral so we only had to select two different colors. Phew! If we had chosen different colors for every room we would have been at it for weeks. So this was good.

I’ll post a few photos below of the sheetrock inside the house, it’s not that exciting on “film” but fun to see the progress anyway. Next Monday/Tuesday they’ll start putting in the floors. Now THAT will make a big difference in the photos. We’ll be out of town visiting family in Florida, but I will try to take photos as soon as I get back, I may not be able to post the blog until Friday, then. Patience! Ha!

In other news, we have been talking lately about new furniture. (And by “talking lately” I mean that I have been researching for the last month and half and finally burdened Jay with a 5 minute conversation a few nights ago. You could definitely say the furniture is “my thing.”)

So as you all know we are going with a more modern interior for our home and I like the idea of having a small sectional (with a chaise) so it feels more loungy and less formal. What is your opinion on some of the furniture photos below? They are made by Gus Modern. Jay is concerned about how comfortable they will be, however, since our family room in the basement won’t be completed for several years and this will be our only living space. What do you think? Style over comfort? They’re not uncomfortable, they’re just a different feel from our current plush Pottery Barn-like couch. Any suggestions on other places to look for modern furniture?

As always, thanks for reading the Real Estate Rochester MN blog and checking in! Please post a comment below with your advice or opinions!

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Update on the Hardwood Floors: We went with Oak for our floors! And we’re very excited. It’s actually White Oak, which has very neutral coloring and takes stain well. Our flooring guy stained some samples for us in the color we want and we realized that you lose so much of the beautiful Walnut grain with a stain that dark and decided to save some pennies (or at least stay on budget) and go with the wood that we think looks better anyway. Nice!

________________________________

Here are real-life photos from the furniture store:

 

      Carter Sectional                                              Jane Sectional
 

Better online photos:

   Fabric Options

A slightly different look from West Elm:
 

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House Photos

Beautiful Big Garage Rafters

Main Living area sheetrocked                                      Entrance

2nd Floor Hall

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Another reason we stand apart from the others when it comes to Real Estate Rochester MN.

QR codes are FYI

By Andrew Owens
The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

A new piece of technology is beginning to revolutionize people's everyday lives. Quick response (QR) codes, two-dimensional symbols that hold information, are popping up on business cards, advertisements and even tombstones.

"Basically, it's a novelty right now," said Tom Christopherson, president of Affordablebuttons.com, which is based in Rochester. "People who do know what they are appreciate them. People are going to be sharing information on them."

QR codes carry information in the vertical and horizontal directions, allowing it to hold several hundred times more information than a regular bar code. People use smartphones to scan the image, and they are directed to a specific Web-based page.

Christopherson first put QR codes on his business cards in February. They are printed by Image Splash, a Rochester print and copy center.

"Everybody's going to have one on business cards and all marketing literature. It's a thing of the future," Christopherson said. "It gets people out to your website."

Beth Nordaune, a Realtor with Re/Max of Rochester, began using QR codes on listings in front of homes for sale to make the process easier for both buyers and sellers.

"I think that people really like the idea," she said. "I think it hasn't caught on — I was the first to use them, and when I started I don't think a lot of people knew what they were. Now that they're in more ads and people are using them in magazines. I think they understand what they are for."

The idea, which was given to her by her husband, a graphic designer, is intended to be convenient for those looking to buy or sell a house.

"People can be in the car and scan it," she said. "It goes to the listing's website with all their photos, price, tour, all the information. So I think the sellers really like that too, and the buyers can get all the information they want without having to make a call or go home."

Nordaune estimates that 25 percent of Re/Max Realtors use QR codes as well as "only a handful of Realtors at other companies," and plans to continue to use the new technology.

"I think a brochure is only so much, whether they're there or not," she said.

Insty-Prints, a locally owned marketing and design company, began utilizing the technology about a year ago, according to operations manager Carrie Pries.

"We've been using them on advertising materials to get them to our website, because it's direct-linked that way," she said. "It piques people's interest to check it out. We've used it with a real estate clients and a couple banners for events."

Like Christopherson and Nordaune, Pries expects them to play a larger role in future marketing opportunities.

"I think it's a growing awareness," she said. "I think at first they were totally new to a lot of people. I think people should try it out as a new technology tool for marketing. It's an easy, inexpensive way to get people to their website."

