Are you a fan of the NBA?
If you are a fan, you can appreciate my confusion. I am wanting to know why St. Louis can't attract an NBA franchise. Why am I bringing this up today? I am about to attend my first NBA game this Saturday night when the Wizards take on the Knicks.
Why is this my first NBA game? I have liked the NBA for a long time, but have never had the chance to attend a game. This is because I was living in St. Louis and that is one sport they're lacking there. Now, I'm on the east coast and sports are all around me. Not great baseball, but you can't have it all.
Opening Night at Verizon Center Oct 2015
What I'm really curious to learn is why the NBA doesn't see St. Louis as a great place to land. This city is full of the most insanely die-hard fans any city has known. The Rams fans are dedicated to the end, which may be this season. This doesn't halt our drive to be dedicated when it comes to supporting them every game. The thrill of winning the Super Bowl back in the 1999-2000 season will never be forgotten. The desire to go back motivates us as fans to never give up.
The Blues have never won the Stanley Cup, but we as a fan base are dedicated to the core and await the first raising of Lord Stanley's Cup with eager anticipation. Winning the President's Trophy, when Pronger and MacInnis were at the top of their game in 1999-2000, was just what we needed to fuel our desire to have it all. The regular season is usually wonderful, but the playoffs have been tricky for us. Hopefully better days are just ahead.
The Cardinals tradition is legendary. The franchise is simply the model of excellence that any organization wishes to attain. The best of the best have come through this team as players, managers and broadcasters. These greats include: Jack Buck, Stan THE MAN Musial, Tony LaRussa, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, Harry Caray, Mike Shannon, Lou Brock, Ken Boyer, Willie McGee, Ernie Broglio, Bruce Sutter, Darrell Porter and Chris Carpenter, to name a few. If you're a Cardinal fan you'll never forget the heroes that no one else knew, but us: Stubby Clapp, So Taguchi and Bo Hart. We'll also never forget certain players for cementing their place in history and in our hearts with only a few massive highlights: Glenn Brummer, George Hendrick (it was my blazing speed that did it...) and of course David Freese. They all usually end up leaving with one or more rings. The point of bringing these up is simple - if we can support these three sports in St. Louis, why can't we get a basketball team?
Looking for the next great home to view opening night at Verizon Center? Check out the enclosed guide and the listings just below. Go Wizards!
Are you still confused about this year's World Series and the opponents in this classic?
No need to be confused about why the Mets and Royals are in the Series and not some other clubs. I was recently asked by a Cubs fan in a local gym, "Why do we never get a chance to experience the next step?" We proceeded to diagnose the ailment of the club and talked about things like youth and in-experience. We chatted about there being something good about dumb youth, but at some point there needs to be some direction to put them over the top. The real reason why they didn't advance is much more simple.
Going back to the NLDS, the Cubs faced a much more experienced and talented team in the Cardinals. They were able to get past them for a couple of reasons, only one of which is relevant here. The Cardinals offense managed to make Jake Arrieta (#49 and starting pitcher for the Cubs) look human and almost Steve Blass - like. At one point in the game, Jake couldn't find the strike zone at all and it seemed as if things weren't going to get any better, just like the 1972 season for Blass.
The problem with this is that the Cubs didn't have any other pitcher who was ready for the next level. The thing that got them past the Cardinals is their offense, which made the Cards look feeble and weak. This is exactly what they were at this point in the season. They were worn out and injured.
Pitching is the key to success. With it, your team will go far and without it, you'll wonder if the commissioner paid your team to blow it. It's as simple as that. Pitching got the Mets and Royals to the Fall Classic and the winner will show that they have the best staff. You want a great team? Go get the best young and talented pitching staff. It can happen for any team, no matter what their history tells us.
Do you still need a new place to catch the Series? Check out the guide below and the listings under it. Hopefully this can bring a smile to your face, no matter how your month has gone so far.
tipClean- The most obvious is cleaning. As much as you enjoy leaving your dirty laundry scattered everywhere and the dirty dishes piled up in the sink, cleaning is unavoidable. Hiring cleaners is often the best solution. Professional cleaners will scrub and clean the places you will easily overlook. The better your property shows, the easier it will sell.
Landscaping- The yard and the exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see. Removing weeds, dead branches and making sure downspouts are functioning correctly are relatively inexpensive tasks that will do wonders on the first impression of your home. If you're thinking of moving next spring, (then) this winter, you should be working on your landscaping.
Paint- Painting your home in a neutral color that appears to a broad audience will help purchasers envision themselves in your home. Auburn red might look great to you, but it has the potential to turn off buyers.
De-clutter- It might be tough to let go of some items you have lying around your home. De-cluttering your home will give the impression of more space and give a more desirable impression.
Do you like ribs?
