From Sandy Soil A Sustainable Landscape Can Grow

Oh, the sand. There sure is a lot of that. And not necessarily where you want it Garden Landscaping.

When Valerie Daniels moved to Sarasota’s Indian Beach neighborhood three years ago, she was drawn by the same natural amenities that attracted countless others over the past 150 years. Then she tried to do some gardening and realized that the soil was as sandy as the near her hometown of Rehoboth, Mass.

“What do I do with this?” she thought as she dug into her yard. She’s since hired and fired three companies in her search for the answer, and now has turned to courses offered by the Extension Service.

One of them, “Nine Landscape Principles,” was held Monday at the Fruitville Library, in the middle of dry season. Of course, it rained that day, and several days after. But that didn’t keep and one male journalist from peppering Jane Smith and Watts with questions about mulch, proper watering, using as a , and dealing with the compacted soils around newer houses that are more like concrete than dirt.

Daniels was among that group. She attends such seminars in hopes of finding the ideal plants and methods for making a success of her Florida .

“It’s just a little bit of a challenge for me and something I have to learn to reckon with,” she said of her sandy . She has planted oleander with , and her new are doing well, as is the lantana. “And that’s as far as I’ve gotten. That’s why I’m here; I want to know what to do with the west side of the house.”

That’s where it gets so hot in the afternoon.

“The first year I lived here, I saw as an enigma,” said Daniels, “because I wondered how … you do it with all this heat. I didn’t do much gardening the first year. Then I heard ‘coreopsis,’ Garden Landscaping and I thought, ‘I had those up north.’ I tuned into that, and bought a couple of books on and came to a couple of these classes. The book they gave out today was a nifty one. That plant guide (”A Guide to Florida-Friendly ”) … I’m glad I came just for that.”

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Monday, May 26th, 2008

Garden Landscaping No Comments

Seven resortspas where you can unwind in the Wests Most Western Town

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s been a long time since cowboys parked their ponies on Main Street in what was once proudly marketed as the West’s Most Western Town.

Today’s Scottsdale is two P.F. Chang’s, two California Pizza Kitchens and two Merrill Lynch offices.

It is art galleries and turquoise shops and boutiques and Beemer convertibles and monster serving monster subdivisions hidden behind faux-adobe walls.

It’s also the heart of Arizona’s SpringTrainingLand, making it unavoidable for fans of Giants (the resident trainees), Cubs (the economic engine), Brewers (the few, the proud) and other boosters in appropriate T-shirts brimming with delusionary optimism.

Fortunately, though you may have to look carefully, Scottsdale is still desert and the mountains — or at least a short drive from desert and mountains. To those who pine and whine over “the old Scottsdale,” we offer this from Jennifer Franklin, an actual native Scottsdalean who represents the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess:

“My old Scottsdale is the view of the mountains and seeing them turn purple in the afternoon,” she says. “I grew up with these mountains. They still turn purple in the afternoon …”

The Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau guide lists 71 hotels and resorts. We won’t.

But among the 71 is a collection of resort-, often with a golf component, that’s a concentration of the breed rivaled in this country only in and around Palm Springs, Calif. To provide just a real good hint of what Scottsdale has to offer, we bring you profiles of seven, some among America’s premier resort properties and all with Scottsdale mailing addresses — which knocked out The Boulders (Carefree) and Royal Palms (Phoenix) and a couple of other good ones. Sorry.

The seven are not listed in any meaningful order. This isn’t a ranking. That’s for magazines, guides and TripAdvisor.

A couple of more points before we begin: The listed room rates, though accurate as can be, turn to fiction as occupancy loosens or tightens — so do check the resorts’ Web sites or call ahead; also, from mid-May (and sometimes earlier) until Labor Day (and sometimes later), when the weather here tends to get a little toasty, rates plummet, bringing luxury to within Best Western budgets. Packages (golf, spa, honeymoon, etc.), as well, can be attractive any season.

Finally, regarding our featured “favorite spa treatments”: None was actually attempted in the making of this picture. We were just intrigued by the menu descriptions. You will be too.

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS

This large spread manages to be an astounding desert resort without screaming, “Aren’t we an astounding desert resort?”

Take the spa, called Willow Stream. Remarkable. Inspired by the Grand Canyon and its Havasu Falls, cascades tumble down its multiple levels. “Just the power they have, in the middle of nowhere — it’s breathtaking,” spa director Jill Eisenhut says of the originals. “We tried to depict that feeling.” There’s more. Briefly: If Troon North is heaven for serious golfers, Willow Stream Spa is no less for serious spa-sters. (Both those suppositions are, naturally, open to debate — but not in this paragraph.)

The resort’s La Hacienda regularly appears with Chicago’s Topolobampo at the top among upscale Mexican restaurants in the U.S. Just added: Bourbon Steak, from award-winning chef Michael Mina.

Kids? Here’s a clue: Across from the adult check-in area is one for kids — yes, for kids — with a mini-staircase to ease communication with the desk clerk. The big people tell the little ones about such diversions as a covered sandbox, four-story water slides and catch-and-release fishing lagoon.

Bigger kids? The TPC Stadium club, one of two on-site 18-hole courses, is home to the FBR Open, renowned among PGA tour events for its unique tolerance for, um, fan participation (that is, noise).

Five pools. A “fragrance garden” (fragrance seasonal). There’s a resident desert tortoise . . . but explorers will find ungroomed desert “within five minutes of leaving the parking lot,” notes a spokeswoman.

The rooms? Really, really nice.

Downside: It’s a little away from the action. Minor.

Favorite spa treatment: Desert Moonlight Massage, $179.

7575 E. Princess Dr.; 800-344-4758; www.fairmont.com/Scottsdale . 651 rooms, including suites 25 suites and 125 casitas; rates from $459.

WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT %26amp; SPA

There’s nothing wrong with this hotel other than it feels like it got lost on its way to downtown Phoenix. Or downtown Dallas. Or suburban Kansas City.

This is an 11-story, 732-room (plus suites, plus casitas) godzilla of a hotel in low-rise country that, try as it does (and it really tries), can’t escape the sense it’s a convention hotel with privileges, not the resuscitative “resort %26amp; spa” the name suggests.

Businesspeople who haul the spouse and kids along will make the family happy. The requisites are in place: pools, water slides, a “lazy river,” Kids Club, Teen Lounge, spa. But.

The overwhelmingly marble lobby feels about as leisurely as the Sears Tower concourse. Yes, you can see golf though the lobby glass — lots of bunkers glare menacingly on the finishing hole of the Acacia nine. But.

There’s even a designated “director of fun”: cannonball contests, watermelon-eating contests.