Rochester-based Funeral Innovations has taken QR codes to a new level by placing them on tombstones. According to funeralinnovations.com, these remembrance codes use a patent-pending technology to link the code on the tombstone with the deceased individual's online memorial.

There are so many fun events this week in Rochester!

Cool off from the blistering heat by attending the Clues and Brews Fundraising event for the Rochester Public Library and sample over 50 different kinds of beer. Or take the whole family out for a Friday night under the stars at the History Center, which is hosting weekly outdoor films at dusk, appropriate for all ages. This week’s feature film is “Bye Bye Birdie!” the popular 1960’s musical.

Remember to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below.

Also, if you’re noticing some events in the Rochester area that are new and interesting and we’re missing them, please send us a quick note! Thanks!

Wednesday August 3^rd

Artists Happy Hour & Civic Theatre Anniversary Season Kick-Off
            Rochester Civic Theatre 6pm

“Theater of War” at Mayo Clinic, Siebens Building, Phillips Hall 6-8pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Thursday August 4^th

Rochester Honkers Baseball Game at Mayo Field 7:05pm

Little House Storytime at the Dee Log Cabin at the History Center of Olmsted County
            10am -- Toddlers to 2^nd Grade
            2pm & 5pm -- 2^nd Grade to Adult

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Goonie’s Open Mic at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday August 5^th

Movies Under the Stars at the History Center of Olmsted County
            “Bye Bye Birdie” begins at Dusk

Flux at the Rochester Art Center – Live Music, Art or Dance, followed by DJ Scott Stulen and
            Monthly guest artists, 9pm-1am

Greg Boerner playing Acoustic Folk, Country & Bluegrass at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Going Away Party for Tracy Dixon of Fox Country’s Morning Show at Wicked Moose
           7-11:30pm

Prudence Johnson & Dean Magraw in concert at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota - 8pm

Mike Dambra & Mike Lebovitz at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Saturday August 6^th

North Star Roller Girls (Roller Derby( in the “Med City Massacre” at Mayo Civic Center
            6:30-9:30pm

Family Free Day at the Rochester Art Center
            Open 10am-5pm, Hands-on Activities 1-4pm

Greg Boerner playing Acoustic Folk, Country & Bluegrass at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Stealing Angels LIVE  w/Special Guest Maiden Dixie at Wicked Moose 7pm

Mike Dambra & Mike Lebovitz at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Vintage Farm Machinery and Field Crop Tour at the History Center of Olmsted County 1-4pm

Summer High Ropes Challenge at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro, 10am & 2pm

Quarry Hills Nature Center Events:
            Bird Hike 9-10:30am
            Nature Toddlers (Story time, art and outdoor explorations) 9:30-10:30am, 11am-Noon

Honkers Baseball Game at Mayo Field at 7:05pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday August 7^th

20th Anniversary Down by the Riverside Concert: Singer/Songwriter Corey Stevens
     Mayo Park 7pm

Bird Sunday at Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30-2:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm
 

Monday August 8^th

34^th Annual State Women’s Senior Publinks Championship at Eastwood Golf Course
            Click HERE for more info.

Firearms Safety Certification at Eagle Bluff Learning Center at 6pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday August 9^th

34^th Annual State Women’s Senior Publinks Championship at Eastwood Golf Course
            Click HERE for more info.

Clues and Brews Fundraising Event at Plummer House of the Arts 6-9:00pm
            Click HERE for more info.

Cool Reads for Hot Days at Plummer House of the Arts 11:00am-1:30pm

Firearms Safety Certification at Eagle Bluff Learning Center at 6pm

Dooley’s Pub & Restaurant Late Night Specials 8pm-Close

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

It’s Week 5! And the building process is still going really well.

Many of you have been inquiring about our final countertop selection and we finally have our choice. Drum roll please!

White Macauba!

We really appreciate everyone’s interest and feedback and are incredibly excited about our choice. I will, of course, be posting photos as soon as we get it installed. Hopefully it will look as beautiful in our kitchen as it did in the warehouse!

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So last week I was so focused on the trip to Illinois that I hadn’t taken pictures since Tuesday. Well, we stopped by late on Thursday and… there was siding on the house! And it’s super lovely! I thought, “Oh no! I should update the blog asap!” But then I didn’t want to overload everyone. So I have the photos this week. Since the front of the house will have stone on it as well, I will wait to post those photos and you can just look at the view from the back of the house where there is a large expanse of color.
____________________

The question of the week: Which hardwood floor is the best hardwood floor?

