7451 East Baker Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
~ In the Trovia Community

MLS # 4661882

New Price of $800,000 - Relocation company wants this home sold.

Wake up every morning end enjoy the view of your large, sparkling pool and spa. Beyond that is a large open desert area and Pinnacle Peak views beyond. This wonderfully updated home sits on just under a 3/4 acre lot and enjoys southerly views.

The home is a split floorplan model. On one end is the master bedroom and a separate office that has a Murphy bed. The guest wing on the other end of the home has three large bedrooms. All of the guest bedrooms are adjacent to an oversized bonus/game room.

The kitchen is a chef’s delight. It is equipped with a 6-burner Viking gas cooktop, Sub-Zero refrigerator, freezer and ice machine, a built-in microwave and double Viking ovens. Custom cabinetry is found throughout the home in the kitchen, bathrooms and game room.

There is a theater room with screen and the home is wired for sound.

The expansive back yard is truly resort-like. It comes with a large, heated diving pool and spa with a rock water feature. Next to the pool is an outdoor fireplace that has room for a table and chairs to enjoy al fresco dining. Outside of the pool area are two level, grassy areas, an in-ground trampoline and cement play court with a basketball hoop.  

The location of this home is great. You truly feel like you are removed from the hustle and bustle, yet you are within 5 minutes of grocery stores, dining and shopping. You are also minutes away from some of the top Scottsdale area golf courses.

For more picturess, information or if you have any questions, please click here or contact Joyce.

I was between appointments in the Biltmore area of Phoenix last week and needed a little “snack.” I pulled into the shopping center at 32^nd and Camelback and saw a sign for Revo Burrito.  Since I am a fan of burritos, I was out of the car and in the restaurant in a snap!

I was impressed with the exterior of the restaurant as it featured a takeout window and there was a real person standing there to serve me. They also have a five minute parking spot in front and take phone takeout orders.

I decided to go in as I wanted to see more of the restaurant.  I was surprised and pleased as the décor is absolutely delightful.  They have stools at a bar for quick dining and a few tables set up for four people.  All the food is prepared fresh to your taste.  And, for those looking for some fun, they serve special Margaritas and Mexican beers.  It doesn’t get any better than this!

I was greeted warmly by the staff and they went over the menu to point out the wide variety of choices.  Since I only wanted a small snack, they obliged by serving me a half order of a chicken taco that was one of the best I’ve had.  The chicken is obviously freshly cooked; the tortilla was so soft and tasty.  I enjoyed every bite.

Oh, did I mention they have gluten free and vegetarian options?  More and more people are finally waking up to the fact that “gluten free” can be quite tasty. But, it takes a great chef to blend the flavors, and I’m willing to bet that Revo’s can handle it.

In addition to Revo Burrito, the owner also runs Delux Burger, in the same shopping complex. I haven’t tried Delux as of yet, but look forward to it based on my experience at Revo.

Two cuisines – all in the same shopping mall – I am looking forward to going back and trying something new.

More Information:
Revo Burrito|
3154 E Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ
602 522 6255
www.revoburrito.com

- Open Daily, Take-out available

 Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

With all the stories of the massive fires we’ve encountered in Arizona this year, it certainly has brought the profession of fireman to everyone’s attention.  Fighting a forest fire ranks right up there with one of the toughest jobs, and certainly shows that a fireman has to be extremely skilled to be able to perform at that level.

However, not every day in the life of a fireman is filled with putting out fires. They are called upon frequently to respond to calls from homeowners for much smaller items.

In the community of Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Fire Department is located on property near the mail room and main road into the golfing community.

I’m embarrassed to say that a fire truck and crew was called to my home a year ago when “someone” changed the setting on the toaster oven.  The smoke from burning toast immediately surrounded the smoke detector connected to our alarm system, and the call went out.  Even though I tried to cancel the call, they are required to respond  anyway.  So, I met a nice gentleman, completely dressed for the occasion, and had to explain what happened. Whoops!

This past week, I was on our deck and smelled a very strong gas odor.  Since our home is electric and does not have natural gas, I called our Security Department for guidance. They came over, but also asked the Fire Department to respond.

This trip I met the whole Forest Highlands fire crew.  They arrived with gas detector devices and checked out the entire back area of our house.  The culprit was finally found – a defective valve on the propane tank connected to our BBQ.  Needless to say, this time I absolutely required their assistance as they were able to shut the valve off and stop the flow of a flammable gas.

This trip out from the firehouse might not have been as exciting for the fireman as a real fire, but from my perspective, they provided a huge service and took care of a very dangerous situation.

