photo by: Ryan McGinty

photo by: lowjumpingfrog

Sandpoint Wooden Boat Festival

Illustration for the 7th Annual - Dog-Gone Fine Festival

One of several different weekend events and attractions in the Sandpoint area to enjoy. The time, energy, and money devoted to these an antique watercraft is amazing and it shows. They are gorgeous.

Sandpoint Boardwalk

And, as most full weekend events participants also enjoyed; Breakfast, Boardwalk, BBQ, Beer, Brass Quintet, and more BOATS.

Sponsored and brought to your fine community by Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society and Downtown Sandpoint Business Association

Special thanks to the guest photographers gathered on fliker: lowjumpingfrog, Ryan McGinty, great images thanks for sharing.

]]> http://sandpointundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2009/08/22/wooden-boat-festival/feed/ 0 http://sandpointundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2009/07/13/hanging-around-sandpoint/ http://sandpointundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2009/07/13/hanging-around-sandpoint/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:55:09 +0000 Jiwan Ripley http://sandpointundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/?p=125

Most travelers will first approach Sandpoint from the south; the drive from Coeur d’Alene is a wonderful trip. As you are cross the ‘Gate Way to Sandpoint’ Long Bridge, you will be taken aback by the over all beauty of the Sandpoint area. Lake Pend Oreille, the Selkirk Mountains, the breathtaking natural sparkle of this area.

As you leave Long Bridge, turn the corner on to the Main Drag one of the very first things you will notice are the lovely Hanging Baskets. It is always amazing how the little details can dazzle.

Sandpoint's hanging Beauties

I would like to thank the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association for sponsoring the Basket Project. Others that deserve recognition; are Nancy Hastings of All Season Garden and Floral for the design and maintenance, Master Gardener’s for the planting and Panhandle Special Needs for their Greenhouse and support. Just one more thing that makes Sandpoint the special place it is.

Coldwater Creek pre event gathering

Far and wide the call went out, and they responded, they ALL responded to Northern Idaho’s only Sandpoint 4^th of July Parade.

Biker groups coming together

To say the parade was well attended would be a huge understatement. In Sandpoint this is one of the must attend events of the summer, and there are many.

Ready for the starting gun

Even as they gathered the air was crackling with anticipation of the start of something special.

Let's light this Candle

Flags and Fireman

local groups, businesses, fire and police, young and old, townies and tourist they all lined the streets for blocks. For the entire 15 block parade route the sidewalks where packed with excited onlookers. I do not have the official count but I would estimate close to 100 entries participated in the festivities.

the weather and the turn out were awesome

Local Veggie Group

Precision Tractor Team

We are having fun now

Next June when you are planning your 4th to July, Independence Day activities, you might just want to give the family are real treat and head out for Sandpoint, the real gem of Northern Idaho.

Sandpoint Photos from Flickr and in order by: (3)  jorr81 ,  by a.feng,  ozgurmulazimoglu, by AnnieMathilda, by theslowlane, by Brian Auer, by lynnewu, by jorr81 again, (the deer shot), by DeliciousTen, and the end for now: by jmayer1129

In Sandpoint and the surrounding area prices have drop considerably in the past 12 months, now is a great time to check out the market in the area you have always wanted to own real estate. Check out these stats and return as I will post local Sandpoint and Bonners County real estate statistics from time to time.

“We are looking at property prices from 5 or more years ago” says Jiwan Ripley Branch Manager of Connect Realty Sandpoint, “it is definitely a buyers market in local real estate, you can pick up a great deal right now.”

One area of consumers that should be looking are the ‘First Time Buyers’ if you have not owned a home in the past 3 years, it is time to take action. If you have a 620 credit score and above, and have been current on you monthly payment for the last couple years, it is time to consider ownership. There are several programs and variety of mortgages available to qualifying individuals. In Bonner County there are also Rural Idaho Program, grants, discount rates, payment subsidies, and full smorgasbord of programs.

Come take advantage of the market, it’s really is the right time to Jump IN.

Locals lined up for a couple car lengths to get in

The circus comes rolling into town and all the town folk show up. Two or Three times a year Sandpoint is temporary home to a small traveling Circus.

