Diva's Kim & Chavi

The Divas have been making regular showings at Pride since 1988. Well technically “Divas” where at pride way before Seattle Divas ever made a grand entrance– but hey – who is taking note? These days we celebrate Gay Pride the good old fashion way – with friends and family!

Seattle Gay Pride started for us last Wednesday, on June 15^th with our Pride Kick-Off Party. It was a great way to kick off Pride with our favorite performers and gal-pal business owners. We asked some of our folks what they are doing this year for Pride and below are our MUST SEE hot spots for 2011’s Seattle Gay Pride!

Thursday – Lounge Into Pride

Once again we are returning to The Rosebud for Jinkx Monsoon’s Vaudevillians. Love the mac and cheese and hoping the freakin’ sound system works!

Friday – Pride Warm Up

DonnaTella Howe at RPlace JujuBee – With Chez Diva’s Entourage

The Social Sponsored Gay Pride – At Grimm’s. The Social is opening up two buildings from Team Diva’s offices on Olive on Capitol Hill. This is there kick-off for pride.

Stop In at CC Attle’s – The Hill’s friendliest and cheapest bar.

Saturday – Tracy’s Birthday & Hot Night Out

Capitol Hill Pride Festival – Its nice to see everyone out and about. This is the perfect event to bring the young ones.

DonnaTella Howe at RPlace JujuBee

Hey Tranny, Its Tranny! at The Havana Club – They have the oddest video advertising the event. Check it out->

Lezbro – At the Wildrose for those Lesbians out there (secret giggle)!

Miss Kitty Baby at Girl for Girl – One of our fav Burlesque gals!

Dyke March – Starts at 7 PM in the main plaza at Seattle Central Community College

Sunday – Pride Parade Guide

Go early and save our spots with some nasty old folding chairs.

Go to brunch with the gay husbands.

Get a little emotional for the “Dykes on Bikes”.

Wave at our gals from the Burlesque Academy.

Say “Hi” to our cousin with The BEAGLES

Say “Hi” to my very first boss here in Seattle, Miz Mardi, who is now Queen Diva at the Gay and Lesbian Task Force!

Love the Bears – Grrr!

Think the Femme’s SHOULD wear higher heels!

The last six months of watching Seattle’s real estate market has been fascinating. Increasingly the availability of high quality, well-priced and updated homes have dropped consistently. Sellers are reluctant to sell their homes in a market that they feel is harsh. Where as at the same time buyers are expecting stunning homes in high Walkscore areas. From the outside it seems like an impasse but not necessarily. Well-priced and perfectly updated homes are selling quickly. But homes that are in tough areas, short sales or estate sales are facing a tougher market timeline. Below we breakdown the single family home versus condo real estate market here in Seattle.

Single Family Home Market Update

Spring is typically a hotter moving time period in the market. We personally have not seen the influx of buyers until just recently.Part of it could be the unusual cold weather and the other part is general hesitancy in the zeitgeist. But if one looks at the actual numbers it shows a slowly improving market. The NWMLS just released data showing an increase of 41% in pending sales in the region. Looking closer at Seattle the number of pending sales has slowly climbed from 337 in December to 674 in May. Almost an 100% INCREASE! Below is a chart below the number of pending sales has steadily climbed.

Single Family Home Market Snapshot Q1-Q2/2011

Condo Market Update

The Condo market is also slowly starting to see improvement. Specifically in the lower price ranges. The pending sales have increased about 141% from 92 pending sales in December to 222 in May. Its great to see progress but we are still looking at 6-8 months of inventory in the Seattle area. However, looking closer in the urban core, Capitol Hill has seen a 3.6% drop in inventory and an 136% increase in pending sales. The average price per square foot has also increased about 1.3%. Below is the chart showing the entire city of Seattle:

Condo Market Snapshot Q1-Q2/2011

Capitol Hill has always had a rich and diverse history in Seattle. Its central location to downtown has attracted urbanites, hipsters, old money, the gays and just about everyone in between. For us personally the hood is where we spend our days and where all of us have lived sometime in our youth. Team Diva’s mother ship/central offices are on the hill. Our favorite small business owners are on the Hill. And when its time for us to hit the town – we return to Capitol Hill.

Let’s just be honest – Capitol Hill is our home away from home. You can walk out of our office and, in a hot Seattle minute, you will find fabulous foodie spots, local fashion stores, amazing coffee, artists, hipsters and more. All of this is snuggled amongst stunning older homes, condos and apartments. There is always something to do on the Hill. Looking for some wall decor? Stop by our favorite artist studio, Local 1520, during the monthly Capitol Hill ArtWalk and get some fabulous art for your home. Need to find the perfect bottle of wine to bring to a party? Vino Verité has a great selection, including their very own Capitol Hill Red.

