Scottsdale AZ Real Estate & Lifestyle

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Joyce Tawes

Scottsdale Events: Street Eats Food Truck Festival

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– SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA EVENTS: STREET EATS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL–

ITaking it to the streets Grayhawk Scottsdale AZ want to send a big thanks out to Aaron Studebaker, the Director of Sales and Marketing, for bringing the  Street Eats Food Truck Festival to the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in the Scottsdale area.  It seems Aaron was visiting his brother in Los Angeles and they decided to do dinner at a traveling gourmet food-truck that was going to be in their neighborhood.  After waiting over two hours in line for a grilled cheese (that would be mac and cheese with pulled pork) – he was hooked!

We headed out to the Street Eats Food Truck Festival around noon on Saturday. Scottsdale was experiencing some unusually cold weather and I wasn’t anxious to go out too early.  As it turned out, it was a bright, clear day and a comfortable temperature for walking around and enjoying tScottsdale Event Street Eats 2013he sights.

It was one of the most well-organized events I have attended in a long time.  There was great signage from the freeway, parking was included in the ticket price and attendants to guide you into the closest spaces to the event.  Walking over to the field location was fun as we had a great view of all of the fabulous practice and training areas for the Diamondbacks.  They were having a baseball camp for teenagers and it was fun to see how well some of these youngsters play and how well they were doing in the batting cages.

Entry fee was $10 per person and you could buy tickets for food and drink from a number of different places at $2 per ticket. Once we got inside the Festival area, I immediately went to the tent where they were going to hold a cooking demonstration by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.  It was standing room only and Chef Zakarian put on a great show for the audience.  He made making risotto seem like a “snap” – a favorite dish of mine, but one that can be tricky to pull off correctly.

We then walked the full perimeter of the area to see what was being presented before we chose a place to eat.  We saw a couple of other fun , interesting sights as we strolled along.  The “Droid” was there and was a bigWhisky River Food Truck Phoenix AZ hit with the little ones. We saw two young ladies making balloon characters for the children. And, I was a bit taken aback when a “horse” tapped me on the shoulder and suggested we try some of the traditional Indian Food from his particular truck.  (Didn’t talk – just gestured with his “hooves…”)

One of my favorite trucks was “Taking it to the Streets”.  This was the group from the new Isabella’s Kitchen at the Grayhawk Golf Club.  I have been looking forward to visiting the restaurant as it has had great reviews.  They encouraged us to stop in on Wednesday night – they have Happy Hour between 5 and 8 PM and they said it was a good way to sample several different offerings.

Rocking Rays Eats Scottsdale AZI had two other favorite trucks.  The first was a large truck painted like a big bull from the Whiskey River Saloon in North Phoenix.  Second was the Rockin Ray’s.  A sleek metal trailer with retro chrome and steel tables and stools.  It’s pulled by a vintage pick up truck painted in the same gray metal color and totally “tricked out”.  The fact that they were serving San Francisco crab rolls might have biased my opinion a bit, as well.

For families, they had a great children’s play area – a 40 foot slide was fun for all ages and they had these large clear balls floating on water that kids could get into and propel along.  Just like a hamster!

And, I never go to one event that I don’t learn something new about Scottsdale area.  The open bandstand in the back was featuring different rock groups as entertainment.  The School of Rock nightclub on Mill AvenKid Fun at 2013 Food Truck Event Scottsdale AZue in Tempe sponsored the show.  The School of Rock opened in September of 2010 with the purpose of giving local artists (as well as national bands) the opportunity to perform for live audiences.  We caught the performance by “Soldiers of Virtue” consisting of three young men.  Well, we think they were all young men – one had a horse’s head, but……  we enjoyed the music!

They also had a few contests going on on the stage including a Hot Dog Eating Contest, a Pie Eating Contest, and a Twinkies Eating Contest (wonder where they got the Twinkies?)

All in all, it was a fabulous afternoon.  I would highly recommend the event for families as well as “foodies” or adventurous types who want to sample new and different kinds of food and drink.  We are looking forward to next year!

