Pure Florida presents a Marine Science Kids Cruise - Date: January 7, 2017 10:00 AM

Location: Fort Myers - The Marine Science Kids Cruises are free to children with paid adult admission as part of Pure Florida’s Kids Cruise Free Saturdays at 10 a.m. program.Children will cruise along the Caloosahatchee aboard the M/V Edison Explorer, collect water and perform water quality experiments to test the levels of nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, pH and salinity.

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Emily Blunt and John Krasinski Say 'Oh, Bye!' to Ojai Weekend Estate

The girl on the train has finally blown the whistle on her country estate.

Emily Blunt and her actor hubby, John Krasinski, fetched $2.4 million on the property — a big step down from the $4.25-million price tag they hung on it a year ago.

Set on the 5-acre site of the historic Ojai Foothills Hotel, the colonial home spans more than 4,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. It also boasts 4 fireplaces and a private guest wing.

High ceilings, hardwood floors and a sweeping staircase evoke an earlier era, while a backyard pool and spa call to mind a relaxing vacation.

In the wake of their move to New York — and the purchase of a new home in Brooklyn — the couple has been on a listing tear. In the past year, they’ve sold a home near Mulholland Drive for $3.5 million, an ultra-modern remodeled mansion in the Hollywood Hills that Kendall Jenner reportedly bought for $6.5 million, and now this Ojai spread.

Patty Waltcher of Coldwell Banker Previews International was the listing agent in Ojai, a getaway nestled in the hills between Los Angeles and Montecito. Props to Variety’s Real Estalker for spotting the sale.

Check out the area:

See more celebrity neighborhood videos.

Related:

• The Obama Family Named Most Desirable Neighbor for 2017
• 5 Celebs Who Bought Spectacular Homes in 2016
• The 7 Most Gorgeous Celebrity Listings of 2016

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What's Your DIY IQ?

When it comes to completing projects around the house, it’s no secret that some of us have a harder time than others.

Maybe you can’t tell your ratchet from your monkey wrench - or perhaps you’ve got an expert grasp on when to choose a C-clamp instead of a pipe clamp.

Now’s your chance to see how you measure up.

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Ready to tackle your next home improvement project? Check out Zillow Digs for design inspiration. 

Related:

• Home Design Quiz: Would You Rather … ?
• 9 Signs It’s Time to Update Your Bathroom
• DIY Updates That May Boost Your Home’s Value

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The Obama Family Named Most Desirable Neighbor for 2017

Every December we ask Americans which celebrities they would most like to have as their neighbor, and which ones they wouldn’t dare share a fence with.

Most desirable neighbors for 2017

The Obama family is the top choice for a celebrity neighbor in 2017, earning 14 percent of the votes. The family garnered strong votes among both male and female voters, and across generations.

The Obamas are rumored to be renting an 8,200-square-foot home in Kalorama, a neighborhood within Washington, D.C.

"There was a lot of excitement around the fact that the Obamas chose to stay in D.C. after living in the White House - a first for a former president since Woodrow Wilson," said Jeremy Wacksman, Zillow chief marketing officer. "Maybe it's the additional neighborhood security, or the possibility of running into other influential and famous people, but it's clear people are intrigued by the idea of living next to the former first family.”

Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a close second, with 13 percent of the votes. Johnson is known for his collection of mega mansions, and has sold at least 10 homes in Florida alone over the past decade.

Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's "Fixer Upper" came in third with eight percent, followed by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi (seven percent).

Worst neighbors of 2016

Justin Bieber topped the list of worst neighbors for the second time, earning the highest percentage of votes in survey history. One in three (36 percent) found Bieber to be the most undesirable neighbor of 2016 - a two percentage point increase from his previous win in 2014.

Bieber has rented numerous showy, modern L.A. homes, most recently paying a reported $8,000 per month in Toluca Lake.

"Justin Bieber continues to stir up trouble everywhere he goes, and would likely be an unpredictable neighbor," notes Wacksman.

Reality TV stars Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna came in second place with 23 percent of the votes. The on-and-off-again couple ranked higher by large margins over competitors Tom Cruise (seven percent), Taylor Swift (four percent) and Tom Brady (three percent).

Here’s a look at the full survey results:

See last year’s results and read more celebrity real estate news.

Related:

• 5 Celebs Who Bought Spectacular Homes in 2016
• The 7 Most Gorgeous Celebrity Listings of 2016
• 10 High-Wattage Celebrity Home Handoffs

 

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House of the Week: A Seaside Home With a Lighthouse

Rumor has it that Laguna Beach is where Hollywood came to play in the early 1920s, and it's easy to see why when you look at this breathtaking coastal home.

The 4-bedroom, 3,545-square-foot home looks and feels like you've been transported to another world - a nautical one. The original owners were actress America Chedister and her husband, filmmaker Edward H. Griffith, whose brother directed “The Birth of a Nation.” The couple enjoyed long careers in film, but their love for cruising and the sea is what inspired this home. It’s listed for $16.995 million.

The home's nautical influences are everywhere, from the teak wood used in the home’s construction, to the porthole windows in the kitchen, to the property’s lighthouse, a historic and treasured part of the Laguna coast. The estate includes two guesthouses, one made from the cabin of an old boat.

Although the home's sea-inspired decor and architecture are unique, the uninterrupted views of the ocean steal the show. They make it feel almost like you're coasting along the Pacific.

The estate offers access to a remote beach and a swimming pool that was carved into the cliffside and is replenished by ocean water.

"The lighthouse and the pool built into the cliffside are incredibly unique. And to have not just one, but both features, makes this a once-in-a-lifetime property," said listing agent Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker Previews International.

The home was built in the 1920s, and it’s rumored that when you purchased Beverly Hills property back then, a piece of land in Laguna Beach was thrown in. The quiet coastal town filled with movie types who liked to party. This home’s current owners restored and repaired the home with this vision in mind.

"The home has undergone a series of remodels over the years, including with the current owners,” Smith said. “The renovations have been done in such a way that the home enjoys modern amenities, yet maintains the integrity of the original home.”

Related:

• See 10 of the Most Outrageous Listings of 2016
• A Key West Church Turned Home Sanctuary
• A Tiny Home by the Beach

 

 

 

 

 

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