In a world that is quickly shrinking, international cooperation is key.  Good thing we here in Seattle have the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students, better known as FIUTS.  FIUTS has been connecting international students with local communities since 1948 through programs that build international awareness, strong leadership, and cross-cultural friendships.

Team Diva is so into FIUTS that they have been hosting international students and sponsoring events since 2008. Diva Kim has even joined the Board of Trustees and now serves as the chair of the Marketing and Fundraising Committee.  The Divas and their pals have hosted over 20 international students from around the world as they start their US adventure as grad and undergrad students at UW.  For a few weeks each year, we introduce our students to their favorite local haunts, restaurants, theaters and yes, when appropriate, local cocktail bars. Plus, we get a chance to discover more about our students’  home countries and their traditions. It’s such a treat to host the students and engage in such cross-cultural dialogues. We at  Team Diva feel so strongly about FIUTS and the great work they do that we asked them to participate in our Community Partnerships Program with Coldwell Banker Bain Associates.

Through FIUTS’ programs, boundaries are broken, cultural barriers are overcome, and real, lasting international friendships are created.  If you are interested at all in making a global difference even while staying in the local area, be sure to support FIUTS.  You can find out the many ways by which to support them here, or you can act like a Diva and volunteer to host students next year.

Word on the street is that the Offshore Project are the ones to watch in Seattle’s dance world. Tonight they are taking their work to On The Boards A.W.A.R.D. Show Day 3. The Divas have heard so many interesting things from this company that we are going to stand in line to see if we can get some cast off tickets. The Offshore Project is in good company tonight with Whim W’him and SANDSTROMMOVEMENT.

Interest rates continue to be unpredictable and in the past week we have seen them increase .250%.  Over a 60 day period the buying power has decreased by $30,000!! So what does this mean to our buying Diva Dwellers? It means that those investors we have met recently waiting for the perfect moment to buy have lost out. Personally we would not wait any longer and would take advantage of the low rates and traditionally slow/low December to snatch the remaining deals.

"Lights, Music, Dance" - Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Team Diva Real Estate is proud to join with Retail Therapy in sponsoring “Lights, Music, Dance”, an event to promote sustainability and economic independence in Africa. Come be part of the celebration next Wednesday, December 8th at Neumos on Capitol Hill, for a night of empowerment, music and dance. Details below!

“Use Solar, Saves Lives” is the mission statement of 2010 CNN Hero Evans Wadongo, who is working to bring solar lanterns to the poorest villages in Western Kenya and other developing communities. These lanterns provide much more than just light. They are an effective key to breaking the cycle of poverty. By using solar lanterns, the groups he works with are able to spend the money they save from not having to purchase kerosene on providing education for the children and starting economic ventures in their villages.

On Wednesday December 8^th, global and local musicians will gather to celebrate Evans Wadongo as a CNN Hero and help raise money for his non-profit, Sustainable Development for All – Kenya, an organization committed to empowering communities through environmental, educational and economic means.

Lights, Music, Dance: Fundraiser for Sustainable Development for All

Location: Neumos
925 E Pike ST
Seattle , WA

Event Date: Dec 08, 2010 8:00 PM

Tickets: $10 Advance / $12 at the door. 21+

Buy Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/138747

Critical Sun presents a fundraiser for CNN hero Evan Wadongo Featuring:

Zambuko Marimba Ensemble

Manghis Khan

Reji LeFleur

Guest appearance with Dr. Fink

Furniture Girls

Aaron Daniels

Darrius Willrich

Rob Marcus

Guest appearance by Choklate

Door proceeds benefit CNN Hero Evan Wadongo and his non-profit Sustainable Development for All

Show sponsored by Retail Therapy, Critical Sun, Zkits, Team Diva Real Estate and Good Hair Salon

The August sales reports are in and shows a really interesting mix of data. The condo market continues to slide down in value with some fabulous deals to be had in great buildings. The Capitol Hill residential market really stands out as a hallmark of year over year average home price increases across all three zip codes. Right now there is an average of a 14% increase in home prices from 2009 to 2010 on Capitol Hill.

Other noteworthy hot spots are Mt. Baker with a 8% increase in value and good old West Seattle averaging 16% this year alone!

Check Out Your Hood
King County Residential
King County Condo

Recently, some friends of ours introduced us to a fabulous Interior Designer, Donald Dewsnup. As soon as we met Donald, we were impressed by his taste in furniture, styling, and the way he worked in an integrated fashion with his clients. His thoughts are focused on what the client needs to express their inner Diva in their own home. This is a refreshing change from some of the other designers we have met, whose focus is more about their own design sense. We welcome Donald to the Diva fold and look forward to having him as a future contributor to the Diva blog.

Resetting the Room

by Donald Dewsnup

Designer, Donald Dewsnup

As an Interior Designer I like to surprise my clients by helping them to discover something about their own style and taste. One of the effective ways to discover your own style and taste is what I call “resetting the room;” just like resetting a dining table simply changes everything in the room and start over. Just like changing a table setting, replace the vase with a unique alternative, let’s replace the silverware with a contemporary selection and as far as the china, we offer you a selection of fun and innovative patterns to choose from!

Here are some “resetting the room” ideas that are the latest trend this Fall.

The shades of grey are back in style from a light antique earth to dark as chalkboard grey for accent walls and sofa sectionals. The greys are complimented by different shades of orange or “marmalade glaze” for accent pillows on the sofa sectional, area rugs, and desk chairs.

Accent Chairs in Earth Tones

To accent the grey colors and orange accents bring in natural light woods for desk surfaces, coffee tables, and end tables as well as fun table top décor. The natural light wood would be complimented with white bookcases, white mid-century side boards and white accent pillows. All this mixes well with espresso brown sofa tables and end tables, as well as, tan, white or dark brown leather arm chairs.
There you have it, the latest look and trends for “resetting the room” this Fall.

When summer finally arrives in Washington State, there is great opportunity to get out on the open road and take in the endless wave of rolling hills of the Columbia Valley. Thus, when it was time for Diva Chavi & I to take a mini work break, we decided to hook up with our pals, Isaak & Rassamee, for a Leo Birthday wine tasting weekend in Walla Walla. With our old dogs and giant wine cooler sharing the back seat, we packed up and headed out.

Walla Walla is a quaint town tucked away in the southeast corner of the state. The Walla Walla Region is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticulture Area), which is known for having some of the best conditions for growing world class grapes; hot, dry sunny days and cool clear nights. The combination of stellar fruit and artful vintners, such as Long Shadows, Woodward Canyon, Cayuse and K Vintners, has made Walla Walla a household name amongst Sommeliers and wine geeks everywhere.

What I love best about Walla Walla is that you can plant yourself at a hotel in town and meander your way from tasting room to tasting room, stopping here and there to browse in an antique store or have a lovely lunch. We stumbled (no pun intended) upon Olive Marketplace & Café during our downtown tour. Their apricot chicken salad, paired with a glass of Dusted Valley Rose, was divine. We also had a fantastic dinner at Creektown Café in honor of our Leo Gals’ (Chavi & Rassamee) Birthdays. They source most of their produce and meat locally, which always get you brownie points with the Divas, plus, the service is impeccable. Fried smelts, a killer burger, grilled nectarine & goat cheese salad and to-die-for deserts all added up to an amazing meal.

Buty Tasting Room - A wine shack in the midst of wheat fields

Okay – enough about food. Let’s talk about the real reason we drove 5 hours in the 103 degree heat, to only barely escape a $144 speeding ticket – WINE! Overall, we had great experiences everywhere we went but the real winner of the “best winery that was not even on the Kim V. Colaprete radar screen” is Five Star Cellars. It is not fancy on the outside, but, once the vino starts pouring, you will be blown away. We tasted 9 wines and each one was better than the next. Loved the 2007 Sangiovese and their quirky Petit Verdot/Cab Franc blend was unique and refined. While you are out in there in waving wheat land (by the airport) be sure to check out Buty Winery as well. Their whites are elegant and floral and their Rediviva, a Syrah/Cab blend, is mouth full of wonderful.

As with all small towns, Walla Walla is a microcosm of quirkiness, with all its peeps, no matter how different, living together in wine-soaked bliss. Our last night there we wandered into Vintage Cellars, a tiny wine bar downtown. We encountered the strangest mix of folks, all chilling together – tattooed lesbian college kids, tourist from Utah, khaki-wearing wine makers and an ancient guitar wielding Cuban gentleman, who serenaded the entire crowd with old Cuban love songs. A most perfect end to a fabulous adventure in Walla Walla Wine Country.

Do you want to know what the market is doing on your neighborhood? Our friends at Rainier Title send us a monthly report on the state of the housing market. This report gives information on the number of closings and the average sales price by zip code.

For example, in South Seattle (98118), housing prices have dropped from an average of $374,000 in June 2009, to $368,750 in June 2010.

If you are buying or selling a home in Seattle, knowing what is going on in your neighborhood will make you a savvy Diva Dweller.

King County Condo Report

King County Single Family Residence Report