Scottsdale Charities: Operation Toy Ride – Scottsdale to Cave Creek

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Phoeniz AZ Military Assistance Mission– Scottsdale Arizona Charities: Operation Toy Ride: A Motorcycle Ride from Scottsdale to Cave Creek –

Schumacher European Motors of Scottsdale sponsored a great heart-warming charity event in the valley last weekend. Operation Toy Ride benefits the Military Assistance Mission. The Military Assistance Mission is a non-profit that helps local needy active military families with one time payments for things like rent or a car payment or food.

Riders for Operation Toy Ride Participants brought their motorcycles and had the opportunity to take their favorite scenic route from the Schumacher dealership in North Scottsdale up to the finish point at The Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek, where food and entertainment awaited.

To help the charity, riders paid a ride fee and were asked to also bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the children of military families. As you can see, the generosity was overwhelming and there will be a lot of very happy children this Christmas morning.

Michael Schumacher was in evidence throughout the event making sure everyone was getting their coffee, donuts and having a great time. His entire family was there as well helping out whenever they could. According to Michael they had 150 biker entrants last year and this year it was over 200 rider participants.Michael Schumacher of Schumacher European Scottsdale

550 KFYI , a local radio station, was on hand to advertise the event and was one of the big sponsors. For those of you who can’t see beyond the “beard”, that was Marty Manning from KEZ 99.9 FM acting as Santa Claus. He did a great job!

For those of you who might not know, the Phoenix area is filled with recreational and serious motorcyclists who just love to ride! The riders and participants in this fund-raiser come from all different kinds of backgrounds and from all over the state. Besides their love for riding, they thoroughly enjoy participating in events like this.Marty Manning Santa Scottsdale Operation Toy Ride

As you can see from the pictures, most of the riders were retired military and happy to support Operation Toy Ride again this year. I overheard one of the riders giving directions to others to the National Cemetery. They were planning to go by and pay tribute to their honored comrades. It was a very touching and powerful scene.

I had such a good time visiting the kickoff of the ride, I’ve already got it on my calendar for next year. It is truly a worthwhile and fun event!

Where to Shop in Scottsdale AZ: Rustic Stuff

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In July of last year I wrote about a fascinating home store called “Rustic Stuff”.  At that time it was located on Northsight Boulevard, just off of North Hayden Road. Paul, the owner, has been in this business for about 15 years and his store is full of unique and charming items for the home.

Recently I was driving into one of my favorite shopping areas on the Southeast corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and Scottsdale Road.  (Note: You will know you have arrived when you see the towering Frank Lloyd Wright spire on the corner.)

I was surprised to see a familiar sign “Rustic Stuff” emblazoned on the store front that was formerly a restaurant. This is great as this location is far more convenient to pop in for a hostess gift or an item to freshen up the home than the previous location.Scottsdale Winter Christmas Tree

Even more exciting was the fact that it was November – and that meant that Paul had transformed his beautiful home interior store into a Christmas tree fantasyland.  In order to create these masterpieces, he attends private buying shows and also imports a number of his items from Europe. Every year, as a kickoff to the holiday season, Rustic Stuff holds an Open House in early November and the newest versions of the trees are unveiled.

To give you a sense of what you can expect, I’ve put in some photos of the unique trees and decorations you will see when you enter through the beautiful wooden door, (which is also decked out for the holidays).

Each tree has a theme, and all carry a personalized note that says “Feel free to shop from the trees” and this is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. The trees are works of art that provide an opportunity to purchase unique pieces that will become family heirlooms.

Santa tree Scottsdale AZAfter entering  the store, you are immediately confronted with an astounding all white presentation. It is a white flocked tree with all white ornaments, surrounded by stuffed white tigers of all shapes and sizes.  It is absolutely visually stunning.

My second favorite is the tree covered with wine and cheeses — actual bottles of wine, although the cheeses are not real.  There was a Winter Garden Tree that was absolutely elegant with large glass ornaments and fruits and berries conjuring images of a wonderful Christmas garden.

Christmas Table for Kids ScottsdaleFor the kids,  I loved the table bedecked with gingerbread houses and treats for the little ones.  Another wonderful tree for children was the one I call the “Whimsy” –  topped by Santa in a very, very tall hat.

Hanging over the office counter was a beautiful iron chandelier that Paul had decorated with Santas and Elves and made it appear that everyone was having a wonderful time!

The holiday displays and trees at Rustic Stuff are not to be missed and children are very welcome.