Of course, adjacent to the hotel is Kierland Commons: 70 “high-end” retailers, along with restaurants everyone comes to Scottsdale to enjoy: Morton’s, the Cheesecake Factory, Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe and Emporium …

The three nines of golf are here. Also here: air-conditioned golf carts. Explains a spokeswoman: “Keeps you cool on the back of the neck when you’re dripping sweat.”

There are hints of Arizona — a narrow Grand Canyon mural over a lobby bar, that sort of thing — but no real .

The signature restaurant is the much-praised Deseo (nuevo Latino). The creative Agave spa offers such treatments as a Gingerbread Massage: “When you’re all through, you get a gingerbread cookie.” A bagpiper pipes in the sunset.

A first-rate hotel. Plenty of parking. Pet friendly. If you’re stuck in a meeting, the spouse and kids won’t complain. If you’re on expense account, treat ‘em all to steaks at Morton’s. There it is.

Favorite spa treatment: Ice Cream Pedicure (you pick the flavor), from $95.

6902 E. Greenway Pkwy.; 800-354-5892; www.kierlandresort.com . 732 rooms, plus 55 suites and 32 casitas; rates from $369.

FIRESKY RESORT %26amp; SPA

Most convenient of this collection to downtown Scottsdale, the former SunBurst (opened in 1961 as the Executive House) was sold and in 2005 became the Caleo Resort %26amp; Spa; Kimpton Hotels, noted for breathing style into other people’s dowdy properties, took it over later that year and in spring 2007 re-introduced it as FireSky.

So it’s evolved, from a classic (then faded) throwback Southwest property (desk clerks in cowboy hats?) to a classically Kimpton Southwest property with emphatic dashes of non-terra cotta color, a little healthy quirkiness (lightweight cheetah-pattern lounging robes instead of white terry) and an attitude Kimpton fans recognize.

“We’re not out to be the most expensive hotels,” says a rep, quoting the company mantra. “We want to be the most loved.”

That includes lovable touches like free shuttles into town and back, free afternoon wine-tastings, free other things.

They’re also extremely pet friendly. If you don’t bring your own animal, your room’s work desk will get a live goldfish. Dogs and cats are offered facials. True. The goldfish are not.

“If you bring an elephant …”

The changeover renovations are largely complete; the rooms already have their flat-screen TVs and other contemporary touches. The main is just fine; a second has a sand (though surfless) beach. Firepits (a Scottsdale standard) are all over the place here but not all merely decorative: Guests, on request, are provided the makings of s’mores. Lovable.

The spa (products by Jurlique) is small but interesting; treatment rooms are more Victorian than health-clubby. Golf? Not here.

What is here? A nice place to sleep and relax and spend a little downtime between bursts of busy-ness — but for most guests and unlike many other properties in this list, Scottsdale is the destination and

FireSky is the base.

Favorite spa treatment: Fabulous Furry Facial/Pooch Smooch (for your dog), $70.

4925 N. Scottsdale Rd.; 480-945-7666; www.fireskyresort.com . 204 rooms, including eight suites; rates from $379.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT SCOTTSDALE AT TROON NORTH

It’s technically in “Scottsdale” but a good 20 miles from urbanity, so if you’re coming to Arizona for baseball and rowdy fun you might want to consider something not quite this close to Utah.

For others, of course, that’s a strength.

“If you want the desert,” says a spokeswoman, “you’re going to get it here.”

In many ways, this is the un-Phoenician: We’re talking intimate and luxurious, not in-your-face opulent. (Both Travel+Leisure and Zagat call this Arizona’s best hotel.) Instead of crystal in the lobby, the light fixtures look like wagon wheels, sort of.

All rooms, recently renovated (flat-screen TVs, of course), have working fireplaces. Pinnacle Peak is less than a mile away; a trail leads from the resort, through the desert, to the base, and hiking the hike (escorted or not) is encouraged. This place doesn’t try to deny the desert; it embraces it. Suites have telescopes so guests can scan the clear desert night-time sky.

Two sizable pools, one of them for adults only. Best kids’ game room (air hockey, foosball, big-screen video-game wall) of the group.

This is a prime golf destination: The two Troon North golf courses, reconfigured last fall (to rave reviews), are legendary; though separate from the resort (it’s a “partnership”), tee times are set aside for guests and all but guaranteed.

The spa is smallish but sweet; the essentials are here. Opening in time for spring training: a new featured restaurant (Talavera) and bar. In sum: This is prime Four Seasons, with the comforts and service Four Seasons loyalists expect.

Favorite spa treatment: Golfers Massage (kneading of tight muscles with warm golf balls), $155.

10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr.; 480-515-5700; www.fourseasons.com . 210 rooms and suites; rates from $555.

THE PHOENICIAN

You’re greeted in the lobby by crystal chandeliers. The intent is to impress, and the Phoenician succeeds — even before the concierge offers the self-guided audio tour of the property’s $25 million (their estimate) art collection.

The resort has nine pools and 12 tennis courts, one of the courts regulation Wimbledon-worthy grass. Opened in 1988 and now one of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, a complete of rooms and suites (all now have at least one 42-inch flat-screen TV, plus tweaked decor) has attempted to reinforce its (the desert, after all) as well as the property’s position among the nation’s finest spa-resorts.

Marie Elaine’s, its featured restaurant (modern French, not cheap), is a knockout, including the view. The Phoenician has the near-standard three nines of golf, on-site, to mix and match. The spa (at 22,000 ) is complete, though less a showplace than some others in this group.

In its Canyon Suites, an exquisite boutique hotel within the hotel, you can get a “therapeutic turndown.” Which is: “We’ll come in at night,” explains a spokeswoman, “and offer a pitcher of chilled water and then draw your bath with a variety of soothing salts . . . ”

Nice feature: an expansive garden featuring 350 varieties from around the world. Another: a 165-foot water slide and other kiddie concessions — but this is primarily a place for grown-ups intent on dazzling (and/or seducing) other grown-ups.

Favorite spa treatment: Myoxy Caviar Facial, $250.

6000 E. Camelback Rd.; 800-888-8234; www.thephoenician.com . 647 rooms and suites; rates from $750.

CAMELBACK INN: A JW MARRIOTT RESORT %26amp; SPA

Part of the fun of staying here is imagining what Scottsdale was like when the resort opened in 1936. For a generation and more, this was a prime hangout for movie stars and others of means.

It’s grown under Bill Marriott from 118 rooms to today’s 453 — yet the basic concept is unchanged: adobe-style casitas scattered about the irregular desert terrain between Camelback and Mummy Mountains. “You’re integrating the Southwest, the desert,” says a spokesman.