We consider the firemen to be an integral part of our community and we all look forward to the annual 4th of July parade, led by a fire truck with sirens and red lights.  The fire truck parade is a great tradition at Forest Highlands.

In talking with the group, I was told that anyone who gets their picture in the media has to buy ice cream for the crew.  To be fair to all of them, I tried to get a picture of all of them. So here they are…

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

When I am out shopping in Scottsdale, I often find myself driving by a store multiple times, taking a cursory look, but don’t take the time to  go in and see what they are offering.

That changed when I recently stopped in at Rustic Stuff home furnishings located at 15040 N. Northsight Boulevard in Scottsdale. I have out-of-state clients who just purchased a new home and they had asked me to investigate different stores that might have items of interest for them. So, I decided to take a look.

Entering Rustic Stuff was like entering a new and different world. This is one of the most tasteful, beautifully appointed stores I’ve seen.  Every display is artfully arranged to show off the items in their best light.  Rustic Stuff was opened 15 years ago by the owner Paul and has been delighting clients since then.

Paul features Bella Notte bed linens and accessories.  Since 1997, Bella Notte has been producing low environmental impact bedding and accessories made with soft fabrics and muted colors that are perfect for the bedroom. They have perfected the manufacturing of the fabrics from start to finish by farming and harvesting of the raw materials such as hemp and organic cotton and then using non-toxic dyes for the finishing touch. Bella Notte products are all manufactured and finished by artisans in the United States.

Of great interest was to discover that each year Paul converts his furniture showroom into a Christmas wonderland.  This year they are planning to have at least 43 different decorated Christmas trees on display.  They start receiving their Christmas stock in September and will start decorating the trees in October.  The display officially launches on November 1^st.  And if you stop in the store and register now, you will receive a personal invitation to the Christmas Tree opening.

Many of their items have a “French” flair. I was very impressed with the iron antiquities used as bed headboards and settees. Eclectic yet tasteful is an excellent description of the items you will be seeing in this fabulous setting.

In addition to furniture items, they have lamps, clocks, and other intriguing accessories. They also have a fabulous and unique collection of candles and I was especially taken with the one called “Mahogany and Tobacco.”

If you are looking for unique and are tired of the same cookie-cutter design – don’t miss stopping in at Rustic Stuff.

More Information:
Rustic Stuff
15040 N. Northsight Blvd #102
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
480-596-0345
info@rusticstuffhome.com
Website: www.rusticstuffhome.com

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

I took this photo around 11 o’clock in the morning from the driving range at Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, Arizona on June 20, 2010.  I was walking over to hit golf balls when I saw a very small plume of smoke. By the time I got my camera, it had grown to the white mushroom cloud depicted in this photo.

Eventually named the Schultz fire, it would ultimately burn over 15,000 acres in the Coconino National Forest. 748 homes were evacuated, plus fire officials closed an animal shelter, Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument to the public. At one time over 800 firefighters from Arizona and neighboring states were fighting the quick-spreading fire.  The entire town of Flagstaff was filled with smoke for days on end due to the fire and the “backfires” used by the firefighters to stop the spread of the flames.

It took over nine days for the official announcement that the fire was under control and everyone was allowed back into their homes. It has since been determined that the fire was started by a careless camper who didn’t follow the rules of camping and fire prevention and left a still-smoldering fire.

All events have consequences. The Schultz fire burned almost the entire east facing slope of the San Francisco Peaks. And when the seasonal rains came, the run-off carved deep ravines into the hillside and dumped millions of gallons of water filled with mud and ash into populated neighborhoods that were located miles from the actual fire.

On the East side of Highway 89, the city and Forest Service worked together to build berms and have completed a mile long canal to divert run-off water from the bare hillsides. It’s anticipated that the berms and canal will alleviate any serious flooding in the future.

The west side of Highway 89 is a different story as the run-off this past year has been so strong that it has created deep ravines that will carry any floodwaters this coming rainy season at high speeds. The Forest Service has air-dropped mulch and grass seeds in an effort to regain the ability to absorb heavy rains. Just in case, though, evacuation plans are in place and residents are preparing as well as they can to make sure their homes are safe.

It’s amazing and sad to realize how much havoc one careless action can wreak on hundreds of innocent residents in this beautiful little town in Northern Arizona.

Drew Annan, Forest Highlands' golf course supervisor for many years, just sent out his annual report to the members on what members could expect for Opening Day on April 29th, 2011. We typically have very rough playing areas for a time as the courses take a real beating during the winter months, especially the Canyon Course.

Forest Highlands' Canyon Course is aptly named due to the huge canyon that runs through the middle of the course with holes 9, 18 and 17 nestled within. I’ve been to Forest Highlands during the winter when the creek and water hazards are frozen solid and piles of snow abound. When the warmer weather comes and the snow starts melting, there is always a transition time to get the fairways back into great shape.