Team Diva hooking up with some of our favorite Woman Owned Businesses on Capitol Hill to celebrate 2011 Gay Pride month in style. The Divas Take the Hill event on Wednesday, June 15th kicks off our Pride. We will be releasing the official map of Divalicious approved businesses. Join us and see why we adore this fabulous neighborhood!

Shop Local Spot: Retail Therapy

Local Hood Blog: CHS Capitol Hill Seattle

See the whole Divas Take the Hill list below:

Kim, Sergey, Austin & Chavi at Whim W'Him

Would You Rather?

• Mow Lawn / Paint the Fence: Given that we have no grass to worry about, we’d rather mow the lawn any day of the week.
• Untangle Computer Cords / Sort Socks: Our home is as wireless as possible, so the easier job is our pick once again.
• Test the Smoke Detectors / Fix Squeaky Doors: Despite our cooking skills, we accidentally test the smoke detectors on a weekly basis.
• Plunge the Toilet / Clean out the Refrigerator: Purging food from the refrigerator is not a chore for us; keeping it fully stocked is the real challenge
• Clean the Gutters / Take Down Holiday Decorations: Do we even have gutters?

Diva Pal, DonnaTella Howe, introduced us to Miss Kitty Baby. First off, this gal is super adorable and very charming. The Divas were really taken by Miss Kitty Baby‘s commitment to supporting an older Burlesque performer. Its striking that newer artists are remembering where they come from and how it influences their work. Team Diva Real Estate is proud to have Miss Kitty Baby in Seattle Pride of Awesomeness!

Miss Kitty Baby’s Biography

MISS KITTY BABY

Miss Kitty Baby - Divas Take the Hill

“The Striptease of the High Seas”

From combat boots to cabaret,

From the US Marines to the merchant marines,

She leaves a pasty in every port,

And she can tie a g-string in a sailor knot.

Coming to a stage near you in High Octane Glitter!

Miss Kitty Baby has performed her vintage style and high energy burlesque acts for your viewing pleasure since 2005.  Sparkly career highlights include winning 1st Runner Up in the Viva Las Vegas Burlesque competition her freshman year as a performer, being a featured dancer in the book ’Burlesque: A Living History’, and her duties as a guest instructor with Burlycon and the Kindergarten of Burlesque.

Kitty is the founder and manager of The Pinup Angels, a group of pinup volunteers supporting our troops overseas.  She also performs burlesque exclusively for charity, donating her earnings to the care of elderly burlesque legends.

Miss Kitty Baby at Divas Take the Hill Event

Miss Kitty Baby will be making her Diva debut at Divas Take the Hill on June 15, 2011 at Retail Therapy. Divas Take the Hill is sponsored by Team Diva Real Estate, Retail Therapy and Babeland.

RSVP Now for Divas Take the Hill

DonnaTella Host of Divas Take the Hill

Team Diva Real Estate is proud to have DonnaTella in our secret stash of awesomeness for Seattle’s Gay Pride event Divas Take the Hill. We first met DonnaTella at our annual Halloween bash. But her talent wasn’t truly revealed until DonnaTella graced Chez Diva with an impromptu performance with zoe|juniper dancers. Every weekend we regularly direct our pals to her regular gig at RPlace. It is an honor to count DonnaTella amongst our Diva Pals.

DonnaTella Howe’s Biography

DonnaTella Howe is one of the central cast members of the Lashes Cabaret show at RPlace. She has been a full time cast member of their weekend show since 2008. DonnaTella is also currently acting as assistant for Chablis. Her hosting ability came about while working as assistant for MoM, running her Mothers Day and birthday tribute shows and the occasional WET night at RPlace. Between the looks her mama gave her, some MAC, lessons on how to wear it courtesy of Sharon Huzbenz and some well chosen outfits, DonnaTella has become RPlace’s own ‘pole girl’ and weekend seductress.

Performances range from comedy, to top 40, old school hits and the occasional dramatic ballad. She is always looking to entertain, amuse and start the party off right. Dabbling in scene study and improv while on the path of acting, no two moments or performances of hers are alike and she is constantly striving to build her numbers into better spectacles while keeping audiences guessing. She is the social butterfly, the flirt and the lover, but also the bitch you don’t wanna cross. She’s got the sexy sass of Katy Perry with the mouth of Elaine Stritch, a new class of queen mixing substance and style and here to make the show memorable. XOXO

DonnaTella Howe at Divas Take the Hill Event

DonnaTella is our fabulous Diva host for Divas Take the Hill on June 15, 2011 at Retail Therapy. Divas Take the Hill is sponsored by Team Diva Real Estate, Retail Therapy and Babeland.