And, oh yeah, they’re integrating significant construction. It will be April or May before a new main building (including restaurants, one the latest in the BLT Steakhouse group), ballroom and other elements are ready to go. Guests in most casitas will be oblivious to what’s going on — hilly terrain can do wonders to deflect visual nuisance — but still. Watch for discounted rates.

The spa — revolutionary when it opened in the 1980s, updated four years ago — remains best known for its lap (with mountain views) and the attached Sprouts healthy-foods restaurant. Its facilities are low on frills but competitive.

There’s one other in operation, and at this writing one other restaurant, a casual one (burgers, etc.) alongside that ; compensating is the relative nearness to downtown Scottsdale eateries.

Guests have access to the nearby Camelback Golf Club.

Regulars who love this place will deal with the construction the way good parents unconditionally love their sometimes-wayward teens. Newcomers will have to adjust. The management is certain that will be easy.

“This was a quality five-diamond resort from Day 1,” says the spokesman, “and it continues to be.”

Favorite spa treatment: Adobe Clay Purification Wrap, $135.

5402 E. Lincoln Dr.; 800-24-CAMEL; www.camelbackinn.com . 453 casitas, including 27 suites; rates from $359.

HYATT REGENCY AT GAINEY RANCH

Maybe this is what the Westin Kierland wanted to be but couldn’t quite pull off.

The Hyatt Regency dates to 1986, which makes it a pioneer of sorts here in pioneer country. The feeling may be country club with strong hints of corporate and convention business, but that formality eases with a walk through its gardens, the layout and lighting fixtures recalling Frank Lloyd Wright during his Japanese period, the sounds of falling water everywhere.

Like the Westin, golf (three nines, again) is visible through the lobby’s glass wall — but here the emotion is more liberating than decorative. Can’t explain why. Ask an architect. It just is.

Above the lobby is a Native American and Environmental Learning Center, where, on this day, a young non-native guest is being taught how to lace moccasins by a Hopi expert. “We provide the venue,” says a spokeswoman, “and they are able to tell the story.”

In Camp Hyatt, a concept born here at Gainey Ranch 20 years ago and widely emulated, kids fiddle with crafts steps away from a local tarantula (”We’re all about learning and discovery.”) in a glass case.

Spa Avania, 2 years old, is big and dreamy: Everything is time-pegged (energetic in the morning, increasingly mellow toward evening), from the background music (guests can select their own during treatments) to the vigorousness of the massages to the beverages provided.

New hotel rooms are on the way; that project begins in April. (No more bathtubs. “People don’t use them anymore.”) Two restaurants opened in October: SWB (for Southwest Bistro) and the Italian Alto Ristorante, which throws in a free gondola ride for dessert.

At night — and this is true of most of the resorts in this package — the mix of lights, from lanterns, from firepits, creates its own world . . .

Nice.

Favorite spa treatment: Anti-Age Performance Facial (for men): $160.

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.; 480-444-1234; www.scottsdale.hyatt.com . 490 rooms, plus 25 suites and eight casitas; rates from $439.

SCOTTSDALE BESTS

Best if you love the desert: Four Seasons at Troon North

Best if you love spas: Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Best if golf is why you’re here: Four Seasons, Fairmont

Best honeymoon spot: The Phoenician

Best for families with little kids: Hyatt at Gainey Ranch

Best for families with tweens: Four Seasons

Best for families with teens: Westin Kierland

Best if you collect classic hotels: Camelback Inn

Best spring training base: FireSky, Camelback Inn, Hyatt

Best fun vibe: Hyatt, FireSky

Best for a quiet escape for two: Four Seasons

Best destination with other couples: Fairmont

Best if you must bring your dog: FireSky, Westin

Best for dining on-site: Phoenician, Fairmont

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Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Housing market spirals no end in sight

NEW YORK (AP) — Nervous homeowners and economic analysts have been wondering how much worse the housing market could get. On Thursday they got an answer: Plenty. Foreclosures are at a record high. Home equity is at a record low. The housing market is spiraling down with no end in sight - and taking people’s sense of economic security with it. For the first time since the Federal Reserve started tracking the data in 1945, the amount of debt tied up in American homes now exceeds the equity homeowners have built. The Fed reported Thursday that homeowner equity actually slipped below 50 percent in the second quarter of last year, and fell to just below 48 percent in the fourth quarter. And that was just one example in a day of dismal housing reports. The Mortgage Bankers Association said foreclosures hit an all-time high in the final quarter of last year. And pending U.S. home sales - those in the gap between when a buyer signs a contract and when the deal closes - came in below analyst expectations for January and remained at the second-lowest reading on record. “There is no sign that we’re near the bottom in the housing market,” said Douglas Elmendorf, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Fed economist. “Housing prices will probably fall for a year, two or three to come.” The trifecta of reports illustrates a housing market caught up in a “very negative, reinforcing downward spiral,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com. Home equity, the percentage of a home’s market value minus mortgage-related debt, has steadily decreased even as home prices and homeownership rates jumped earlier this decade. That was due to a surge in cash-out refinancings, home equity loans and lines of credit and an increase in no-down-payment mortgages. Now declining home prices are eating into equity, and economists expect the figure to drop even more. Economy.com estimates 8.8 million homeowners, or about 10 percent of homes, will have zero or negative equity by the end of the month. Even more disturbing, about 13.8 million will be “upside down” if prices fall 20 percent from their peak. The latest Standard %26 Poor’s/Case-Shiller index showed U.S. home prices plunging 8.9 percent in the final quarter of 2007 compared with a year earlier. Experts believe foreclosures will rise as more homeowners struggle with monthly payments as the interest rates on their mortgages adjust higher. Problems in the credit markets and eroding are making it harder for people to refinance their way out of unmanageable loans. The threat of so-called “mortgage walkers,” or homeowners who can afford their payments but decide not to pay, also increases as depreciate and equity diminishes. Banks and credit-rating agencies already are seeing early evidence of it. “If you’re struggling with payments and you have negative equity in your home, your struggling isn’t getting you very far,” Elmendorf said. “It’s very likely you want to stop and walk away.” Even for those who retain some equity, the effect on consumer sentiment and spending will be profound. Homeowners, who once happily tapped home equity for expenditures and home improvements, may instead save money as they watch their total net worth wither. Those who are willing to spend their home equity will find lenders reluctant to give out home equity loans or lines of credit. “People were relying on home equity to maintain consumption. They can’t keep doing that once the equity’s gone,” said Dean Baker, co-director at the Center of Economic Policy Research. “Undoubtedly, this is one reason for the falloff in consumption in last couple of months.” Economists worry that the prolonged housing downturn has put the economy on the brink of recession. The economy grew an anemic 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter. A massive loss in home equity could even mean some Americans won’t have enough to retire. On average, housing is Americans’ single largest asset, representing 39 percent of a household’s total net worth. Dumay, 44, worries that higher costs for insurance and other expenses will outpace any growth in value of the home she’s owned in Tampa, Fla., for about 10 years. She was depending on her home equity for retirement and as something she could pass on to her high-school-aged daughter. “It’s your legacy to your children and everything else, and if that’s not worth anything then you got to start all over again,” Dumay said. So far, the government has stepped in with a number of measures to contain the housing fallout. Last month, Congress passed a $168 billion economic stimulus package with provisions aimed at helping homeowners refinance into more affordable loans. The Federal Reserve has also slashed interest rates to in hopes of spurring growth. On Tuesday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested lenders reduce loan amounts to provide relief to beleaguered homeowners. But some experts think more help is needed. “At the end of the day, these efforts will be insufficient,” Zandi said. “Policymakers will need to be more aggressive and put taxpayer on the line to stem this. Ultimately, we will find a bottom, but it would be a mistake to let the market run its course.” — Associated Press Writers Jeannine Aversa and Alan Zibel in Washington and Anthony McCartney in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report. %26copy; 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

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Friday, March 7th, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Posh private estate opens doors for celebrity-filled events

The parties will be done right, thrown by Super Bowl party pros Rodney Peete (TV host and former NFL quarterback) and his wife, actress Holly Robinson Peete.

For the past nine years, they’ve hosted a Super Bowl party in the host city in conjunction with the HollyRod Foundation, their charitable group.

“It’s an incredible property,” Peete said of Rockridge, an immaculately landscaped compound. “It’s one of the best properties I’ve seen in a long time. It’s really like a resort within a community.”

That’s the catch.

Although many of this year’s Super Bowl parties will be held at resorts or other public venues, this series of impressive bashes will be held on private property, tucked near the head of Camelback Mountain.

Impeccable grounds

Rockridge Estate can handle the glitz. It covers 12 acres. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home encompasses 10,000 square feet.

The lawns are impeccable. The flowers vibrant. The flagsticks on each green wave just so in the wind.

Yes, it has its own 18-hole executive golf course. A brook, with waterfalls, trickles near the greens.

The estate can accommodate up to 2,000 people, who can meander through rooms accented with art, music and sports memorabilia.

Need we mention the obvious? Of course it has a pool, spa and fitness room.

The house is tucked back on the north side of the property, surrounded by mature landscaping that adds to privacy as much as it does to beauty. Curious passers-by can only sneak intermittent peeks at the estate from the street.

Rockridge is privately owned but managed by Bella Palazzo, a company that manages 26 other comparably extravagant properties in the state. Margo Media, a local marketing and public-relations firm, markets Bella Palazzo nationally.

But Rockridge Estate has remained a secret to the rest of the Valley. Its owners, and the owners of the other homes in the Bella Palazzo portfolio, are interested in hosting big, private, corporate parties. It’s available specifically for out-of-towners.

Super Bowl, however, is an entirely different party animal.

Twenty of Bella Palazzo’s homes are being marketed specifically for the Super Bowl, according to the company’s Web site. It’s unclear how many are reserved or will be hosting parties.

It’s also not clear how much Rockridge Estate costs to rent for this week’s parties, and the Peetes would not divulge the fee.

Cashing in on the Super Bowl comes at a price for the estate’s owner and manager. It lifts the veil of secrecy.

Bella Palazzo’s president and owner, Margie Van Zee, said the Rockridge extravaganza was not booked through her company, which pledges a percentage of its proceeds to local charities. She said Bella Palazzo homeowners frown upon using the venues for public events.

When contacted, the owner of the property asked that his identity remain confidential and had no further comment.

Good neighbors

Neighbors have mixed feelings about the traffic, people and noise that will roll up on the quiet area in the coming days. Some have no problem with the marathon of fundraisers and happy hours. Others aren’t so sure.

“He’s a nice man,” one neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said of the estate’s owner. “It’s all right if he (has parties) once in a while. If you have too many of them, he’s impinging.”

Peete, born in Mesa and raised in Tucson, said he’s friends with a few of the residents. And those whom he hasn’t met yet, he will. “We plan on talking to all of them, and they’re all invited,” he said of the neighbors. “At the same time, regardless of friends, people still don’t want craziness going on in their neighborhood.”

That’s why a shuttle service has been arranged.

Those who buy tickets to any of the events, including the Best Damn Super Bowl Party Period featuring Ludacris on Thursday, or the live Chris Rock concert Saturday, are given instructions on where to park so as not to clog the quiet streets of the neighborhood. Parking will be available off-site.

The private shuttle service also keeps schleps from hanging around the property, trying to catch a glimpse of someone famous.

Robinson Peete is aware of the neighbors’ anxiety over the parties. She said they did not need to receive a special permit from the city to throw the parties, and noted Phoenix police officers will be “covering” the party.

Sgt. Andy Hill, Phoenix police spokesman, said no on-duty police officers will be working any of the parties throughout the Valley, but off-duty officers may.

City code includes a loud-party ordinance that applies to gatherings of five or more people. If a neighbor calls to complain about noise at any time of day, an officer will levy a fee if he or she determines the noise is a threat to the peace, health, safety and general welfare of the public.

Robinson Peete doesn’t think any of that will be an issue.

“I want to assure all the neighbors I am well-behaved, and our friends are well-behaved,” she said. “I know they’re a little bit nervous.”

Tickets to the Rockridge events, at up to $1,000 a pop, don’t come cheap, with the exception of the three-day Budweiser Lounge. It runs Thursday through Saturday and costs just $50, which includes an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Peete said the lounge gives people a chance to relax, have a couple of beers and see somebody famous.

“They will see some celebrities,” he said.

For $300, you can hang at the house with the crew from the TV show The Best Damn Sports Show Period, on which Peete is a host, and see Ludacris rattle off rhymes. To see Chris Rock, it’ll set you back $750 for general admission and $1,000 for VIP.

“We wanted to do something different, more intimate for select people. That’s where we came up with Chris Rock,” Peete said. “We’re very close friends. We vacation together from time to time. He’s just launching his tour, so we thought it would be a good alternative to the crazy, wild parties on Saturday night.”

Peete said he and his wife didn’t set out to compete with other Super Bowl parties. But he admitted this year’s lineup is the biggest and best they’ve ever had.

In the past, the couple’s fashion shows, parties and various other Super Bowl events have raised from $250,000 to $2 million for the HollyRod Foundation and other charities, which this year includes the Southwest Autism Research %26 Resource Center.

The HollyRod Foundation, founded in 1997, helps those in need of medical, physical and emotional support when dealing with a debilitating disease, particularly Parkinson’s disease.

