Old Town Scottsdale Condos 

 Old Town is New Again!

  Who would have thought that "bell" bottom jeans would have ever come back in style, or that the 80's would have looked so cool so many years later. Old Town Scottsdale is a great example of what was old is now new again. With the market picking up and builders popping up again we're seeing trendy lofts, amazing remodels, and new builds surface in the heart of Old Town. Honestly, what better place to revitalize! Whether you're looking for a great night life, an amazing shopping experience, or a fabulous place to dine, Old Town Scottsdale has it all. Prices on Old Town Scottsdale condos and townhomes are still pretty affordable as well... for now. With the way the market is correcting here in AZ and Scottsdale specifically it's reasonable to believe that prices could be another 10% higher in just a year from now!

  Now for a little more insight into Old Town if you happen to be considering a home in this community, the median age is thirty five so families as well as singles seem to be a great mix in this community. You can still find an amazing two bed two bath remodeled condo or townhome for as little as $150k! That's a great price point for most first time home buyers or snowbirds looking for a winter destination. For those of you who are conscious of your communitie's crime rates Old Town Scottsdale is a pretty safe place to live as well. Violent crime is well below the national average so you won't have to worry about walking around town at night as you take in all of the fabulous amenities this area has to offer. If you're like me and you really want to do your research on Old Town before you pull the trigger you'll have to check out our community info page. From there you can also check out any new Old Town Scottsdale condos just listed for sale.

  Maybe you're looking for a luxury turn key penthouse that over looks the city? Old Town Scottsdale has that too! There are some amazing penthouse condos that tower directly over Fashion Square Mall, the Scottsdale Waterfront, and the heart of Old Town's shops and nightlife. If you're looking for amenities like a concierge service, 24 hr guard gated access, an amazing spa and gym facilities communities like Phoenician East, Camelview Optima, and Scottsdale Waterfront Residence are the places you must look into. You can preview luxury Old Town Scottsdale condos to get a feel just how special these communities really are. 

 Whether you're looking for a starter home or a luxury penthouse Old Town Scottsdale has it all. It's truly a place where young and old, rich and the not so rich can meet and mingle to enjoy all that this amazing community has to offer!

-A Sunday Stroll in Old Town Scottsdale-
The weather was so beautiful today in Scottsdale that I couldn’t resist going down to Old Town to just walk around and see what was going on. We parked near the Scottsdale Civic Center Park and decided to visit the Sunday A’Fair.  This event has been going on for 26 years and is sponsored by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.  These free concerts are held on the outdoor area in the adjacent Scottsdale Civic Center Park.

As we walked nearer to the event, we could hear the soft and enticing music of the Alice Tatum Quartet.  Their music was easy listening and they had attracted a large, diverse audience.  It was my first time listening to this quartet, but I understand Alice has been sharing her versatile repertoire for the last 30 years in Scottsdale.

Relaxing on the lawn area were families, young people, older folks and lots of very relaxed dogs.  The sponsors of the event encourage people to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and just sit back and enjoy.  But, if you leave home without your picnic basket, no need to worry – there are ample food and beverage offerings available within the park area, or you can always seat yourself at one of the neighboring restaurants bordering the park.

While strolling around the perimeter of the lawn, I couldn’t help but admire the beautiful fountain surrounded by colorful and sweet-smelling flower gardens.  And, I had not realized before that the adobe square table and chairs built in around the fountain feature a chess/checkerboard on top of it!

There were a number of vendors at this event, and I had a fun time talking to the three young ladies at the Twisted Gems of Scottsdale booth.  Between the three of them, they produce a varied and absolutely stunning collection of jewelry.  They also sell large brimmed straw hats and to adorn them, they offer unique and colorful bands made from different metals and gems.  Most interesting was the fact that the three ladies, Jeannine Christian, Karen Holihan, Ann Ciemnoczolowski, were all born in Scottsdale and have been close friends since grammar and high school.

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

- Things to Do in Scottsdale AZ: Good Morning America and Travelzoo's List-

Last month, Good Morning America worked with Travelzoo on a feature about things to do and experience in Scottsdale, Arizona. The resulting list had a nice mix of popular things as well as some not quite as well-known suggestions.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Explore the extensive and creative wine selections at the Terroir Wine Bar and Kazimierz.
• See Scottsdale from on high, via a helicopter tour or hot air balloon ride.
• Although these next ones were mentioned of for the younger set, I think they can apply to all ages. And, three of my favorite Scottsdale places made the list. The first is the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, which is a magical and fun place for train aficionados both young and old. The second was the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, whose goal is to care for and rehabilitate desert wildlife. You can schedule a tour of the facilities and see these fascinating animals up close. The final recommendation was the McDowell Sonoran Nature Preserve with its miles of trails and educational opportunities for all levels.
• North Phoenix's Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) made the list as well. This one of a kind complex features musical instruments from all over the world. You can learn about them, play some of them and there is a long list of performances you can attend.
• For day trips, Sedona and Flagstaff made the list.
• The next recommendation is one I have not tried yet, but am now planning to. Take the Apache Trail and explore the town of Tortilla Flat, the Lost Dutchman State Park and the Tonto National Monument.
• The North Scottsdale gem of Greasewood Flat made the list. Greasewood Flat is tucked away, fun, affordable and promises a great afternoon or evening of casual fun while enjoying the outdoors.
• The final tip was to visit Scottsdale in the summertime to take advantage of amazing hotel and resort rates as well as many of the other specials local businesses run during that time. Yes, it does get hot her during the summer, but generally, it is nothing a dip in the pool cannot take care of.