Jay and I know we really want a wide plank, dark-stained floor, but are having a hard time deciding on the species. We are going back-and-forth between oak and walnut since these are the best for dark stains. Walnut is significantly pricier, but has a more modern-looking grain, whereas oak is a little more traditional (but has a much more comfortable price). We’ve been thinking lately, though, that when the floors are that dark you can barely see the wood grain anyway and then what’s the point of paying for a more modern look? What do you think? Here are two pictures, one walnut and one oak. Share your thoughts by commenting below!

Check in again next Thursday for more photos!

Walnut  

Oak

Rochester MN House Progress:

Exterior from the back (and a tiny Jay, hopefully this isn't too much online exposure for him :)

This is the stone we've picked for the front of the house. In "real life" it's actually a little more varied and more gray.

Our front porch has been poured!  Please check out our Real Estate Rochester MN Blog post next week.

The Olmsted County Fair has arrived! The fair is open from 10am to 10pm every night until Saturday (Sunday events close at 6pm, however when I went last year people were packing up around noon, so try to get out there early!)

The best part of all? No gate admission! That’s right, the Olmsted County Fair is FREE this year! Not just for a day, but the whole week. Don’t miss out! Click HERE for more information and a link to the website.

Remember to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below.

Also, if you’re noticing some events in the Rochester area that are new and interesting and we’re missing them, please send us a quick note! Thanks!

Wednesday July 27^th

Olmsted County Fair at the Olmsted County Fair Grounds: 16th Street & 3rd Avenue SE
            Daily from 10am-10pm

Tour with the Masters at the Heintz Center – Rochester Community & Technical College
            Touring Local Gardens from 4pm-8:30pm

Earth Partnerships for Schools at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro 10am
            Click HERE for more details.

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Rochester Downtown Satellite Farmer’s Market in the Kmart Parking Lot 4pm-6:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Thursday July 28^th

Car and Bike Show in the Wicked Moose Parking Lot 5:30-8:30pm

Ladies Pink Poker Night at Rochester International Event Center
            2011 Ladies Texas Hold’em Cancer Benefit
            4:30-6:30pm – Registration, 6:30-11pm – Games begin

Author Kamala Nair (The Girl in the Garden) at Rochester Public Library at 7pm

Rochester Water Ski Team at Foster Arend Park 7pm

Earth Partnerships for Schools at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro 10am
            Click HERE for more details.

Little House Storytime at the Dee Log Cabin at the History Center of Olmsted County
            10am -- Toddlers to 2^nd Grade
            2pm & 5pm -- 2^nd Grade to Adult

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Goonie’s Open Mic at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday July 29^th

Brian Gleason Band – Make-a-Wish Foundation Fundraiser at Wicked Moose
           Doors 7pm, Music 9pm

Standard Time playing Classic Jazz at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Earth Partnerships for Schools at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro 10am
            Click HERE for more details.

Friday Night Bistro with Jazz Jam by D’Sievers & Blue Lotus Dancers
      Rochester Civic Theatre
      Dinner: 6:30pm, Jazz: 8-11pm

Palette to Palate (30+ Remarkable wines and microbrews)
            Rochester Art Center 6pm-9pm

Danny Browning & Leo Flowers at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Saturday July 30^th

Michael Gruber playing America Blues, Rock & Soul folk at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Jukes of Hazzard  playing Classic Rock at Whistle Binkie’s South from 9pm-Midnight

Danny Browning & Leo Flowers at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Prairie Walk at Chester Woods Park 7pm

Rochester Royal (vs. Austin, MN) Baseball Game at Mayo Field  403 East Center Street - 6pm

Vintage Baseball Festival at the History Center of Olmsted County – 10am-4pm

The Guess Who Tribute Concert at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota 8pm

58^th Annual Berne Swissfest on Hwy 57 in Berne, MN – 11am-7pm
            Click HERE for more info

Farming with a Real Steam Engine at the History Center of Olmsted County 1-4pm

Summer High Ropes Challenge at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro, 10am & 2pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday July 31^st

20th Anniversary Down by the Riverside Concert: Rochester Concert Band & Choir
     Mayo Park 7pm

58^th Annual Berne Swissfest on Hwy 57 in Berne, MN – 11am-4pm
            Click HERE for more info

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm
 

Monday August 1^st

The Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program
            Six Mile Grove, American Roots/Rock
            Peace Plaza Downtown 12:10-1pm

Free Family Day at the Rochester Art Center 10am-5pm, Hands-on Activities from 1-4pm

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday August 2^nd

National Night Out Neighborhood Parties (Check with your neighbors!)