The parties will be good, no doubt. But Peete said he and his wife also are hoping to raise a lot of money for a lot of people in need.

“The Super Bowl is one of those things where you throw it up in the air and you hope it works. A lot of people are going to win,” he said. “At the end of the day, the rewards are good, and you can raise really good for charity. It’s a time when people want to spend , and that’s what we like.”

Reach the reporter at lisa.nicita@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8546.

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Monday, January 28th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Light rail could fuel Apache Blvd renewal

Yabes led a group of students in ASU’s architecture and environmental design college last year to study transit-oriented development along the Camelback corridor for Phoenix. The corridor is bounded by Colter Street on the north, Seventh Street on the east, Pierson Street on the south and 22nd Avenue on the west.

The class recommended, among other things, that Phoenix:

%26#149;Change the current zoning along the corridor to include mixed-use developments.

%26#149;Increase parking and parking garages with ground-floor retail and business space at light-rail stations.

%26#149;Incorporate varying height and density of one to 20 stories to promote pedestrian traffic and train ridership.

%26#149;Include transitional spaces to blend large-scale development with to create a “step-back” effect.

%26#149;Create plazas, courtyards, urban parks, public art and other public spaces that form a sense of community.

%26#149;Implement affordable housing policies and encourage a mixture of income and race/ethnicity.

%26#149;Install speed bumps, traffic circles and other traffic-calming devices, while expanding bike paths.

%26#149;Enhance streetscapes by planting trees and landscaping and adding benches.

The study, which was finalized in December, is similar to what Tempe is paying a private consultant to do. The Tempe study has not yet been released.

Yabes, who lives in Tempe, said the planning class attempted to set the stage for what is known as transit-oriented development around an expensive public project.

“Cities have to make commitments” to make light-rail projects attract riders and shoppers to nearby commercial developments, Yabes said.

“If the feds (federal government) are kicking in that amount ($1.4 billion), the whole system is probably worth $4.1 billion.”

To be sure, there has been $4.2 billion worth of commercial development proposed or being built around the starter line’s 28 stations, according to an informal review by city planners and the Metro.

“What you want in terms of businesses are the kinds of things that get you out of your car,” Yabes said.

She said that most people will walk five to 10 minutes, although 10 minutes “is pushing it, especially in Arizona’s hot summer.”

What’s tricky is meshing high-rise commercial developments with pedestrian-friendly areas and residential neighborhoods.

“People don’t want office workers looking into their ,” she said.

In Tempe, light-rail finally may transform Apache Boulevard into a more attractive area, Yabes said.

“Apache is kind of interesting in that regard because it’s surrounded by single-family homes,” she said. “If Tempe can be accused of having a red-light district, it’s on Apache between Price and McClintock.

“They’ve been trying to redevelop Apache for years. I think this is finally going to be what kicks it in.”

Don Cassano, chairman of the Tempe Transportation Commission, said he already sees Apache transforming and property values rising with light-rail development.

Cassano said he’s toured light-rail systems in Denver, San Diego and Portland to see what kind of businesses work best around light-rail stations. They include dry cleaners, florists, shoe-repair shops and coffee shops, he said.

Tempe adopted a transportation overlay district three years ago to encourage more pedestrians around light-rail stations, said Jyme Sue McClaren, Tempe’s deputy public-works manager.

“No carwashes, auto-related uses are restricted, no drive-throughs, no (plant) nurseries,” she said.

Instead, the city is encouraging the building of dry cleaners, coffee shops, , day-care centers, bookstores, service-oriented businesses and “things that you may see on Mill Avenue, like pedestrian-scale restaurants, neighborhood grocery stores,” she said.

Stores also should front the and parking lots should be placed at the side or back of a development, McClaren said.

Jack Wierzenski, director of economic development and planning for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, said most developments around light-rail stations have increased property values.

“There’s a perception that bad things are going to happen, and bad things never happen,” he said.

Ram Pendyala, an ASU professor in civil and environmental engineering specializing in transportation systems, agreed and said that he expects to see a variety of mixed-use projects with apartments, condos and businesses “that cater to people’s personal errands.”

He said that successful light-rail systems foster a reciprocal relationship between riders and businesses.

“It’s definitely a two-way relationship there, definitely a synergy there,” he said.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community Republic.

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0

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Light rail could fuel Apache Blvd renewal

Yabes led a group of students in ASU’s architecture and environmental design college last year to study transit-oriented development along the Camelback corridor for Phoenix. The corridor is bounded by Colter Street on the north, Seventh Street on the east, Pierson Street on the south and 22nd Avenue on the west.

The class recommended, among other things, that Phoenix:

%26#149;Change the current zoning along the corridor to include mixed-use developments.

%26#149;Increase parking and parking garages with ground-floor retail and business space at light-rail stations.

%26#149;Incorporate varying height and density of one to 20 stories to promote pedestrian traffic and train ridership.

%26#149;Include transitional spaces to blend large-scale development with to create a “step-back” effect.

%26#149;Create plazas, courtyards, urban parks, public art and other public spaces that form a sense of community.

%26#149;Implement affordable housing policies and encourage a mixture of income and race/ethnicity.

%26#149;Install speed bumps, traffic circles and other traffic-calming devices, while expanding bike paths.

%26#149;Enhance streetscapes by planting trees and landscaping and adding benches.

The study, which was finalized in December, is similar to what Tempe is paying a private consultant to do. The Tempe study has not yet been released.

Yabes, who lives in Tempe, said the planning class attempted to set the stage for what is known as transit-oriented development around an expensive public project.

“Cities have to make commitments” to make light-rail projects attract riders and shoppers to nearby commercial developments, Yabes said.

“If the feds (federal government) are kicking in that amount ($1.4 billion), the whole system is probably worth $4.1 billion.”

To be sure, there has been $4.2 billion worth of commercial development proposed or being built around the starter line’s 28 stations, according to an informal review by city planners and the Metro.

“What you want in terms of businesses are the kinds of things that get you out of your car,” Yabes said.

She said that most people will walk five to 10 minutes, although 10 minutes “is pushing it, especially in Arizona’s hot summer.”

What’s tricky is meshing high-rise commercial developments with pedestrian-friendly areas and residential neighborhoods.

“People don’t want office workers looking into their ,” she said.

In Tempe, light-rail finally may transform Apache Boulevard into a more attractive area, Yabes said.

“Apache is kind of interesting in that regard because it’s surrounded by single-family homes,” she said. “If Tempe can be accused of having a red-light district, it’s on Apache between Price and McClintock.

“They’ve been trying to redevelop Apache for years. I think this is finally going to be what kicks it in.”

Don Cassano, chairman of the Tempe Transportation Commission, said he already sees Apache transforming and property values rising with light-rail development.

Cassano said he’s toured light-rail systems in Denver, San Diego and Portland to see what kind of businesses work best around light-rail stations. They include dry cleaners, florists, shoe-repair shops and coffee shops, he said.

Tempe adopted a transportation overlay district three years ago to encourage more pedestrians around light-rail stations, said Jyme Sue McClaren, Tempe’s deputy public-works manager.

“No carwashes, auto-related uses are restricted, no drive-throughs, no (plant) nurseries,” she said.

Instead, the city is encouraging the building of dry cleaners, coffee shops, , day-care centers, bookstores, service-oriented businesses and “things that you may see on Mill Avenue, like pedestrian-scale restaurants, neighborhood grocery stores,” she said.

Stores also should front the and parking lots should be placed at the side or back of a development, McClaren said.

Jack Wierzenski, director of economic development and planning for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, said most developments around light-rail stations have increased property values.

“There’s a perception that bad things are going to happen, and bad things never happen,” he said.

Ram Pendyala, an ASU professor in civil and environmental engineering specializing in transportation systems, agreed and said that he expects to see a variety of mixed-use projects with apartments, condos and businesses “that cater to people’s personal errands.”

He said that successful light-rail systems foster a reciprocal relationship between riders and businesses.

“It’s definitely a two-way relationship there, definitely a synergy there,” he said.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community Republic.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Light rail could fuel Apache Blvd renewal

Yabes led a group of students in ASU’s architecture and environmental design college last year to study transit-oriented development along the Camelback corridor for Phoenix. The corridor is bounded by Colter Street on the north, Seventh Street on the east, Pierson Street on the south and 22nd Avenue on the west.

The class recommended, among other things, that Phoenix:

%26#149;Change the current zoning along the corridor to include mixed-use developments.

%26#149;Increase parking and parking garages with ground-floor retail and business space at light-rail stations.

%26#149;Incorporate varying height and density of one to 20 stories to promote pedestrian traffic and train ridership.

%26#149;Include transitional spaces to blend large-scale development with to create a “step-back” effect.

%26#149;Create plazas, courtyards, urban parks, public art and other public spaces that form a sense of community.

%26#149;Implement affordable housing policies and encourage a mixture of income and race/ethnicity.

%26#149;Install speed bumps, traffic circles and other traffic-calming devices, while expanding bike paths.

%26#149;Enhance streetscapes by planting trees and landscaping and adding benches.

The study, which was finalized in December, is similar to what Tempe is paying a private consultant to do. The Tempe study has not yet been released.

Yabes, who lives in Tempe, said the planning class attempted to set the stage for what is known as transit-oriented development around an expensive public project.

“Cities have to make commitments” to make light-rail projects attract riders and shoppers to nearby commercial developments, Yabes said.

“If the feds (federal government) are kicking in that amount ($1.4 billion), the whole system is probably worth $4.1 billion.”

To be sure, there has been $4.2 billion worth of commercial development proposed or being built around the starter line’s 28 stations, according to an informal review by city planners and the Metro.

“What you want in terms of businesses are the kinds of things that get you out of your car,” Yabes said.

She said that most people will walk five to 10 minutes, although 10 minutes “is pushing it, especially in Arizona’s hot summer.”

What’s tricky is meshing high-rise commercial developments with pedestrian-friendly areas and residential neighborhoods.

“People don’t want office workers looking into their ,” she said.

In Tempe, light-rail finally may transform Apache Boulevard into a more attractive area, Yabes said.

“Apache is kind of interesting in that regard because it’s surrounded by single-family homes,” she said. “If Tempe can be accused of having a red-light district, it’s on Apache between Price and McClintock.

“They’ve been trying to redevelop Apache for years. I think this is finally going to be what kicks it in.”

Don Cassano, chairman of the Tempe Transportation Commission, said he already sees Apache transforming and property values rising with light-rail development.

Cassano said he’s toured light-rail systems in Denver, San Diego and Portland to see what kind of businesses work best around light-rail stations. They include dry cleaners, florists, shoe-repair shops and coffee shops, he said.

Tempe adopted a transportation overlay district three years ago to encourage more pedestrians around light-rail stations, said Jyme Sue McClaren, Tempe’s deputy public-works manager.

“No carwashes, auto-related uses are restricted, no drive-throughs, no (plant) nurseries,” she said.

Instead, the city is encouraging the building of dry cleaners, coffee shops, , day-care centers, bookstores, service-oriented businesses and “things that you may see on Mill Avenue, like pedestrian-scale restaurants, neighborhood grocery stores,” she said.

Stores also should front the and parking lots should be placed at the side or back of a development, McClaren said.

Jack Wierzenski, director of economic development and planning for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, said most developments around light-rail stations have increased property values.

“There’s a perception that bad things are going to happen, and bad things never happen,” he said.

Ram Pendyala, an ASU professor in civil and environmental engineering specializing in transportation systems, agreed and said that he expects to see a variety of mixed-use projects with apartments, condos and businesses “that cater to people’s personal errands.”

He said that successful light-rail systems foster a reciprocal relationship between riders and businesses.

“It’s definitely a two-way relationship there, definitely a synergy there,” he said.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community Republic.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Light rail could fuel Apache Blvd renewal

Yabes led a group of students in ASU’s architecture and environmental design college last year to study transit-oriented development along the Camelback corridor for Phoenix. The corridor is bounded by Colter Street on the north, Seventh Street on the east, Pierson Street on the south and 22nd Avenue on the west.

The class recommended, among other things, that Phoenix:

%26#149;Change the current zoning along the corridor to include mixed-use developments.

%26#149;Increase parking and parking garages with ground-floor retail and business space at light-rail stations.

%26#149;Incorporate varying height and density of one to 20 stories to promote pedestrian traffic and train ridership.

%26#149;Include transitional spaces to blend large-scale development with to create a “step-back” effect.

%26#149;Create plazas, courtyards, urban parks, public art and other public spaces that form a sense of community.

%26#149;Implement affordable housing policies and encourage a mixture of income and race/ethnicity.

%26#149;Install speed bumps, traffic circles and other traffic-calming devices, while expanding bike paths.

%26#149;Enhance streetscapes by planting trees and landscaping and adding benches.

The study, which was finalized in December, is similar to what Tempe is paying a private consultant to do. The Tempe study has not yet been released.

Yabes, who lives in Tempe, said the planning class attempted to set the stage for what is known as transit-oriented development around an expensive public project.

“Cities have to make commitments” to make light-rail projects attract riders and shoppers to nearby commercial developments, Yabes said.

“If the feds (federal government) are kicking in that amount ($1.4 billion), the whole system is probably worth $4.1 billion.”

To be sure, there has been $4.2 billion worth of commercial development proposed or being built around the starter line’s 28 stations, according to an informal review by city planners and the Metro.

“What you want in terms of businesses are the kinds of things that get you out of your car,” Yabes said.

She said that most people will walk five to 10 minutes, although 10 minutes “is pushing it, especially in Arizona’s hot summer.”

What’s tricky is meshing high-rise commercial developments with pedestrian-friendly areas and residential neighborhoods.

“People don’t want office workers looking into their ,” she said.

In Tempe, light-rail finally may transform Apache Boulevard into a more attractive area, Yabes said.

“Apache is kind of interesting in that regard because it’s surrounded by single-family homes,” she said. “If Tempe can be accused of having a red-light district, it’s on Apache between Price and McClintock.

“They’ve been trying to redevelop Apache for years. I think this is finally going to be what kicks it in.”

Don Cassano, chairman of the Tempe Transportation Commission, said he already sees Apache transforming and property values rising with light-rail development.

Cassano said he’s toured light-rail systems in Denver, San Diego and Portland to see what kind of businesses work best around light-rail stations. They include dry cleaners, florists, shoe-repair shops and coffee shops, he said.

Tempe adopted a transportation overlay district three years ago to encourage more pedestrians around light-rail stations, said Jyme Sue McClaren, Tempe’s deputy public-works manager.

“No carwashes, auto-related uses are restricted, no drive-throughs, no (plant) nurseries,” she said.

Instead, the city is encouraging the building of dry cleaners, coffee shops, , day-care centers, bookstores, service-oriented businesses and “things that you may see on Mill Avenue, like pedestrian-scale restaurants, neighborhood grocery stores,” she said.

Stores also should front the and parking lots should be placed at the side or back of a development, McClaren said.

Jack Wierzenski, director of economic development and planning for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, said most developments around light-rail stations have increased property values.

“There’s a perception that bad things are going to happen, and bad things never happen,” he said.

Ram Pendyala, an ASU professor in civil and environmental engineering specializing in transportation systems, agreed and said that he expects to see a variety of mixed-use projects with apartments, condos and businesses “that cater to people’s personal errands.”

He said that successful light-rail systems foster a reciprocal relationship between riders and businesses.

“It’s definitely a two-way relationship there, definitely a synergy there,” he said.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community Republic.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Landscaping No Comments

Tiny treasures yield pleasures

In 1984, Maxine Daley Locker was newly retired from a 30-year career as an advertising copywriter and yearning for a . So she and her husband, Harold, left their supercharged Los Angeles lifestyle and settled into a quaint Cape Cod-style home in Shell Beach. To pass the time, she opened up an antiques and collectibles store. Two years later she closed the store, but her passion for collecting only intensified. Her keen eye for finding quality pieces on the cheap, honed as a shop owner, was now directed at acquiring d%26#233;cor for the couples 1,700-square-foot home.

What partly fueled her obsession was the abundance of good collectibles available in the 1980s. %26#8220;You could find the most amazing things then,%26#8221; she said. %26#8220;Now there are too many people looking for too little stuff.%26#8221;

Locker scoured yard sales, swap meets and thrift stores. Harold, now deceased, was less than enthusiastic about her newfound hobby. %26#8220;My husband thought I was either still menopausal or crazy,%26#8221; she recalled. %26#8220;His famous line was, %26#8216;What are you dragging into the house now?%26#8221;

Her efforts yielded some incredible finds. Twenty years ago at a Grover Beach yard sale, she prudently dug to the bottom of a box of miscellaneous items and uncovered a 1930s Art Deco ceramic head. The asking price was 25 cents. At another yard sale, she acquired a pair of vintage brass lamps for a mere quarter.

Thrift stores were also fertile ground for remarkable discoveries. While browsing a San Luis Obispo thrift store, she was stunned to find a pair of Italian majolica vases for $15. Appraised by Sothebys for $600, the vases were the envy of her antique dealer friends.

On a few occasions, Locker bartered with other antique dealers%26#8212;a common practice in the trade. This is how she picked up her living room corner cabinet in exchange for $50 and a Louis XIV chair that the shop owner coveted. Some fellow collectors gave her items such as a camelback loveseat, bestowed upon her by %26#8220;a friend who has more lovely things than she needs,%26#8221; Locker said.

One method Locker never used to acquire goods was haggling. %26#8220;I always pay the asking price,%26#8221; she said. %26#8220;Its a point of honor with me because I used to sell.%26#8221;

When Locker shopped, she usually went solo, and so she stayed with pieces small enough to carry, including books, art, and small furnishings. Her preferences for these items ran in cycles. %26#8220;I went through a lamp period,%26#8221; she offered as an example, %26#8220;so now I have a closet full of them.%26#8221;

Chairs that populate nearly every room of her house bear testament to the phase she calls her, %26#8220;chair mania.%26#8221; She has a weakness for the graceful cabriole legs of French reproductions. Her favorite, a green Louis XV-style chair, was procured at the San Luis Obispo Swap Meet. %26#8220;I didnt even sit on it or look it over,%26#8221; she recalled. %26#8220;I hurled myself at it like a lost child.%26#8221;

Art has been a longtime passion for Locker, and she has amassed over 100 pieces. Among her collection are works by several California plein air artists, a signed Charles Bragg lithograph, and a painting by Santa Barbara artist Lyla Marshall Harcoff.

Now 82, Locker insists that her treasure hunting days are past her. Still, her collections fill her house and have overtaken the loft office where she works as a writer (she has published two books since retirement). In fact, only a few pieces remain from her career days%26#8212;a piano, an %26#233;tag%26#232;re, and an accent table inherited from her mother.

In public spaces, Locker keeps her collections from becoming chaotic by adhering to a white color palette: white walls, mostly white furniture and accessories %26#8212; even her wardrobe is white. %26#8220;With white, you cant make any mistakes,%26#8221; she advised.

The design philosophy works well to unify furnishings of various styles and eras. White paint pulls together a disparate array of wood pieces. In the living room, white cotton duck slipcovers make a 30-year-old cane back sofa from Sears, Roebuck and Co. (one of the few pieces Locker purchased new) coordinate with a modern loveseat upholstered in a vivid floral fabric.

Locker has never gotten around to having her collection appraised. She has little interest in hocking pieces on eBay or hauling them to a consignment shop. Value is of less importance to her, secondary to deeper impulses. %26#8220;I buy what I like regardless of age or provenance,%26#8221; she said. %26#8220;Maybe Freud said it best: %26#8216;Buying things is a search for love. %26#8221;

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Friday, January 25th, 2008

Landscaping Stone No Comments

Playing in Phoenix Concerts parties and more for the Super Bowl

PHOENIX It’s a reunion 12 years in the making. Since hosting the 1996 Super Bowl, Phoenix and its suburbs have been preening and preparing for the return of the NFL’s biggest game.

The last crucial piece finally fell into place in 2006 when the state-of-the-art University of Phoenix Stadium opened in Glendale, west of Phoenix. The stadium will host the Superbowl on Feb. 3 between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

About 150,000 visitors are expected to travel here around game time, pumping an anticipated $200 million into the local economy. While Phoenix temporarily will be the hippest, hottest place to be seen during the Super Bowl, the region has typically been thought of as the place where snowbirds retire. Visitors of all ages, however, can find a strong pulse in the night clubs of Scottsdale or Arizona State University hangouts in Tempe. In this 2,000-square-mile metropolis, it is possible to see the urban and the rural in less than a day. Travelers can have their pick of chic, artsy enclaves and four-star restaurants, and -dotted landscapes rich with the history of the Old West and American Indian culture.

Here’s a rundown on some Super Bowl events and things to see:

Football:

%26#8226; For the 17th year, an interactive theme park will be part of the event. The NFL will hold the NFL Experience Built By The Home Depot next to the stadium Jan. 26-27 and Jan. 31-Feb. 2, www.nfl.com/superbowl/nflexperience. (Only Super Bowl ticket-holders will be admitted Feb. 3.) Among the activities fans can choose from: recording a voice-over commentary of memorable NFL plays, scoring a touchdown while tethered to a bungee harness, and throwing passes at a target. A nighttime party for adults, NFLX After Dark, will take place Jan. 31.

%26#8226; Visitors looking to make their trip a bit educational can attend the Sports Career Expo %26amp; College Fair Jan. 31 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, www.whynotsports.org/sports_expo.htm. Professionals from different aspects of the sports industry will discuss various career opportunities with students.

Music

%26#8226; From “Diddy” to Dogg, a variety of musical artists host outdoor, high-priced concerts in Scottsdale. Sean “Diddy” Combs will perform Jan. 31 outside of Axis Radius club. The club will also put on concerts for the Anheuser-Busch Bud Bowl rapper Snoop Dogg on Feb. 1 and Kid Rock on Feb. 2. Tommy Lee and Dave Navarro are slated to rock out at a block party for club e4 Feb. 2.

%26#8226; There are some more affordable, indoor shows.

On Jan. 26, a free, ticketed Super Fiesta in Phoenix at the Dodge Theater will have a Latin music lineup, including Mexican rock singer Alejandra Guzman.

Jobing.com Arena, next door to the University of Phoenix stadium, will be the site of the two-night Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series. Mary J. Blige and Maroon 5 take the stage Jan. 31. Mexican pop group RBD will perform Feb. 1.

Singer Patti LaBelle will headline the 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Feb. 1 at Symphony Hall in Phoenix.

Visitors can also enjoy a free concert and fireworks Feb. 2 at “Super Bowl Saturday Night” at Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, a town typically milling with Arizona State University students.

Food

%26#8226; Foodies with $500 to spare can get a ticket for this year’s Taste of the NFL on Feb. 2, which raises money to fight hunger, http://tasteofthenfl.com. More than 35 chefs representing cities with NFL teams will cook up a special dish. The food-and-wine fest will also have musical entertainment and an auction.

%26#8226; Glendale has also moved up its annual Glendale Chocolate Affaire. Chocoholics can nibble on confections made by local chocolatiers in downtown Glendale on Feb. 1-2. A 300-pound chocolate football will also be raffled off.

Arts

%26#8226; Clusters of high-end galleries make up much of the art scene in metro Phoenix. Scottsdale’s arts district will hold a special edition of its swanky, weekly art walks with the Scottsdale Super ArtWalk Feb. 2, http://scottsdalegalleries.com/artwalks2.html.

Aside from browsing at galleries, visitors can listen to local musicians along the designated route and sample food from local restaurants.

%26#8226; The downtown Phoenix Art Museum has 60 paintings, sculptures, etchings and watercolors in a new exhibit on 19th century French artists, “Masterpiece Replayed: Monet, Matisse and More,” www.phxart.org. The museum also currently has works on display by photographer Richard Avedon, known for his fashion photos and celebrity portraits.

Nightlife

Already a clubgoer’s paradise, Scottsdale will be taken over by private VIP parties in the days leading up to the big game.

%26#8226; Maxim magazine will contribute to the extravaganza with a Feb. 1 party at the Stone Rose Lounge at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

%26#8226; Other hot tickets will be Playboy’s Super Saturday Night Party at Rawhide Pavilion and the Penthouse Desire Super Party, at Venue of Scottsdale also with Snoop Dogg appearing on Feb. 2.

%26#8226; Carmen Electra and John Travolta, who both led parties at last year’s Super Bowl, will again put on their party faces for the Leather %26amp; Laces Party on Feb. 1 and the Saturday Night Spectacular Feb. 2, respectively. Both will be at the Scottsdale Galleria.

%26#8226; From Jan. 30-Feb. 3, the downtown waterfront area, as part of the 944 Magazine Super Village, will become a nocturnal playground featuring a mini-Las Vegas strip, fireworks and live music including Wyclef Jean on Feb. 1 and Velvet Revolver on Feb. 2.

Other sports

Football won’t be the only sport sweeping the Sonoran desert Super Bowl week. The FBR Open, touted as one of the most popular PGA Tour events, will take place from Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at TPC Scottsdale. Admission prices start at $25. Barring any weather or playoff delay, the golf tournament winner is to be crowned by 4 p.m., 20 minutes before Super Bowl kickoff.

The desert

%26#8226; Out-of-towners looking for a slice of the Southwest can check out the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. More than 130 rare and endangered plant species thrive at the 50-acre exhibit. Near the garden is the Phoenix Zoo, home to more than 1,200 animals.

%26#8226; There are also ample hiking opportunities at South Mountain Park and Preserve in south Phoenix. Hard-core hikers can try the summit trails on Camelback Mountain, situated between Phoenix and Scottsdale.

%26#8226; A tour of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural marvel nestled at the foot of McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, also serves as a serene diversion from Super Bowl mayhem, www.franklloydwright.org/.

%26#8226; Those wanting to venture farther out can make the two-hour drive north from Phoenix to Sedona and gaze upon spectacular red rock formations. A drive the same distance southward will lead visitors to Tucson. Slightly more laid-back, the state’s second-largest city also offers hiking, resorts, golf and local attractions such as the Sonoran Desert Museum.

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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Landscaping Rock No Comments

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