Not everyone likes the juicy, sloppy, fun of eating ribs, but I do. Here in the Alexandria, Virginia area, there are many choices for the rib dining, but today let's focus on two. I have not been here very long, therefore I haven't had the opportunity to be too selective about my dining experiences. What I have for you is a comparison between two rib joints that claim to have delicious food.
Now, let's begin by laying down the base line understanding that taste is relative. No problem. This discussion is two-fold. I will be comparing taste (my opinions) and also service in these two establishments.
The two restaurants in question today are:
Shane's Rib Shack
Famous Dave's
The first of these two I found on my way to Bed, Bath and Beyond one day and I have been back a few times. The atmosphere is casual, clean and inviting. The staff inside the facility have always been top notch with me. Their friendly treatment is what made me come back the second time and so on. The reason to keep coming back is the food. The ribs are absolutely delicious and need no extra sauce, but if desired, their sauces are very good as well. The sides that they offer are not only reasonably priced, but served in a good portion size. I'll be back.
I was told to go to Famous Dave's, because they have the best ribs. Cool, I thought. I was looking forward to this. I decided to finally go there, when I had the chance and I'm sorry that I did.
Famous Dave's is right on Route 1, in front of Lowe's, so it has good visibility. When I arrived, I walked in the Carry-Out side of the facility and the door slammed into my back, because the closer was broken. It kept hitting everyone that I saw while I was there. Bad sign already, I thought.
The girls at the counter who took my order, were confused, not really in control and had a long line of bags waiting to be picked up. These bags may have been for some of the people waiting, but they never checked until the customers ran out of patience, walked up and asked. Poor customer service was evident.
When I left with my food, I was excited to maybe have something good to think about this place. I didn't finish the meal and threw half of it out. The ribs were full of fat and the bones weren't whole, they were almost shattered inside the meat/fat content and it was a terrible fight to find meat. Finally, I gave up and ended the experiment.
Needless to say, Shane's Rib Shack will be seeing me again, someone else will not.
Are you close to Shane's and need a new place to dive into the yummy ribs? Use the key below to see if we can help.
Alexandria also has many condos for sale. We've taken the time to sort these by price as well. Check Alexandria condos for sale to find condos sorted by price.
Maybe, something here is just what you're looking for.
I have recently been out to one of the properties that we manage in the Riverside subdivision and I was pleasantly surprised with not only the neighborhood, but the dwelling as well. The subdivision is close to Fort Belvoir, Old Town Alexandria and Washington DC.
The drive out to this house was very beautiful. I was surrounded by trees for a while, then had a view of mountains in the distance. When I did get to the neighborhood I realized another big perk. It is simply the fact that the neighborhood is well manicured and quiet. The traffic pattern wasn't crazy and loud and didn't make me want to put my hands over the back of my head and dive onto the front lawn. Trust me, I've felt this way in other neighborhoods before.
The pleasant vibe that I got from being there only added to the experience of the visit, because the house was not only well kept, but also very, very spacious. The four bedrooms and 2.5 baths made this and the others just like it in this neighborhood very desirable indeed.
Are you ready for your new chateau in the Alexandria area? Refer to the information below to get you started.
Did you fall under the spell of the Cubs?
The playoffs are a magical time of year. This beautiful part of the baseball season gives us the ability to follow our favorite team and be either filled with joy or beaten down in defeat. This season a recurring or regurgitating story stole headlines from coast to coast. It's almost as if the World Series was already won in April and the rest of us just had to wait it out to get to the trophy presentation.
Not so fast. Teams on paper or even ones that were created in the movies seldom pan out the way people expect. Why, you ask - simple really - there's a great game going on and it must be played on the field, not on paper. This season's example was the Chicago Cubs, who are beat on every year because they haven't won the World Series in over a hundred years. Well, be that as it may, some franchises have never won (Tampa Bay, Colorado, Seattle, Washington, San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Texas). So, while we pick on the Cubs, many have realized that this success doesn't come easily. You can have the best team ever assembled and still fall short.
Somber Look of Defeat
Don't hate your team or it's management, just because you didn't go all the way this season, enjoy the ride. This is a beautiful game and it's meant to be enjoyed. It is a game, by the way. No matter what it feels like to you. Another thing, don't always believe what you see in the movies - they're meant as entertainment. This season has proven just that.
Are you ready to find a new place to watch your sports or movies? Check out the links below.
Old Town feels small town, upscale and touristy. For most folks there is a bit of prestige attached to an Old Town address. There are two high rises near the waterfront at the Alexandria House and Port Royal. Some folks call the Torpedo Factory condos the "flagship Old Town" because of their fantastic location.
Old Town Alexandria has many townhouses, row houses and a smaller number single family homes. Click Old Town to search listings of properties in Old Town Alexandria.
Historic Old Town Alexandria is on the Potomac River.
Here are some possible choices, ready for you right now:
