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Fun Things to Do In and Around Scottsdale, AZ – McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

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Scottsdale, AZ is home to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, a wonderful park designed around all things railroad. Encompassing 30 acres, the centrally-located park originally opened in 1975.

There are several attractions at the park for children and adults alike to enjoy:

  • Paradise & Pacific Railroad– Ride the train as it completes its one mile loop that meanders through the park.
  • Charro Carousel – Become a child again or join your child as you go around and around.
  • Train Exhibits – Take a tour of three full-size railroad cars including an engine, a Pullman car and a baggage car.
  • The Merci Train – A lovely overview of the gifts France sent to America in return for America’s generosity following World War II.
  • Playground areas
  • Picnic areas and ramadas
  • Train Clubs
  • There are also a number of shops and concession areas and seasonal exhibitions.

If you have children, they will love playing in the many playground areas as well as riding the train and carousel. If you are looking to relax a bit, the park has plenty of grassy areas well away from the action and attractions. If you have a group of people, there are plenty of ramadas on the grounds available for rent.

Admission to the park is free. Tickets are required for the Railroad and Carousel, but children under three ride free with an adult.

More Information:
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
7301 E. Indian Bend Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85250
– Corner of Indian Bend Rd. and Scottsdale Rd.
(480) 312-2312
https://www.therailroadpark.com

 

Traditional Carpet Care – Scottsdale, AZ – Green Cleaning for Your Home

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Carpet cleaningIf you are looking for a professional and thorough carpet cleaner, look no further than Zina Collins of Traditional Carpet Care. Serving Scottsdale and all of the Phoenix Valley as well as parts of Northern Arizona, Zina has over 21 years of experience.

And all of that experience pays off – We refer to her around here as the “Miracle Worker.” On top of general cleaning, Zina is able to tackle all kinds of stains. Stains from kids, pets and daily living have proven no match for her carpet cleaning abilities, even when I thought the stain was a lost cause.

Since I am not a fan of lots of chemicals in my home, I really appreciate that Traditional Carpet Care uses green products from Procyon. Not only are there not a lot of chemicals, the products are also kid and pet safe. Using the green products, she is able to clean carpets, furniture and drapery as well as tile, travertine and grout.

Two more advantages: Rates are very reasonable and emergency cleaning services are available.

I highly recommend giving Zina Collins of Traditional Carpet Care in Scottsdale and Valleywide a call the next time you are looking for a carpet, tile or upholstery cleaning.

Traditional Carpet Care
Zina Collins
(602) 395-9921
https://www.yelp.com/biz/traditional-carpet-care-phoenix
Email

 

Where to Eat: BLT Steak – Scottsdale AZ

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BLT Steak at the Camelback Inn launched several months ago, bringing another high-profile restaurant to Scottsdale. The BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel and he is bringing his successful concept from New York to the Sonoran Desert.

BLT PopoverThe dining room is elegant with a whimsical feel. As you enter, you walk by a “bistro-style” chalkboard that takes up an entire wall. It is chock full of information about the food as well as a diagram of a cow and where different cuts of meat are located. BLT Steak also has a large, relaxing patio area out front for cocktails either before or after dinner.

On the two occasions I dined at BLT Steak, the meal started with a warm chicken liver mousse with delicious, crunchy bread. We were then treated to the enormous, fresh-out-of-the-oven popovers that they serve. (Bonus: A take-home recipe for the popovers comes with them.)

Based on the name, meat is heavily represented on the menu. They serve several different cuts as well as four types of Kobe, a veal chop and rack of lamb. However, there are several options for those who prefer seafood and poultry. Entrees are served a la carte and there are several side dishes to choose from for the table to share.

Some of my favorite appetizers include Hamachi Sashimi with avocado and yuzu, Tuna Tartare and the Roasted Beet Salad. The Dover Sole and Spiced Grilled Tuna are two seafood standouts. If you like chicken, the Lemon-Rosemary Chicken is delicious. For sides, the Hash Brown is both fun and tasty. It is a large hash brown with a layer of leeks inside.

The next time you are looking for a dining experience in Scottsdale with great ambience, be sure to visit BLT Steak.
BLT Steak at the Camelback Inn
5402 E Lincoln Dr
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-905-7979
www.BLTSteak.com
Link to the Dinner Menu
Open for Dinner Wednesday through Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Photo: BLT Popovers Flikr photo by thebittenword.com

Scottsdale Single-Family Home Sales – July 2009

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July was another strong month for Scottsdale AZ homes for sale, but some of the momentum we had been seeing since the beginning of the year tapered off. The number of active homes on the market continues to drop. Pending sales were excellent, but off 12.7% over June and home sales were still strong, but were off 8.6% from June.

 

Scottsdale home sales July 2009

July 2009 Findings
Active Homes for Sale: The number of homes for sale was down to 2,782, a 4.3% decrease over June. This is the second month in a row that this figure has been under 3,000. The twelve month average for this figure is 3,666.
Pending Home Sales: There were 501 pending home sales at the end of July. This is down from June’s 574 pending sales. However, this figure is still well ahead of the 12 month average of 364.
Homes Sold: 392 homes sold in July in Scottsdale, taking us back under the 400 barrier we broke in June. Still, this is the second highest this figure has been since I started tracking this information in September of 2007. The 12 month average for this segment is 269.
Sales Price to List Price: July’s sales price to list price ratio was 90.4%.  That is more or less on par with where this figure has been over the last 12 months.

While July slipped a little bit as far as number of pending sales and actual home sales, Scottsdale still posted a very strong month. Plus, inventory levels continue to decrease, which is a positive sign. The lower priced homes are still driving the bulk of the activity. As an example, 446 of the 501 pending sales were for homes priced less than $999,999. And, 350 of the 392 sales fell into the same price category.

Disclaimer: Data and information was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 8/1/2009 and can change at any time. The analysis looks at single-family resale homes in Scottsdale AZ over the last 12 months. There may be new home inventory in these figures if the developer is using the MLS to market its homes.
Copyright © 2009 Heather Tawes Nelson

The Stables – Managing the Horsepower of Car Aficionados

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Scottsdale Polo Championships 2012 CarsThe Stables, located in Scottsdale, Arizona is a cutting-edge provider of fine automobile care, maintenance and storage. In essence, The Stables acts as a “car manager” for your fine automobiles.

In a spotless facility in the Scottsdale Airpark, you will find The Stables. In addition to the office, there is a 15,000 square foot state-of-the-art, secure area to house cars of all makes and models. While in The Stables care, your car will be meticulously maintained and any service appointments will be coordinated and taken care of in your absence. A la carte detail work can be performed on-site. And, if you need your car to be ready and waiting for you somewhere besides the main facility, The Stables is happy to make that happen for you.

If you are not interested in housing your automobile offsite and would rather keep your it at home, The Stables offers an “At Home Maintenance” program where they will travel to your home every two weeks to check on your automobile and coordinate any service that needs to be done, including detail work or transportation to the dealer for maintenance. They can handle any number of cars via this program.

The Stables charges on a monthly or annual basis for their services. There are no contracts, additional fees or membership requirements.

Other a la carte offerings from the Stables include Automobile Transportation Services, Detailing and Nitrogen Tire Service.

The Stables is an excellent and knowledgeable local service provider and strives to remove all of the worry regarding the care, maintenance and storage of your fine automobiles.

The Stables
7750 East Gelding Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Telephone: +1.480.699.3095
Email: info@thestablesaz.com
www.thestablesaz.com

Scottsdale’s Blu Burger Grille- A Delicious Burger Experience

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Scottsdale AZ’s Blu Burger Grille is truly a delicious burger experience… The second I bit into my first burger at the Blu Burger Grill, I knew I had found the best turkey burger I had ever tasted. With a few locations around the Valley and two in Scottsdale, Blu Burger is my pick for the best burgers in town.

The menu is perfect for picky eaters or for those who like to build their own creations. When you order, you pick your meat- selections include Kobe, Bison, Angus, Turkey, Salmon or Veggie – then you pick your bun type, toppings and sauces. The combinations are endless.

Between family members and friends, we have more or less tried all of the burgers and everyone has come away raving.  To complement your burger, you can choose from fries, sweet potato fries, salad, coleslaw and, for a small additional charge, onion rings. While all of the choices for sides are delicious, the sweet potato fries are out of this world, with the skinny fries coming in a close second.