Rochester Honkers vs. Willmar Stingers at Mayo Field 7:05pm
            Team Poster Night for first 500 fans

Dooley’s Pub & Restaurant Late Night Specials 8pm-Close

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Real Estate Rochester MN Blog: Week 4 of building a new home.

It's finally here! Countertop Week! How thrilling. This is the week Jay and I drove all the way to Illinois to find the perfect counters.

Now we had already shopped for countertops several times, including a trip up to the cities to look at slabs, but just couldn’t find what we wanted. Then one day when I was researching online I stumbled upon MGSI, a company in Niles, Illinois that sells more “upscale” granite, quartzite and marble. As I mentioned last week, we were looking for a solid stone that closely resembles marble, but is more durable.

So, during the hottest week yet this year, we drove over 12 hours roundtrip to hunt it down! (I was excited on Wednesday because it was supposed to be cooling down in Minnesota, but Jay so gently alerted me to the fact that in Illinois it would still be 97 degrees. Bummer.) For over a month I had corresponded with Darina, a nice woman who works at MGSI, and when we arrived she dutifully toured us around the enormous, steamy warehouse. We were overwhelmed! If you took a minute to look at the link I posted you last week, you’ll understand how incredibly beautiful these stones are. They are truly pieces of art.

Jay and I had a hard time decided which one we like best, but finally narrowed it down to our top three: White Macauba, White Princess, and Mother of Pearl. (I’ll post pictures below.) Which do you like? (Just fill out a comment to vote.) We are looking for something that can work well in a modern kitchen, but also has a look that won’t go out of style, like marble. Unfortunately the pictures are from my phone – they all look a lot lighter/whiter in real life, so take that into account. These three slabs are in the same prices level, but we saw some that were incredibly gorgeous and then Darina said, “Um… those are Level 10.” Whoa! Level 10! That’s like saying, “Feel free to add another $8000 to your budget, peeps.” Yikes. We eliminated those options.

So that’s that! Next week they’re starting to sheetrock, so as my Grandma Stromberg would say, “Hip hip!”

                     White Macauba                                        Our cabinet door next to White Macauba

White Princess                                         

Our cabinet door next to White Princess

 

Mother of Pearl (this one is closer to the color,   
it is a little more beige) I couldn't find the photo
with the cabinet.
 

Just a beautiful granite!

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The exterior of the Rochester MN house didn’t really look that different when I went by to tour last week, so I’m not putting up any photos. The majority of the changes were inside where electrical and plumbing wires abounded! You can also see a picture of our new fireplace – it isn’t installed yet, but they’ve put it in the right spot. (You can also see the feet of my good friend Darby reflected. We had just celebrated her 30^th birthday!)

         Fireplace                                                                Plumbing

Be sure to turn in next week to the Rochester MN Real Estate Blog to read about week 5!

Tuesday night at dinner I looked over at my plant and was shocked.  What in the world was in my plant?  Upon closer inspection the girls and I discovered mushrooms!  What?!  Inside?  How?  I posted the photo on face book and one responder had it identified.  I wasn't sure so I stopped at Sargent's the next morning on the way into the office and the man working also could not identify it.  Then later that morning guess who had it figured out?  My mother.  Mom's always know.  I have now removed the mushrooms and we will now see if they come back.  It seems highly probable if we stay in the Amazon jungle temps we here in MN are experiencing.  I wanted to share this article my mom found for me about house mushrooms.

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/indoor/getting-rid-of-mushrooms-growing-in-houseplant-soil.htm

It’s a scorcher this week! However, the activities in Rochester are flourishing! The International Jugglers’ Association has events in town all week and Movies and Music in the Park starts this Saturday at Slatterly Park. Also, check out The Model T Ford Club 55^th Annual Tour, traveling throughout Rochester and the surrounding communities. Check out their website here.