More Information:
Rustic Stuff
16495 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 106
Scottsdale AZ 85254
480 596 0345
https://www.rusticstuffhome.com/0

Paradise Valley Events – 3rd Annual Treats and Treasures Boutique

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Curly Q Bowtique Paradise Valley AZAs I’m writing about interesting things to do and see in Scottsdale, I often overlook the fact that our area isn’t just for “end destination” resort living, but is also home to thousands of families who live here year round.

I had a great time this morning as I was invited to attend a holiday bazaar called the 3rd Annual Treats and Treasures Boutique.  This fun event was held at the Christ Church School on Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley.

I was overwhelmed and impressed with the quality of the items displayed for purchase.  At the entrance to the door, was a Christmas booth with all sorts of fun items for the holidays.  Once you got inside the hall you had the chance to peruse all types of items from hand-made jewelry to handmade quilts.

Thoughts and Blocks art Paradise Valley AZI was especially taken with the items presented at the Curly Q Bowtique.  Marlis Kapellusch (pictured in the photo) creates all types of curly bow hair pieces for little girls as well as “hero” figure capes for the little ones to use their imagination during play time masquerading as Superman and Batman.

Thoughts and Blocks was another great display. Take a look in the photo and see how cleverly they used the tiles from Scrabble to display cute sayings.

I was also taken with the beautiful hand printed pillow and wine bottle covers – all done by Debra Williamson.  She certainly has some unique and thoughtful ideas for personalized items.

Scottsdale pillows Joshua by OakI admit that I haven’t attended a Bazaar in many years and have forgotten how much fun it is to look at wonderful hand-made items and have the opportunity to meet the creative folks that make them.  It was a wonderful experience and I’ve already marked my calendar for next year, same time.

Charles Schwab Cup at Desert Mountain – Day one of the PGA Tournament

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Golf at Desert Mountain Scottsdale AZIf anyone had the chance to watch this great event on television, you were surely impressed with the beautiful surroundings as the 30 top players from the Champions tour played their first individual round of golf.

At the end of the day, defending champion Jay Don Blake shot a 6 under par 64 to grab the lead.  The two players with enough points going in to secure the Schwab Cup are Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman, with Roger Chapman having a long shot at the cup. Langer is 211 points ahead of Tom Lehman and 657 points in front of Chapman.

The highlight of the Pro-Am event played yesterday was the appearance of eleven former champions heading up teams. These eleven players have an impressive 147 PGA TOUR titles to their credit.

Desert Mountain has outdone itself in insuring the Cochise golf course is in pristine condition. As I watched the coverage on television, I found it hard to believe that a course set in the Sonoran Desert can look so lush and green.  It’s also been interesting to watch some of the aerial views of a course I’ve personally played over the last 16 years as a member at Desert Mountain. I don’t even recognize some of the tee boxes the professionals play from ….. they are way back from my red tees!

Golf matches are not always considered a social event, but in this case, Desert Mountain has gone all out to insure that everyone attending the tournament has an outstanding and enjoyable experience.  Numerous hospitality tents have sprung up surrounding holes 16, 17 and 18 – and the Cochise Clubhouse has been turned into a gathering place with refreshments and booths.

The Cochise Clubhouse lends itself to events like this with a beautiful stone porte cochere that can turn into a social gathering place with ease.  Add the beautiful breezeway that leads down to the bar and dining room, and you can’t help but enjoy all the activities associated with the event.

The beautiful real estate available within the gates of Desert Mountain is being promoted as well as golf related clothing and equipment.  One of the more interesting items on display is a new item for practicing your putting called Dream GreenTM.  It comes in 5 or 6 sizes that can be easily adjusted to change the break and is so realistic, a number of the PGA professionals are purchasing them for at -home practice.  It is great for a golf club or at home, whether you are a professional or a novice. People were standing in line to try it out – very innovative and it was developed by a local Scottsdale company.

The warm and sunny weather has encouraged a lot of people to come out to watch the tournament unfold.  We’re expecting another day of temperatures in the mid-80’s and the good weather is scheduled to continue through the weekend.

I’ll be back soon with some photos and more news about the tournament.

Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain 2012

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Desert Mountain Scottsdale Cochise CourseNext week is the big event at Desert Mountain we’ve all been waiting for – the 2012 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The top 30 players on the Champions Tour money list at the conclusion of the 2012 season will be eligible to compete. The Champions Tour tournament will be played on the Cochise golf course (one of the six Jack Nicklaus courses at Desert Mountain). Many people may recall that Desert Mountain hosted another Champions Tour event, the Tradition, for 13 years between 1989 to 2001.

The event officially kicks off on Monday, October 29th, but it is not open to the public until Wednesday, October 31st  when they start to play the Pro-Am sponsored by Vi at Silverstone, the newer retirement community in Scottsdale. (Note: You can review the full competition schedule at the bottom of this post.)

A tremendous amount of work and effort have gone into organizing the Charles Schwab Cup for its debut at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale.  The PGA, the Schwab Cup committee and the management and residents of Desert Mountain have been working together for well over a year to insure that attendees have an exciting and enjoyable experience watching the tournament.

The event planners are anticipating attendance in the range of 35,000 to 40,000 and Championship Play rounds will be televised on the Golf Channel. In addition, they hope to raise $400,000 for charitable causes via the tournament.

This is an exciting year for the Schwab Cup as it is mathematically possible for eight players to claim the Charles Schwab Cup heading into the event.  This is the closest the competition has been since 2008 when only 84 points separated Fred Funk (the leader) and Bernard Langer with 2 events remaining. Ironically, Jay Haas eventually overtook both Funk and Langer to win by 12 points.

It’s building up to be an exciting finish to the Tour and the players are excited to be returning to Desert Mountain and the Cochise Course. For golf aficionados – the Cochise Course was built in 1987 and will be set up at 7,019 yards for the tournament.  You’ll enjoy following your favorite players as the Cochise course is nestled in a true desert setting.

Jack Nicklaus is very proud of Desert Mountain and the six courses he built for them that have been enjoyed for 25 years.  Jack was quoted as saying, “…. Variety is the beauty of the overall golf experience there. I have said before, you would be hard-pressed to find a better golf complex in the world than Desert Mountain.”

We’ll be looking for you next week and know a good time will be had by all.


SCHEDULE FOR THE 2012 CHARLES SCHWAB CUP CHAMPIONSHIP AT DESERT MOUNTAIN SCOTTSDALE

Monday, October 29
Course closed to the public.
9 am:  Legends of the Game Pro-Am, shotgun start

Tuesday, October 30
Course closed to the public.
Practice rounds for Professionals

Wednesday, October 31
Course open to the public – 8 am to 5 pm.
Official Pro-Am presented by Vi at Silverstone
8:00 am – 11:00 am – Official Pro-Am competition

Thursday, November 1
Course open to the public – 9 am to 5 pm.
10:00 am (approx.): First Round, Championship Play
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Golf Channel, LIVE

Friday, November 2
Course open to the public – 9 am to 5 pm.
10:00 am (approx.): Second Round, Championship Play
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Golf Channel, LIVE

Saturday, November 3
Course open to the public – 9 am to 5 pm.
Military Appreciation Day
9:45 am: Opening Ceremony
10:00 am (approx.): Third Round, Championship Play
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Golf Channel, LIVE

Sunday, November 4
Course open to the public – 9 am to 5 pm.
10:00 am (approx.): Final Round, Championship Play
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Golf Channel, LIVE
4:15 pm (approx.): Charles Schwab Cup Championship Ceremony and Charles Schwab Cup Presentation – Immediately following play

Scottsdale Events – Scottsdale Polo Championships, October 2012

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POLO in Scottsdale? You bet!

I had the great pleasure of attending my first polo match yesterday at the second annual Scottsdale Polo Championships Horse and Horsepower. The event was held on the grassy arena at West World and was well attended. They were expecting 6,000 people, and judging by the crowds, they fulfilled their goal. The final count came in at over 9,000 attendees.Scottsdale Polo Championships 2012 Cars

This event was more than just a polo match – it was one of the social events of the year for Scottsdale. The weather was perfect, the polo field was lush and green, and the surrounding white tents filled with spectators and sponsors dotted the area. To add a little more excitement, there were a large number of classic and rare automobiles that will be featured in the 2013 Barrett-Jackson Collection Car Auction. Other sponsors were the Bondurant Driving School and the owners of Hidden Meadow Ranch – a beautiful ranch setting in the White Mountains for that special summer or winter family get-away.