For those who prefer to keep it simple, Blu Burger has several specialty burgers to choose from in the “Lettuce Build Your Burger for You” section. On top of that, they have several salad and non-burger selections. They also have kids’ menu which has perennial favorites such as mini burgers, chicken tenders and grilled cheese. For dessert, fresh gelato is the order of the day.

Blu Burger Grille is the perfect place for a casual lunch or dinner. Not only will you come away satisfied and full, the prices are nice as well.

Blu Burger Grille
The Summit at Scottsdale
32409 North Scottsdale Road, Suite #109
Scottsdale,, AZ
Tel: 480-575-8040

Also in Chandler and Peoria
https://bluburger.com/

Update March 2010:
New location coming to Grayhawk

The Villages at Pinnacle Peak – CLOSED
10428 E Jomax Road, Suite #101
Scottsdale, AZ
480-585-0454

Jasper’s Peak Bistro – Scottsdale, AZ

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UPDATE: Jaspers Peak is now closed. The space is now home to Kale and Clover.

 

A main component of the menu is authentic cuisine from Louisiana. You will see many items that feature Cajun spices as well as menu favorites such as jambalaya. One of the specialties here is shrimp – in any number of preparations. One of my favorites is the Shrimp Chopped Salad where the shrimp are flavorful with just a hint of spice.

For those of you who are not fans of Cajun and Creole flavors, there are many items on the menu that do not include the heat or spice. Food ranges from a variety of appetizers- the Crab Dip and Crab Deviled Eggs are two standouts – to salads, pastas, Louisiana specialties, fish, poultry and steak.

Jasper’s Peak’s menu is changing and updating all of the time. In fact, they just launched a new Chef’s Menu with offerings like Shrimp Tacos, Summer Beet Salad and Crab-Stuffed Filet. There are also Happy Hour Specials daily from 11AM-7PM Monday through Friday.

If you are in the area, definitely give Jasper’s Peak Bistro a try. You will not be sorry!

Jasper’s Peak Bistro
20511 North Hayden Road #100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-563-3255

An added bonus – For those of you in Orange County, the owners of Jasper’s Peak are also the owners of JACKshrimp in Newport Beach. Another great place!

Scottsdale AZ Home Sales Update – Silverleaf – Through June 2009

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85255 Luxury Home Sales ScottsdaleHere is the Scottsdale home sales update for the first two quarters of 2009 for the community of Silverleaf in Scottsdale, Arizona. The data was pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) on 7/1/2009 and includes both single-family homes and townhomes.

Homes for Sale 73
– Average Asking Price $3,852,338
– Average Square Feet 6,561
– Average Asking Price per Sq. Foot $554.47
– Average Days on Market* 273
     
Pending Homes 3
– Average Asking Price $1,898,332
– Average Square Feet 5,198
– Average Asking Price per Sq. Foot $363.61
– Average Days on Market* 481
     
Home Sales 14
– Average Sales Price $2,860,043
– Sales Price to List Price 86%
– Average Square Feet 6,070
– Average Sales Price per Sq. Foot $445.76
– Average Days on Market* 397
– Highest Sale Price $7,750,000
– Lowest Sale Price $950,000


About Silverleaf: Silverleaf is an elegant community nestled within the Mc Dowell Mountains in North Scottsdale. It is an exclusive enclave that is part of the larger community of DC Ranch.

The lifestyle at Silverleaf is luxurious and its great location means shopping, dining, entertainment and transportation are just minutes away. Many of the homes and lots at Silverleaf possess spectacular valley views and have been designed to allow for maximum enjoyment of those views. Homes currently range from just over $1.1M for a lender-owned 4,533 square foot, 5 bedroom/5.5 bathroom home to $12M for a 10,000 square foot, 4 bedroom/6 bathroom home. The Silverleaf Club and Spa is a private, upscale club with a challenging course designed by Tom Weiskopf.

Silverleaf residents have access to DC Ranch’s amazing amenities including the K-8 school, the 9-acre Desert Camp community center and the 4-acre Homestead community center. Additionally, DC Ranch is home to Market Street, an upscale shopping and dining district that often hosts many community events. View Silverleaf homes for sale.

 

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Disclaimer: Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data pulled from the Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) as of 7/1/2009 and can change at any time. This blog represents the opinion of the author. No warranties implied or expressed.
Copyright © 2009 Heather Tawes Nelson

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