Home Tour Beats Karl Rove Speech

The Washington Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization will sponsor the fourth annual Tour of Homes fundraiser on May 12. The tour showcases the unusual and varied neighborhoods in the Washington attendance zone and includes homes of differing eras and styles, and the ticket sales support educational activities at the the school. Given a choice between this fun event for a good cause or paying big bucks to hear Karl Rove tell lies at a Republican dinner in Springdale, who would miss it?

Open for viewing between noon and 5 p.m. will be seven homes, with a voyeurs' refreshment stop at French Metro Antiques at 200 W. Dickson Street. The Gift House Antiques at 525 N. Mission also invites tour goers to a spring open house.

The generous hosts and great houses on this year’s Tour of Homes are:

Mark and Katie Zweig, 59 E. Prospect St. French Country style native stone and western red cedar shingle residence designed and built in 1935 by A.L. Trent

Janie and Bill Eldridge, 409 E. Lafayette. Cottage built in 1885 extensively remodeled.

Stuart and Missi Walker, 434 W. Prospect. A 1950s brick split-level with a California-ranch style makeover, recently featured on HGTV.

John and Jennifer Lewis, 607 Park Ave. A 1926 Craftsman style bungalow of stone and brick built by Noah Fields Drake.

Elliott West and Suzanne Stoner, 830 N. Park Ave. A 1935 house that was redesigned in 1997 to include a second story and an interior courtyard enclosed on three sides

Marlon and Ati Blackwell, 857 N. Woolsey. Modern design of steel, glass, and Brazilian redwood.

Scott and Anne O'Leary-Kelly, 220 E. Lafayette. Two-story 1899 colonial, renovated in 2006

Tickets are $20 at French Metro Antiques, The Gift House on Mission, Arsaga's Espresso Cafes and from Principal Ashley Garcia at the Washington Elementary School office. Tickets may also be purchased May 12 at any of the tour homes for $25. Information: 444-3073.