One of the highlights was walking around and checking out the tents and the spectators. Many women wore extraordinary hats that would typically be seen at the Kentucky Derby, and others wore unusual outfits, like a tutu? I even encountered one young lady who had brought her dog to the event. Several beautifully dressed equestrians visited from the adjacent arena to showcase the Arabian Horse Show. 2012 Scottsdale Polo Championship attendance

I also observed a number of families with young children sitting on the lawn by the playing fields and enjoying picnic lunches. On one side of the playing field they had tailgate areas where spectators could set up their own tents and have a great viewing area for the matches.

The Polo Championship is just one event the Arizona Polo Club is using to advertise Polo as a sport in Arizona. They offer a variety of classes for children and adults, and I was told I didn’t even have to know how to ride a horse!  The Arizona Polo Club was started in the Phoenix area in 1982 and offers a full schedule of events from now through April of 2013.

There were three matches for the day. The earlier matches were between the USA vs. Colombia, Harvard University vs. Work to Ride and the top event was the Bel Air Polo Club vs. The Hamptons.

Want to see some of the action? Click here for a 2012 Scottsdale Polo Championships Video Clip

2012 Scottsdale Polo Championship Polo MatchesThe Bel Air Polo Club and The Hamptons match was clearly the top billing for the event and included many of the top players from all over the world. I think one of the highlights for a number of the attendees was the opportunity to see Nic Roldan play in the final match.  In addition to being one of the top players in the world, he is also a top model. You can catch him in a number of publications.

But I must admit, the event I found most interesting was the match between Harvard University and the Work to Ride team.

Established in 1994, Work to Ride is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving underprivileged youth from inner-city Philadelphia.  In 2011, Work to Ride captured the U.S. Polo Association’s National Interscholastic Championship.

Harvard University sent four of its players from the Harvard Polo Team. The Club was initially founded in 1882 and is the oldest intercollegiate polo club in the country.

In addition to being an exciting and fun event, the Scottsdale Polo Championships had a fundraising component. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Work to Ride program as well as to the nonprofit Neighborhood Outreach Access to Healthcare at Scottsdale Healthcare.

I am definitely looking forward to the third annual Scottsdale Polo Championships which will be held next October.

 

Desert Mountain Scottsdale – The Schwab Cup’s New Home

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Desert Mountain Cochise Golf Course Scottsdale AZ What a way to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Desert Mountain! In just over a month, Desert Mountain will again host one of the most prestigious tournaments of the PGA – the Champions Tour 2012 .

Players will flock to Desert Mountain November 1-4 to once again to test their skills against one of Jack Nicklaus’ finest courses. As during the former Traditions tournament held at the club, the professionals will be playing the Cochise Golf Course.  For a few of this year’s competitors, it will be a trip down memory lane from when they played this same course in the 90’s and up to 2001 as part of the Tradition Tournament.  For many of us who were around Desert Mountain at that time, we will always remember the good times and great golf that was played during the tour came to Desert Mountain every year.

This year, the top 30 players on the Championship Tour will be playing in this season-ending championship. It is a goal that rewards players who consistently finish as top scorers throughout the season. There will be a few local players this year, including Tom Lehman, the current leader in number one position on the money list.  Tom will have a very short drive up the hill from his home in DC Ranch to participate in the tournament.

I lived at Desert Mountain during the last few years of the Tradition and found it exciting and interesting to watch professionals play a course that I’ve played many times. The tee boxes and pin placements are much tougher for the tournament, but I’ve always found it fascinating to see how differently a professional plays the course rather than an amateur like myself.

Many of the Desert Mountain members are again joining other volunteers for the event to insure it is again a rousing success. Everyone is looking forward to the pro-am events starting Monday, the 29th of October when many of them will have the opportunity to play with some of the pros. The official tournament starts on November 1st and finishes on Sunday, the 4th of November.

The tour professionals voted Cochise as being the “Best Maintained Golf Course” when they were playing here during the Tradition days (1989 to 2001). This year, I think they will find a course that is still well-maintained, but also one that has matured over the years into an even more spectacular golf course.

All in all, it’s gearing up to be the event of the year!

Link to Champions Tour 2012 Brochure

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