Summer is finally here and what better way to celebrate than with an outdoor concert at Howard County’s finest venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion. For more than 40 years Merriweather has hosted a wide array of artists; Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead have all played there. I attended my first concert ever at the age of 7 at Merriweather. The artist I went to see? Meatloaf (seriously, twice). Billboard Music Magazine actually named Merriweather as one of the top 3 amphitheaters in 2010 and anyone who has ever visited Merriweather would understand why.  Whether you’re a fan of the lawn or the pavilion, it’s an amazing place to attend a concert.  Additionally they haven’t banned tailgating like other nearby venues have.  Below are some of the most notable shows scheduled for this summer.

Mumford and Sons- Thursday, June 9^th

Mumford and Sons formed their band consisting of 4 members in 2007 in London, England. Their gutsy old time sound quickly gained popularity through 2010 and they were nominated for 2 Grammy Awards at the 2010 ceremony. They are noted for their energetic live performances where the band members often juggle different set lists as well as instruments.  Their sold out show will be appearing at Merriweather on Thursday, June 9^th with doors opening at 6 pm along with The Low Anthem and Matthew and the Atlas. Mumford and Sons official website can be found at the following: http://www.mumfordandsons.com

Phish- Saturday, June 11^th and Sunday June 13^th

Formed over 28 years ago at the University of Vermont, Phish made their debut at a local Halloween party in a ROTC Dormitory.  Through their wide music genre and virtually no radio or mainstream support, Phish grew widely successful from word of mouth and a dedicated following. Each of their concerts is original in terms of the songs performed, order they are played in and the way they are performed. I of course like their Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor too.  Phish will be appearing at Merriweather for 2 consecutive days with no opening act. Tickets are currently still available for both days. The bands official website can be found at http://phish.com/

Katy Perry- Wednesday, June 16^th

Born Katheryn Hudson, she adopted the stage name Katy Perry in 2007 when she signed her first record with Capitol Music Group. Known for her unconventional style of dress that often includes crazy color motifs she is the first woman in history to spend a consecutive 52 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Her album One of the Boys received unfavorable criticism but debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and has sold almost 5 million copies earning her 2 Grammy nominations. Her newest album Teenage Dream debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. She will be performing to a sold out crowd at Merriweather on June 16^th with Robyn as her opening act.  Katy Perry’s official website can be found at http://www.katyperry.com/

Miranda Lambert- Friday July 15^th

Recently married to country superstar Blake Shelton, Miranda gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star. Her first album Kerosene debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top County Album chart. Since then she has won 9 Academy of Country Music Awards, 4 Country Music Association Awards, 1 CMT Music Award and 1 Grammy. She will be appearing at Merriweather Friday, July 15^th with Josh Thompson as her opening act. Seats are still available and her official website can be found at http://www.mirandalambert.com/

Van’s Warped Tour- Tuesday, August 26^th

Known as “Punk Rocks Summer Camp” the Van’s Warped Tour will be bringing 60 bands to Merriweather including Less Than Jake, Pepper, Gym Class Heros, Relient K, The Expendables, August Burns Red,  A Day to Remember and many more. Doors are opening at 11 am and tickets are still available. For more information and to get the entire line-up visit the official Van’s Warped Tour website at http://vanswarpedtour.com/

Death Cab for Cutie- Sunday, August 7^th

Death Cab for Cutie began as a solo project by lead singer Ben Gibbard in 1997 when he released a demo tape that proved to be popular in the Seattle area.  The indie rock band released their first album Something About Airplanes in 1998 which was quickly received favorably by the independent music scene. Their 2005 album Plans gave them with a Grammy nomination as well as their 2008 album Narrow Stairs and their 2009 album The Open Door EP. Their newest and 7^th album Codes and Keys released yesterday, May 31^st to favorable reviews and their official website can be found at http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/

O.A.R.-Saturday, August 13^th

I’m kind of partial to this one because I will be attending, but O.A.R.’s live shows blow away the recorded versions of their songs. Originating from Rockville, MD, the first members of O.A.R. started the band in the basement of drummer, Chris Culos. They recruited the final members of their band while attending school at the University of Ohio, which is where they also recorded their first album before graduating. Due to the success of online distribution the band became a huge hit with college students. The band known best for their live performances often add jam sessions to their songs making it rare to hear the a song played the same way twice.  Their opening acts will be SOJA and Virginia Coalition. Tickets are still available and doors will be opening at 5:30 pm. Their official website can be found at http://www.ofarevolution.com/

HFStival- Saturday, September 17^th

The HFStival has been a summer concert staple to the MD/DC area since the early 90’s. Although it has changed venues and stations over the past few years the HFStival still lives on. This year appearing at Merriweather the line-up includes The Avett Brothers, Flogging Molly, The Gin Blossoms, Dr. Dog, Clutch and many more! For more information and the total line up, visit the official site at http://whfs.radio.com/shows/hfstival/

More information on Merriweather Post Pavilion or to buy tickets for any of the non sold out shows above visit http://www.merriweathermusic.com/

Check out the video below for a tour of our Spec Home ready for immediate delivery in Taylor Preserve at Waverly Woods

More information can be found on our website under the Xpress Homes link

The egg has been a symbol of creation for hundreds of years and people have been dyeing them almost just as long. The original tradition of egg dyeing is said to have started in Persia in 3000 BC to celebrate the first day of Spring. In the Middle Ages decorating and coloring eggs became a wide spread custom in England. The wealthy would cover their eggs in gold, while the peasants would use herbs and flowers to decorate their eggs. In the 1700’s the Pennsylvania Dutch were credited with bringing the tradition of egg dyeing to the US. And in the late 1800’s a drug store owner named William Townley from New Jersey created dye tablets in 5 different colors, which then launched the largest manufacturer of egg dyes, known today as PAAS.

When I was a child I remember begging my mom every year to let me get the egg dyeing kit that allowed me to cover all my eggs in glitter. Being young, I obviously didn’t realize the mess that was left behind after all the fun was over; and as reluctant as she was about letting me get the kit with glitter, she usually gave in.  The tradition in our household now is to do a different style every year. Last year we attempted the Ukrainian style of decorating named pysanky (also known as pysanka). This method is done in different stages, using beeswax, a stylus and different color dyes. It was a very time consuming and tedious process but fun nonetheless and we created the most beautiful eggs I have ever seen.  For more information on pysanky and basic instructions on how to make your own pysanky eggs can be viewed here

Traditional Pysanky Eggs

If you’re looking to do something a little different this year other than the usual way of dipping eggs in dye, check out some of the links below for some fun and creative ideas. I’ve also added a few recipes for what you can do to with all those egg after they have been dyed.

20 Egg Decorating Ideas

Easter Egg Decorating

Unique Egg Decorating Ideas

Martha Stewart Easter Eggs

Egg Decorating

Recipes:

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Chunky Egg Salad

Potato and Egg Salad

Cobb Salad

Earlier this week we polled the Facebook community, asking what their most desired room would be. Options for answering were as follows:
-A huge gourmet kitchen
-A finished rec room in your basement
-A light filled morning room
-A composite maintenance free deck
-A theater room

After almost a week of voting, majority who participated chose the gourmet kitchen as their most desired room (myself included). You can still vote or view the remaining results on our Facebook page here and while there be sure to like us too!

This poll was foreshadowing for Forty West’s newest promotion for the month of April. For a limited time only, homebuyers who sign a contract during our Spring Savings event can choose to have two additional living spaces added to their new Forty West home for no additional cost.

Buyers can choose any two of the following four living spaces:
-A gourmet kitchen upgrade, which includes GE Profile Stainless Steel appliances, maple cabinets with a glaze finish of their choice, a matching wood hood, select granite countertops and glass tile backsplash. We can’t promise it will make you a better cook but we can promise you will enjoy your time in the kitchen a lot more.
-A maintenance free deck with plenty of space to kick your feet up with some of your closest friends while having a few drinks and watching the sun set over Waverly Woods.
-A finished basement rec room creating a lot more livable space in your house that can be used as a playroom for kids, adults or both!
-A light filled morning room that’s definitely worth getting out of bed early for.

Despite the four fantastic options it will not be an easy choice to make. For more information on this promotion stop by our model in Taylor Preserve at Waverly Woods on Taylor Farm Road in Woodstock or call our Community Sales Manager at 410.491.4700.

With an excellent 2010 behind us and continuing signs of a revitalized real estate market, Forty West Builders is looking to add to its’ team. We are actively seeking to hire a Marketing Coordinator to work primarily from our main office in Ellicott City and within surrounding communities. Please read the job description below for more details. Resumes should be submitted to info@fortywest.com.

Forty West Builders, a new home builder with a tradition spanning over 30 years, is looking for an energetic individual to join our team as a marketing coordinator. This position will feature a diverse set of responsibilities designed to support our sales team and company marketing initiatives with a primary focus on handling website content and distribution, social media management and other associated digital marketing projects. This position will report to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, with the ideal candidate possessing a solid understanding of consumer based marketing, strong written and oral communication skills, social media expertise and a willingness to manage a diverse set of responsibilities.

Core Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Managing online social media presence and developing associated content. These channels include Facebook, Twitter, blogs, industry portals and other forums.
- Updating company website and analyzing tracking data to help determine strategic direction.
- Managing customer databases and executing email marketing campaigns.
- Creating and assisting with the distribution of tactical print marketing to support our sales team.
- Writing and designing quarterly newsletter and overseeing distribution of such.
- Working with outside programmers and IT professionals to maintain effective web presence.
- Overseeing printing and inventory of company collateral to include brochures, specialty ad items, signage, etc.
- Executing consistent communication with Realtor community and other partners who are instrumental in our sales success.
- Utilize and create efficiencies with the company’s online CRM application.
- Interacting with customers through the design and construction process. This may include coordination of the buyer’s selections prior to construction and hence the reason this position requires a diverse set of responsibilities.
- Manage various administrative tasks associated with ongoing sales and marketing initiatives as needed.

Requirements
* Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Marketing/Communications.
* Ideal candidates will have 1-3 years of experience in the marketing or communications field.
* Must be proficient with various Social Media platforms, web blogs, web analytics software and all Microsoft Office programs. Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and some HTML knowledge is a plus.
* Previous Experience in the new home or real estate industry helpful.

To be considered for this opportunity, please forward resume to info@fortywest.com.