When you’re in the mood for Motown, jazz, hard rock or disco, along with a picnic basket and a bottle of good wine, Twilight Tuesdays at Missouri History Museum is the go-to place at sunset (May 26, June 2, June 9, starting at 6:30). The Fabulous Motown Revue delivers the classic Detroit music scene (May 26); Jazz Grammy Nominee Kirk Whalum joins Hugh “Peanuts” Whalum, Jeff Anderson, Marty Morrison, Danny Campbell, Eric Slaughter and Reggie Thomas for jazz (June 2); Dr. Zhivegas’s hard rock meets disco, with songs from the ’70s to today (June 9). Free admission. Make-and-take activities for children at 6. Food and drink are available for purchase. Gourmet boxed meals may be ordered 24 hours ahead from Patty Long Catering and picked up on site (314-454-3154). Throw in a cool night, a colorful sunset over Forest Park and great people watching. Hard to beat. Missouri History Museum front lawn. Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park (314-454-3199).

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The March Pending Home Sales Index helped fuel a stock market market rally on Monday.

Signs are not yet optimistic everywhere, but first-time buyers–nationally, as well as in St. Louis–are responding to historically low mortgage rates and the $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers.

Related Story: CNN Money: Pending home sales jump 3.2%

This 19th century home is located in rural Delaware on roughly 1,000 acres. Early American antiques throughout the home. However, this collection of furniture and paintings, including a Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington, which hangs over the dining room fireplace, are not negotiable. Those items will remain in the collection amassed by Henry Dupont, who was born here, added some 100 rooms to the home and lived here until his death in 1969.

Directions to the home, (now a museum known as Winterthur), are available from Joan Falk, who toured Winterthur last week with her husband (the writer of this little fantasy), along with her brother (who works for Dupont) and his family.

Now the disclaimer (freely re-written): most of this information is not guaranteed and is deemed to be completely unreliable. It is true however, that Joan and I did visit Winterthur last week and I made the photographs.

Enjoy the fantasy of living on this hillside (if living a little bigger than human scale is your style), listing the house (if you’re a real estate agent), or just imagine how good it is to not have to dust all those collectibles and keep up with that garden.  (more: Winterthur)
–Dickson

$8,000 tax credit or 10% of the sale price, whichever is less

Tax credit on 2008 or 2009 tax return

Purchase must be between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009

Buyers must live in the house for at least 3 years or they will be obliged to pay it back

Income restrictions: less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples – possible partial credit for higher-income buyers

Additional buyer advantages:

100% mortgage programs available

St. Louis County $3,000 for first-time buyers (restrictions apply)

Lowest rates since the 1970’s (maybe the lowest rates you will see in your lifetime.)

Buyer’s market

Competitively priced real estate market

Some listed properties have buy-down rates starting at 2.875%

Homeownership is an investment in your future, and your real estate transaction involves one of the biggest financial investments you will experience

We will help you through the process from house hunting and financing options to negotiating, due diligence and closing.