A large project this year was improving the quality of the grass on the Canyon Driving Range. The sod was removed, the ground was leveled, and all new sod was put in place. It should be ready for activity by the second or third week in May.

Golfers will be excited to use the new practice area at Forest Highlands' Meadow Course that was started last summer. Additional soil was brought in to increase the practice tee surface by 7,000 square feet – bringing it to a total of 27,500 square feet of practice tee area.

In addition, two 5,000 square foot greens were built out. The lower green is for putting only and the upper green is for chipping and bunker practice. These greens will be open to members in mid-May and golfers will most likely experience slower ball speeds as they navigate the typical new green.

Drew also reports that our local osprey has nested in the tree overlooking the sixth and seventh fairways of the Meadow course. The osprey are always a treat to watch as they sit in the aerie looking down on us residents. He’s also found a nest of twelve mallard eggs on Hole 14 – a sure sign that Spring is here.

During the winter months, large fences are placed around the greens on the courses to discourage the elk and deer from walking over them and causing massive damage to the surface. The course maintenance crews removed the fences and have finished aerating the greens. It should only take a couple of weeks for them to smooth out. Members playing this opening weekend of the 29th of April will experience slower and somewhat bumpy conditions.

On another important front, Drew was able to secure Brook Trout and Brown Trout for the lakes on the Meadow course. Expect to see the fly fisherman out at dusk – a beautiful sight. Also, catfish are again the rule at the Sports Park pond for the young, aspiring fishermen.

It looks like Summer 2011 at Forest Highlands in Flagstaff is going to be a great season and we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Drew Annan and his experienced crew that work so hard throughout the year to insure we get to enjoy the beautiful courses during the summer months.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Over the last two years at the Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, what started as impromptu Friday night golf event called the “Friday Night Skins Game” really increased in popularity. The setup of this game is teams of two players who play seven holes in an alternate shot format. It’s not unusual to see ten or twenty golfers (both men and women) on one of the putting surfaces of the Canyon golf course as they compete in this exciting and fun elimination game.

Friday night at Forest Highlands is also the weekly Happy Hour at the Canyon Clubhouse that has become so popular with families at Forest Highlands. On top of enjoying food and beverage specials and socializing with the other club members, one of the highlights of this event is to wait and see who the victors are from the “Skins Game.” For the most part, the only disinterested parties are the under-10 year old crowd, who are typically too busy playing and tumbling on the grassy areas of the Canyon driving range in front of the clubhouse while their parents enjoy the Happy Hour on the porch.

Since the “Skins Game” has become so popular, the Forest Highlands golf professionals decided to devise a new game for the members. It is going to be called the “Gross Shootout” and it will take place on the Meadow golf course on select Saturdays. I am looking forward to learning more about and watching this event. It, too, should be a lot of fun.

Click for more information about Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale.

As a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, I enjoy reading through the small, independent newspapers that I receive at my home. I find that at the local level, I come across a lot of interesting articles and postings as to what’s going on around in our community.These newspapers are also a great way to find out about opportunities to participate in local charity events.

I just finished reading the April 20th edition of the Scottsdale Independent and was pleased to read about a number of activities that will benefit local residents and gives us a chance to do our civic duty.

Here are a couple of charitable Scottsdale events that are coming up that may be of interest:

• Fifth Annual Walk for Water Safety - April 30, 2011 - Help Educate About Water Safety On April 30th the Scottsdale Fire Department has partnered with Cardon Children’s Medical Center to sponsor their Fifth Annual Walk for Water Safety. Beginning at 9 AM, they are looking for volunteers to walk specified neighborhoods and visit about 60,000 homes to distribute water safety information to the homeowners. I support this program as it is always heartbreaking to hear about the number of children drowning each year, especially when we move into the warmer weather. If you’d like to participate, call Lori Schmidt, Public Education Officer at 480-312-1817 or email her at lschmidt@scottsdaleaz.gov. If you are simply interested in getting information about water safety – check out their website at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/preventdrownings.

• Beat the Heat Summer Program Benefitting Homebound Seniors - Donations Needed - Ongoing -  With the hot weather on its way again, it is time to assist the Beat the Heat program for seniors. Each May and June, the Via Linda and Granite Reef senior centers make up gift bags of summer goods for our senior citizens who need a little assistance, whether they are homebound, frail or simply do not have a large support network to help out. Donations are always needed and a few of the items include reusable bags and water bottles, nutritional supplemental drinks (things like Gatorade and Ensure), bottled water, small snack items, hats and grocery gift cards. Click here for a complete list of needed items. You can drop donations off at the Via Linda Senior Center. You can also call 480-312-8455 for more information or email zmatz@scottsdaleaz.gov.