The crowd gathered

This one had a couple tigers, a lion, some trained pigeons, one clown, and a few talented high wire walkers, some great jugglers, and several food vendors mingling with the crowd.

One very talented clown

Yep, One clown

If you were one of the daring you could have your photo taken with a 20′ python (not shown here).

High wire

low wire

Needless to say fun was had by all young and old. The people of Sandpoint are always accommodating and even though there were no elephants we had a great time.

The official banner welcomes guest to Farmin Park

Twice a week Farmin Park hosts a Sandpoint institution, the Farmer’s Market.

Shopper’s and Vendor’s enjoy the first day of Summer

Started in 1988 every Wed afternoon and Saturday morning the participating vendors gather to offer the community a variety of locally grown produce, flowers, plants, herbs, or items ranging for soaps to salsa, baked goods to baskets, macramé to live music.

From seed to bloom

This is a must attend when in the area or the best way to start your weekend each Saturday morning.

All enjoy the live music

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Opening Day – May 2
Anniversary Celebration – June 13
Customer Appreciation – July 11
Kid’s Day – August 8
Taste of the Market – September 12
HARVEST FEST – October 10

Miranda (the granddaughter in question)

My wife Valerie and I moved to the Sandpoint, Idaho last summer. We had visited several times our son, daughter-in-law and Miranda (our almost 3 year old granddaughter) they have lived here for some time now. Sandpoint is a beautiful small town in the northern panhandle of Idaho, less then an hour for the Canadian Boarder. Sandpoint sits on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains and at the foot of Schweitzer Mountain. What an incredible combination.

Neighborhoods Undressed; is not a network of great writers, is always G rated local content, isn’t about in your face advertising, but is a great place to advertise, is not my space, twitter, facebook or linkedin, is all about the ins and outs of each local community, and hopefully entertaining, informative, enduring, and widely read. The Undressed suggest the local person peeling back the veil to uncover what is unique and sometimes hidden for the outside world.

Why Undressed; When I was looking for a URL that would represent what I was looking for in a site and one that would rate first page on Google and Yahoo search. I checked out several www.sandpoint.com, www.sandpointonline.com, www.sandpointrealestate.com, of course those were all taken. And then, through the Connect Realty network of agent’s I found the Undressed Neighborhoods. Like-minded people wanting to do the same thing in their local area, network.

Why would I start a local blog, to be honest, to let you know I am here. I started my own little Real Estate office affiliating myself with a new national company, Connect Realty. I wanted a venue that would allow me to be a part of this friendly community, get to better know the people, area, events, and activities. I would like everyone who reads this blog to fall in love with the area as much as we have. And, if in the process you need a Realtor to aid you along your trail, Bingo!

I am excited to be able to share Sandpoint with you and hope you enjoy the sharing, I think we are going to have some fun. Stay Tuned.

PS: I need your photos, Sandpoint and surrounding are wonderful opportunities. Please help me make this blog an awesome visit by sending me your photos. Of course I will credit you, and who knows, might talk my friend Larry into buying you a pizza.

Sandpoint is a quiet community of 8200 area residents, nestled in the scenic Selkirk Mountains on the shores of majestic Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho’s panhandle. The area features extraordinary year-around recreational opportunities in a world class outdoor environment. Forbes listed Sandpoint as “one of the top ten places in the world to live for people who could telecommute”, many others extol the area’s beauty, friendliness, and lifestyle: Sunset calls it “the West’s best small town”, Outside magazine writes “cool Northwest’s hot property”, “Norman Rockwell-meets-Ansel Adams classic” in USA Today. National Geographic Adventure magazine voted Sandpoint one of the 10 best adventure towns in the nation, and Cabin Life, Cabin Living calls Sandpoint “the quintessential Western outdoor lover’s town.
You pick the season to visit and we will supply the recreation, event, activity or site of interest from watching the firework over Lake Pend Oreille to skiing to your cabin door at Schweitzer Mountain, we have it all.

The idea behind using the word “undressed” is transparency, and all you want to know about the subject.

I am sure as you visit this site you will enjoy learning more about this blog topic and its author.

Larry Cragun, President