RSVP Now for Divas Take the Hill

Jinkx Monsoon | Divas Take the Hill

Diva Kim and I came across the stunning talents of Jerick Hoffer, as Jinkx Monsoon, at Bacon Strip this last holiday season. Bacon Strip is often known for its irreverent take on the traditional Drag Show with the smell of fresh cooked bacon wafting in the air. It makes the smell of cheap booze seem gourmet.

Kim and I prefer the high arts but we like to get a little dirty at Bacon Strip just to see the show. Being introduced to Jinxk as a performer at Bacon Strip’s Christmas Show made our holiday season. First glance at Jinkx is disarming. First, she has the theater magic of making you think she is a girl, and then she starts to sing and you realize you are watching real artistic talent. Jinxk propped up her little piano and played a “12 Gays of Christmas” with a slight giggle and a sly glance at the audience. Her voice is very well trained and can take the audience by surprise. In Jinkx’s second piece, she came out in all black and did an interpretive dance to some Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach”.  WOW!

Jinkx Monsoon’s Biography

Jinkx Monsoon is “the hardest working ‘woman’ in mo’ business.” She is a graduate from Cornish College’s Theater department and was recently named “the best F***ing performer in Seattle” by The Stranger newspaper. She is a comedic songstress, combining dry wit with “the vocal power of two Ethel Merman’s,” all wrapped up in the body of a MILF. She performs every Thursday at The Rosebud restaurant and bar, every month at Bacon Strip with Sylvia O’Stayformore, and can be found on Funnyordie.com with her original webshow: Monsoon Season.

Jinxk Monsoon at Divas Take the Hill Event

Jinkx will be making her Diva debut at Divas Take the Hill on June 15, 2011 at Retail Therapy. Divas Take the Hill is sponsored by Team Diva Real Estate, Retail Therapy and Babeland.

RSVP Now for Divas Take the Hill

Divas Take the Hill: THE Pre-Pride Party OF 2011 / June 15!

Female business owners support their community with a party benefiting Three Dollar Bill Cinema!

Local female business owners are kicking off Pride Season at Retail Therapy on June 15th with Divas Take the Hill, a party that shouts “Diva’s Know How To Party!” This is a party for the girls, the boys and everyone in between. All proceeds will go to benefit Three Dollar Bill Cinema, just in time for their campy outdoor film series in Cal Anderson Park. Team Diva Real Estate, Retail Therapy and Babeland have teaming up to bring you THE Pre Pride Party of 2011.

Enjoy a fabulous show hosted by the sexy DonnaTella Howe, sultry burlesque featuring Miss Kitty Baby, operatic drag by Jinkx Monsoon and more. Enjoy some saucy games by Babeland, sumptuous nibbles from Cupcake Royale and door prizes, followed by a dance party in the secret back breezeway. Guests will be partying for a great cause as all proceeds from the event will go to support Three Dollar Bill Cinema, which is celebrating its 15th year of edifying and entertaining Seattle with quality queer film and media.

To get attendees geared up for Pride, Team Diva has rounded up their list of gay-friendly, women-owned businesses on Capitol Hill, the heart of the LGBT community in Seattle and the site of the city’s first Pride Parade in 1977. Many businesses included on the Team Diva list will be offering discounts to Diva’s Take the Hill attendees leading up to Pride.

Performers

DonnaTella Howe – This sexy seductress mixes substance & style as a central cast member of the Lashes Cabaret show at R Place.

Jinkx Monsoon – A comedic songstress titled “the hardest working ‘woman’ in mo’ business who can be found performing weekly at The Rosebud and monthly at the Re-Bar’s Bacon Strip.

Miss Kitty Baby - “The Striptease of the High Seas”- Miss Kitty has been performing her vintage style and high energy burlesque acts for your viewing pleasure since 2005.

Event Details

Location: Retail Therapy near the corner of Pike and Broadway (905 East Pike Street).
Date: Wednesday, June 15th
Time: Doors open at 7:30 and performances begin at 9:00.
Ticket Price: $10-20 at the door
Benefiting: Three Dollar Bill Cinema.

Sponsored by Team Diva Real Estate, Retail Therapy and Babeland.