• Other Scottsdale Volunteer Opportunities - If you would like other ideas on how you can positively impact your fellow Scottsdale citizens and volunteer your time or goods, visit the City of Scottsdale website.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

What makes April 29th so special? It is Opening Day at Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, Arizona

Yes, that’s the big day for all the members of Forest Highlands who have waited for the first signs of spring and put a big red circle around the date on their calendar. It is now time to get out on the course for the first play of the year. Typically, if it’s been a harsh winter, the course will be a little “rough”, but that doesn’t stop the avid golfer from giving it a go.

Almost as excited as the golfers are our neighborhood elk. They’ve also been waiting for the snow to melt and for the new, young shoots of grass to appear. Needless to say, they aren’t as welcome as the golfers as they do manage to do a bit of damage to the course, but we all enjoy a good “elk show” in the early evening hours.

On April 29th, the two clubhouses start their seasonal hours of operation and offer breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner in addition to the special events. The Canyon Clubhouse will be offering dinner starting on the 29th, and the Meadows Clubhouse will follow with dinner hours starting May 25th.

In addition to the official opening day, Forest Highlands is having an Easter celebration. Easter Sunday, April 24th, will be a big day at the Canyon Clubhouse as the Chef and his staff have outdone themselves in preparing for the Easter Buffet. They are offering Lobster Bisque as a starting soup, followed by an enormous array of salads, an omelet station, waffle station, and a choice of entrees including Chicken Florentine, Grilled Salmon, Paella and Tender Lamb Stew. And we’re not through yet – we still have the carving stations for roast beef and glazed ham. And, let’s not forget the beautiful display of desserts. In addition, they will offer a completely different menu for the little folks in the crowd.

Mark Thomas, our Director of Food and Beverage, has again outdone himself on planning out a fabulous summer and fall season for the members. Kevin Willard, the Executive Sous Chef at the Canyon Dining Room returns for his sixth year at Forest Highlands. We consider him one of the family and have enjoyed his fabulous creations over the last few years. Benjamin Downs returns for his second season at Forest Highlands as the Sous Chef at the Meadows Dining Room. Both kitchens are under the supervision of Executive Chef Mike Klosinski who is returning for his second season at the club. This summer, Mike competed in a competition in Las Vegas and was awarded a Bronze medal for his pork cutlet creation by the American Culinary Foundation.

It is expected to be a great summer season at Forest Highlands for golfers, tennis players and folks just wanting to relax and spend time together. And, the Recreation Department has again outdone themselves on designing programs and sports camps for the younger generations.

Forest Highlands
Route 89A and Forest Highlands
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

Search Forest Highlands Flagstaff Homes and Lots

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

When one thinks of Arizona, they think of sand, heat, and cactus.  All of that is accurate, except most people don’t realize that Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona,  is located within the Sonoran Desert.  The Sonoran Desert is a North American Desert that consists of 120,000 square miles and is in Arizona, California and the Mexican states of Sonora in Baja California and Baja California Sur.

Desert Mountain is located as far north in Scottsdale that one can travel and the altitude at the entry gate is close to 3,000 feet in altitude.  The highest point above Chiricahua Golf Clubhouse is well over 4,000 feet.

This is a good thing in that the temperatures at Desert Mountain are cooler by 8 to 10 degrees compared to downtown Scottsdale and Phoenix.  Residents of Desert Mountain live within a community that requires the residents to maintain and keep the indigenous plants of the Sonoran Desert around their homes. Walking one of the many trails and sidewalks within the community always provides a panoramic view of a myriad of cactus plants, wild flowers, and “critters” only found in the Sonoran Desert.

Once in a while, a storm comes through from the West or Southwest that brings unusually cold temperatures to Scottsdale. Those residing closer to downtown will have some ice and the occasional snow flake, but Desert Mountain will get covered with beautiful, pristine white snow.

My remembrances of snow at Desert Mountain include the delay of the senior golf tournament, The Tradition over ten years ago, and a wonderful blanketing of snow that lasted for two or three days in March of 2006. One of the biggest problems for the local authorities in 2006 was traffic control for the thousands of cars driving up from other parts of the Valley so people could see "real" snow.  Many of them, especially children, had never seen snow in their lives.

I’m sharing some photos taken this morning, February 27, 2011, of the entrance to Desert Mountain and a very telling photo of the first green of Renegade golf course.  Yes, there is a flagpole in place.  Can you find it?