Remember to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below!

Also, if you’re noticing some events in the Rochester area that are new and interesting and we’re missing them, please send us a quick note! Thanks!

Wednesday July 20^th

Barlow Event Center Outdoor Music -
            Key Lime Special: 5pm
            Bosben Brothers CD Release: 6:30pm
            Chester Bay: 8-10pm

Model T Ford Event on Main Street in Lanesboro 11am-1pm

International Jugglers’ Association Welcome Show featuring Playing by Air
            Mayo Civic Center – 7:30pm

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Thursday July 21^st

Car and Bike Show in the Wicked Moose Parking Lot 5:30-8:30pm

Rochester’s Downtown Sidewalk Sale 7am-8:30pm

Rochester Garden and Flower Club Annual Garden Tour – 4pm to Dusk
            At SMART Gardens (near RCTC Heintz Center)

International Jugglers’ Association at Peace Plaza Downtown at 11:30am
            also Youth Showcase & Junior Championships – 7pm

Rochester Water Ski Team at Foster Arend Park 7pm

Little House Storytime at the Dee Log Cabin at the History Center of Olmsted County
            10am -- Toddlers to 2^nd Grade
            2pm & 5pm -- 2^nd Grade to Adult

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Goonie’s Open Mic at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday July 22^nd

Classics Party Band at Whistle Binkies South on the Lake – 9pm-Midnight

Annie Lawler & the Wheelhouse Band at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Rochester’s Downtown Sidewalk Sale 9am-8pm

International Jugglers’ Association Individual and Team Championships
            at the Civic Center 7:30pm

“Cinderella” presented by Community Education and Prairie Fire Childrens Theatre
            at John Adams Middle School 6:30pm

Bill McLaughlin in Concert at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota at 8pm

Friday Night Bistro Three Course Dinner 6:30pm
Friday Night Bistro with The Sudden Lovelys
            Rochester Civic Theatre 8-11pm, Dinner @ 6:30 (Reservations recommended)

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Mikey Mason & Jacob Williams at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Saturday July 23^rd

Rochester’s Downtown Sidewalk Sale 9am-5pm

Rochester Pond & Garden Tour 9am-5pm
            Go to their website here, for more details

“Cinderella” presented by Community Education and Prairie Fire Childrens Theatre
            at John Adams Middle School 6:30pm

Alec Tackmann Trio (Playing Jazz Standards) at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Mikey Mason & Jacob Williams at Goonie’s Comedy 7pm

Saturdays at Slatterly – Movies & Music in the Park – Slatterly Park
            Music 7-9pm – Back to Back w/ Diamond-Mac (Tribute to Neil Diamond, Stevie Nicks)
            Movie 9:30/Dusk – “Shrek Forever After”

International Jugglers’ Association Cascade of Stars Show 7:30pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Summer Kitchen, Butter Making at the History Center of Olmsted County 1-4pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday July 24^th

Rochester’s Downtown Sidewalk Sale 9am-5pm

Cave Sunday at Quarry Hill Nature Center 1:30-2:30pm

Bike MS: Star Tribune TRAM Ride, for details click here.

The Cruise: A Benefit for Ronald McDonald House – RCTC Sports Complex 8:30-Noon

20th Anniversary Down by the Riverside Concert: Frankie Ballard
     Mayo Park 7pm

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Monday July 25^th

Olmsted County Fair July 25^th – 31^st at the Fairgrounds

The Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program
            Monroe Crossings, Bluegrass
            Peace Plaza Downtown 12:10-1pm

Earth Partnerships for Schools at the Eagle Bluff Learning Center in Lanesboro 10am

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday July 26^th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet at the Soldiers Field Track 6-8pm

Univeristy of MN Rochester Presents Gordon Fredrickson, A Farm Country Series
     Peace Plaza Downtown 7-8:30pm

International Jugglers’ Association Benefit Show – 7pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

It’s Week 3 for the Real Estate Rochester MN Blog and the roof is on! We’re also starting in on the electrical, plumbing, and even putting in the fireplace (gas). On Wednesday I did an electrical walk-through and pointed out where the lights should go and how they should be switched and such. (Of course, by “pointed out” I mean that I let the experts tell me what to do, really.)

We made many lighting decisions this week as well. They turned out to be easier than anticipated, however, because we basically wanted to put in as many recessed lights as possible. That leaves far fewer “sconce” choices to be made, which is nice.

