2014 Waldo Fall Festival on Saturday

Ah, September…a favorite month for outdoor festivals in Kansas City.  This Saturday, Sept 20 is the 22cd Annual Waldo Fall Festival from 10am-5pm at 75th and Wornall Road.

waldoI enjoy this event so much because it is very family friendly and neighborhood oriented. All ages have a good time here–there are so many things to do:

Live music, including a performance by Mr Stinky Feet; food trucks; dance show; KC Zoo Zoomobile; a rock wall and scavenger hunt; merchant booths; dog show and rides plus so much more.

Walk the Trolley Track Trail and wind up at the Waldo Fall Festival at 75th and Wornall on Saturday!

Two Big Events in Brookside/Waldo – Saturday Sept 21, 2013

Another big weekend for outdoor events coming up…just about everyone visits the Plaza Art Fair, now in it’s  82cd year.  However, there are two local happenings in our area on Saturday to note.  Even if you don’t participate, be aware as there will be streets blocked off and traffic re-routed at two key areas of Brookside and Waldo.

Strut Your Mutt, Brookside

Strut Your Mutt, Brookside

Strutt Your Mutt, a benefit for Wayside Waifs, is Saturday Sept 21, starting at 8am.  There are three ‘races’ — one 5K race with dogs, one without, and the traditional 3K walk. The center of the event is at 62cd Terrace and Brookside Plaza (near JULIAN, Foo’s Frozen Custard, etc), and the participants will be using Brookside Blvd from this area going north to 51st St and parts of Oak St.  Expect traffic re-routing around Brookside Blvd. most of the morning.  Brookside is a dog lover’s neighborhood, and this is a really fun day with music, contests and lots of folks just hanging out to people (and dog) watch!

(Between the Plaza Art Fair, Strutt Your Mutt and the Brookside Farmer’s Market traffic–plan to avoid Brookside Blvd on Saturday morning.)

Also on Saturday is the annual Waldo Fall Festival, at 75th St and Wornall (the parking lot near Aldi and CVS Pharmacy).

Waldo Fall Festival

Waldo Fall Festival

 From 10am-5pm, you can enjoy live music, a dog show, pancake breakfast, kids’ activities (moonwalk, train)  and the ever popular food trucks.  If you have a story to tell about Waldo, sign up in advance to participate in the Waldo oral history project here.  Wornall Road and 75th St. is always a very busy intersection, and it will be even more congested on Saturday.  Avoid the traffic back ups by parking a few blocks away and walking to the festivities.

It’s going to be a beautiful Fall weekend in our neighborhood…enjoy!

This Weekend in Kansas City: Plaza Art Fair and Waldo Fall Festival

It’s here…one of the MOST FUN weekends to live in Kansas City!  Everyone likes a vibrant, entertaining outdoor festival, and this weekend offers two events to enjoy:

Plaza Art Fair 2012

The 81st Annual Plaza Art Fair is happening Friday (5pm-10pm), Saturday (10am-10pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm) on the Country Club Plaza.  Walk along the streets offering  240 artists’ booths,  three different music stages and a kids art workshop sponsored by the Kansas City Art Institute.  One of my favorite parts of the fair is snacking my way through the food booths–delicious street food of all types from local and national restaurants. The Plaza Art Fair is also ideal for people watching–you’re bound to bump into someone you know here. And be sure to check out local band She’s A Keeper, performing at 2:30pm Sunday at the INK stage, near Plaza III Steakhouse.  She’s A Keeper plays  catchy, melodic songs featuring Brookside resident Colin Nelson.

The Waldo Fall Festival is a smaller gathering but just as much of a good time.  Very family oriented, the Waldo event offers a dog show, a family bike ride, local business vendor booths and Mr Stinky Feet Jim

Waldo Fall Festival

Cosgrove performing on stage.  There will be food, giveaways and kids’ activities too.  The Waldo Fall Festival is Saturday from 10am-5pm at the corner of 75th and Wornall.

With warm and sunny weather forecast for the weekend, both of these festivals will be packed with people.  Join  your friends and neighbors this weekend for the Plaza Art Fair and Waldo Fall Festival!

Why Buy Now In Waldo

Sure, home prices are flat but that’s exactly why NOW is the time to buy in Waldo!  You can get a great deal on a Waldo home in a location that’s always popular…even more so now with all of the new businesses popping up near 75th and Wornall.  I hear it all the time as a realtor — “I want to be walking distance to shops and restaurants”.  Waldo offers that desireable amenity..and that’s precisely why it will be an area that always holds value for homeowners.

I think of Waldo as an excellent neighborhood for first time buyers because so many of the residents are in their 20s and 30s–a typical age for a first time buyer.  The homeowners generally are friendly and take the time to know their neighbors; they keep the homes neat and and attractive; and most important:  these are solidly built homes, often with stone basements, brick exteriors and charming architechtural details….every home is different, inside and out.

There are dozens of homes for sale in Waldo, and here are just three that I think offer a good value for the money–and remember, buyers are not paying list price these days:

7408 Walnut

This home on the 7400 block of Walnut is new to the market and shows very well–a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home with a one car garage, private drive for $178,900. Upstairs there is a walk in closet and expandable attic space, plus office space on the first floor.

 

 

7141 McGee

On the 7100 block of McGee, this home offers 3 bedrooms and two full baths, plus a one car garage for $185,000.  There is a relaxing screened porch and a back patio.

 

 

7620 Grand

On the 7600 block of Grand, this three bedroom 1.5 bath house has an attached one car garage, newer windows, roof, bath and kitchen for $180,000.

 

 

Now is the time to buy, when the US government is  paying you to do so–close by November 30 if you are a first time buyer and receive a $8000 tax refund/credit.  There is no guarantee this credit will be extended and it takes about 45-60 days to close on a purchase–so time is running out!  There are so many choices out there–every Waldo home is unique with it’s features, floor plan and exterior curb appeal.  Waldo is a great choice for first time homebuyers–contact me  if you would like to see these homes or for a tour of the neighborhood.

Also, don’t forget the Waldo Fall Festival this weekend:  Saturday Sept 19 from 10am-5pm at 75th and Wornall Road.  Saturday night it’s the Waldo Crawldo from 6pm-midnight with 14 particpating bars and restaurants! www.waldokc.org