Click here to see Good Morning America's Travelzoo List

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

If you have not had a chance to eat at Distrito in the The Saguaro Hotel in Old Town Scottsdale yet, I recommend that you take the time do to so. A while back a group of us had the chance to try it and we ended up having a great meal in a fun, cheeky atmosphere.

To get us started, a couple people ordered the white sangria and were not disappointed in the least. The rest of us ordered margaritas and also enjoyed them thoroughly. I saw a few other traditional Mexican drinks like the Paloma and Michelada on the menu as well.

We began with the traditional guacamole and everyone agreed it was spectacular. We all wanted to get that last and final dip before it was gone. From that point, we wanted to try a variety of things on the menu and share among the table.

Needless to say, we enjoyed everything we tried. That included the Tacos de Pollo, which were simply prepared with chicken, a little radish and cream and a sprinkling of cheese. We also tried the Chicken Tamales with mole poblano sauce. We also sampled from the BBQ or "Barbacoa" side of things with the Pollo Ahumado a la Yucateo, which is a smoked chicken plate. It came with a nice orange chile sauce.  For a side dish, we all agreed the Esquites, or corn with fresh cheese, chipotle and lime, were excellent.

The design of the restaurant is fun and funky. Bright colors and Dia de los Muertos art pieces brighten up the space.

If you are a fan of reality cooking shows and/or celebrity chefs, Distrito is the creation of Chef Jose Garces of Iron Chef America fame. This is his first Arizona outpost, adding to his list of very successful other ventures in the United States.

If you are a fan of Latin flavors, definitely give Distrito a try.

More Information:
Distrito at The Saguaro
4000 N Drinkwater Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 970-4444
Distrito Website]

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Another beautiful day in Scottsdale and a return visit to the Farmers' Market in Old Town Scottsdale

Many of the winter visitors to Scottsdale have headed home as witnessed by the thinning crowds on the streets of Old Town. With that said, there was still a huge turnout for the weekly Saturday morning Downtown Scottsdale Farmers' Market.  On this visit, I noted more booths with tantalizing foods for tasting or lunch as well as a larger variety of baked goods.

As we strolled through the market we had several opportunities to stop and chat with the vendors.  I enjoy doing this, as I always learn something new.  For instance, a local honey maker showed us an article on the demise of honey bees due to a pesticide being used on corn that was developed in Europe.  He commented that one of the local growers had lost his entire colony of honey-producing bees due to the pesticide.  He’s promised to give me a full tutorial on my next visit down with photos and articles to describe what is going on.

There was also a new booth filled with small containers of succulent plants and cacti. Susan Tyrrel doesn’t have a store and sells her plants out of her home and at Farmers' Markets.  I thought you’d enjoy seeing some of the smaller plants in full bloom.  They are great to put on a small table, or transplant into your garden where they will add a little color at this time of the year.

You can’t go to the Farmers Market without a stroll through the courtyard of Bischoff’s Shades of the West located across the street.  Their gardens are lush and shaded and I couldn’t resist sharing photos of some of their wonderful sculptures.  We finished off with a quick tour of the Old Scottsdale Schoolhouse and headed home.  Another great day!

More Information: Susan Tyrrel - Decorating the Desert – Everything Plants -(480) 797-8952

Originally posted on Live Better in Scottsdale

Who: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

What: Sunday A'fair - Afternoon Outdoor Concerts

Where: Civic Center Park

When: Sunday March 25th 2012

Who's In Concert: Thatz That  Noon - 1:30 p.m. and Turning Point  2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Price: Free

Presented by Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in beautiful Civic Center Park, this popular afternoon mini-festival features outdoor concerts by the Valley’s top musicians along with a fine arts and crafts market, fun activities for kids and free admission to SMoCA.

The March 25th concert features Thatz That - Jazz from the 50's 60's and 70's and Turning Point An eclectic instrumental jazz fusion of Latin, R&B and rock.

Bring blankets, lawn chairs or picnic baskets and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of great entertainment with friends and family. Shop local artists at the award-winning Store @ The Center. Enjoy delicious foods from the grill. Snacks, cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks are also available for purchase.

Whether you're buying or selling a home in the Scottsdale area I offer a free, no obligation, consultation. As an informed buyer or seller you'll make better decisions. E-mail Nancy@NancyLaswick.com  or call me today at (602) 793-1627.

All content in this post is protected by copyright. © Nancy Laswick 2012. All Rights Reserved.