Fortunately for me our general contractor, Steve, and real estate agent, Beth, were able to accompany me on the walk-through. They were incredibly helpful (I posted a pic below).

This big news is that this next week Jay and I will be driving to Illinois to look at granite! How exciting! We are incredibly picky about our countertops and found a wholesale supplier in Niles that stocks really unique colors. Originally we wanted marble, but once we found out how easily it scratches and stains, we decided to go with something a little more durable. This supplier actually stocks Quartzite, which is in the granite “tree,” but comes in lighter shades and is denser. We would like something that is as light as possible. Check out their link by clicking HERE and let us know which types you like! We’d love to hear what you think.

That’s all for this week! I’ll post more photos below so you can see the progress. Also, please let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d like a photo of and we’ll snap it next week. 

            Front View Week 3                                                New Windows in Living and Dining

              Steve Penz & Beth Nordaune - Real Estate Agent          The experts looking over the blueprints
                (they were forewarned I'd post this)

There are a few fundraising events happening this week including the International Jugglers’ Association benefit show for the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester and Dragagonza 2011 at Wicked Moose, raising proceeds for the Rochester AIDS Walk/Professional AIDS Network. Check them out and help support our community!

Remember to share your feedback with us, just fill out the form below!

Also, if you’re noticing some events in the Rochester area that are new and interesting and we’re missing them, please send us a quick note! Thanks!

Wednesday July 13^th

Rochester Carillon Concert Mayo Clinic 12pm

Rochester Water Shows at Fisherman's Inn on Lake Zumbro 7pm

Plummer House Tours Noon-6pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Late Night Happy Hour at Dooley’s Pub 8pm

Thursday July 14^th

Rochester Water Ski Team at Foster Arend Park 7pm

Little House Storytime at the Dee Log Cabin at the History Center of Olmsted County
            10am -- Toddlers to 2^nd Grade
            2pm & 5pm -- 2^nd Grade to Adult

Free Thursdays at Rochester Art Center 10am-9pm

Choral Arts Ensemble Community Sing at Lourdes Chapel at Assisi Heights 6pm

Thursdays on First and Third Downtown Rochester 11am-8:30pm

Goonie’s Open Mic at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Friday July 15^th

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 12pm

Dave Townsends Jazz Trio at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

Barlow Event Center Outdoor Music -
            Key Lime Special: 5pm
            Bosben Brothers CD Release: 6:30pm
            Chester Bay: 8-10pm

Friday Night Bistro Three Course Dinner with Chef Mango 6:30pm
Friday Night Bistro with Blue Monk (Blues Fusion & Jazz)
            Rochester Civic Theatre 8-11pm, Dinner @ 6:30 (Reservations recommended)

Bob Jay & Teague Hayes at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Saturday July 16^th

Bob Jay & Teague Hayes at Goonie’s Comedy Club 7:30pm and 10pm

Jon Manner (Country & Folk) at Canadian Honker 7:30pm

5^th Street Bridge Band at Boomer’s Lounge 8pm-12am

Annual Butterfly Count at Chester Woods Park – 10am

Michael Monroe in Concert at Crossings at Carnegie 8pm

Dragagonza 2011 – Drag-a-Luau at Wicked Moose Bar & Grill Doors open at 6:30pm

Rochester Downtown Farmer's Market 7:30am-Noon

Ralph Stoppel farm Tour on a Hayride at the History Center of Olmsted County 1-4pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Sunday July 17^th

20th Anniversary Down by the Riverside Concert: Dokken
     Mayo Park 7pm

Cannon Falls Wine & Art Festival at Hannah’s Bend Park
          10am-5pm, Wine Tasting from noon to 4pm

Sunday Garden Tours & Activities at Mayowood Mansion 12pm-3pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm

Monday July 18^th

Rochester Carillon Concert at Mayo Clinic 7pm

Assisi Heights Tour 2pm

Tuesday July 19^th

Hal Martin All Comers' Track Meet at the Soldiers Field Track 6-8pm

Univeristy of MN Rochester Presents Gordon Fredrickson, A Farm Country Series
     Peace Plaza Downtown 7-8:30pm

International Jugglers’ Association Benefit Show – 7pm

Mayowood Mansion Tour 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm