Rozzie Main Streets Tweets!

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Playing to an S.R.O. crowd last night, members of the board of RVMS and committee chairs updated the citizenry on topics ranging from the Farmers Market (would that it would get warm so the crops can start growing!) to proposed uses for Ye Olde Substation.

City Councillor Rob Consalvo doesn't miss a word

The Farmers Market committee, along with City Councillor Rob Consalvo (at left) negotiated for 47  FREE parking spots at the Commuter Rail lot that will now be available on Saturdays!

Jaime Pullen of the Farmers Market Committee

Jake Maliel, totally handsome and pictured below with his family, updated us on all the great work of the Economic Development Committee, and local attorney Adam Rogoff (lower right) teamed up with Historic Boston to present the latest discussions about the famous substation at the corner of Cummins Highway and Washington Street.

Jake Maliel of Economic Dev't. Committe and his beautiful family

While I struggled to get one Tweet-cum-photo out before the meeting ended, RVMS had their very own Twitter professional who had authored dozens during the meeting.  Follow them on Twitter @roslindalema.

Adam Rogoff shares the latest on the substation.
Always articulate and elegant, Joan Matulis

Last but never least,  doyenne Joan Matulis, past president of the Friends of the Roslindale Branch Library, announced the 50th anniversary of the library and updated the crowd on upcoming events, including the annual book sale which can always use books and volunteers to haul them around!

Why do Brokers hold Broker Luncheons?

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Many clients, customers and acquaintances have asked me why we often feed each other on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The reasons are many, and here are the top few, in order of importance. Warning: the words you’re about to read are THE TRUTH!

1. We’re a hungry lot and we like to eat. I always serve home-made or close-to-home-made food to attract the largest numbers of agents and brokers. My pledge: You will NEVER find pizza at a Linda Broker Lunch.

2. We want our seller clients to know that we are marketing their property not just to the public but to the broker community as well.

At 31 Eastbourne, bagels and lox from Rosenfeld's

3. We LOVE to see what the other gals/guys are doing and compare OUR listings to theirs in terms of how well they show, how well they’re priced, and, basically, how much of a threat they are to our listings.

4. We trade market observations, talk about good (and bad) vendors, and, basically, gossip.

Staging Maven Blair Hamaty, owner of Setting the Space

5. We want feedback on our properties — good and bad. My experience over the years is that a savvy broker will never really be frank with me — why should they help me sell mine when theirs is just around the corner and has an extra half bath? We brokers live in a state of friendly detente — keeps it interesting and keeps us on our toes!

These gatherings are also a great way to introduce our favorite business partners to the broker community.  At my lunch last week at 31 Eastbourne in Rozzie, I had Blair Hamaty (in photo), my favorite staging guy, on hand to meet and shmooze with other agents.  The abysmal rainy weather dampened the turnout a bit, but it was still a fun and lively afternoon.

Another great thing about a weekday “open house” like this is I always invite brokers to bring their buyers. So, buyers also get a free lunch and, sometimes, a sneak preview of a property that they might otherwise have misssed!

More best-kept secrets about Rozzie

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Sacred Heart Church
Cool new signage outside the rectory of Sacred Heart Church

Besides the Roslindale Fish Market that has 7 — count ’em — 7 kinds of feta cheese and the incredible galaktobouriko at Vouros Pastry, there’s the monthly Community Leaders Meeting at the rectory of Sacred Heart Church.

Who attends?  The movers and shakers of the Roslindale and greater Boston communities:  pastors and politicians and police chiefs.  Heads of non-profits who are doing such incredible work behind the scenes.

Fr. Kelley at a meeting
Fr. Kelley kicks off last week's Community Leaders Meeting in Roslindale

Who presides?  Monsignor Frank Kelley, a huge mover and shaker himself,  instrumental in the establishment of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and a man who kept his church and  school up and running — and healthy — through the worst public relations nightmare in the history of the Boston Archdiocese.

How do you get to go?  Just show up on the second Thursday of the month at 9AM at 169 Cummins Highway.  Meetings happen from Sept. – June and take the summer off.  Ring the beautiful brass bell and you’ll be buzzed in.

JP & Rozzie break bread together at Doyle’s!

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Ray Obin of Obin Electric and Jake Hart of JP Flea enjoy a bite.

Andy Schell of Schell Printing, esteemed Treasurer

The Washington St. Business Association graciously hosted the Roslindale Board of  Trade at its monthly meeting at Doyle’s Pub last night — lots of catching up and really delicious food.

Judie Leon of Travel by Judie

Dessert included one of my favorites: Boston Creme Pie.  As a kid I couldn’t get over the fact that they named a pie after Boston — I think maybe I still can’t!  (I also believed my dad, Charlie, when he told me the Charles river was named after him.)

We heard from our men in blue, detailing the crime scene in their corner of 02130.  And  Tim Power of New York Life gave us tips on growing old with money in our pockets.

And of course, Doyle’s happy owner, Gerry Burke, was on the scene.  What a fabulous neighborhood destination he runs!

Smiling and gracious Gerry Burke of Doyle's Pub

Things I find in every home

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Channel 5 films 31 Eastbourne St. in Rozzie

Even the most clutter-free house has a couple of basic items that you, the occupant, never even think about. Remember the scene from “Repo Man” where the auto junkyard guy pulls a Little Tree off the rearview mirror of a car and says to Otto (the OTHER Estevez): “Every car has one.” ? Well, when it comes to houses, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a basement and didn’t find an old dish drainer – saved in a spirit of generosity for the offspring or friend who simply cannot afford the $6.99 to purchase a new one. Another omnipresent basement item: the hanging mesh bag of magical moisture-absorbing rocks from the 1980s. If they ever did absorb any moisture, it was before I had a single gray hair on my head, so get rid of ’em.

Upstairs I find, under every kitchen sink, a tattered plastic bag of sponges of varying sizes and colors, most of which have also been around since the ’80s, saved for that painting project you never got around to, or just because how can I throw out something I haven’t used? In the bathroom, the exhaust fan that needs cleaning. Notice how that fan seems to get noisier over the years? It’s because of dust and grime accumulating on the blades and in the mechanism. Take it apart, unplug the fan, rinse the dead bugs out of the plastic lens, and vacuum the thing. You’ll be amazed at how quiet your shower-time becomes!

Plenty going on at a less minute level — psyched to watch “Chronicle” on WCVB-TV Thursday night as I’m going to be in the featured Roslindale segment, showing off a couple of great properties. And speaking of Rozzie, Boston Magazine tipped their hat to our fine community in its current issue. I was mined for info and data and not quoted, but I’m getting over it. Here’s the blurb:

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/best_places_to_live/page2