NY Knicks All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire’s Phoenix Penthouse

Halloween Home Maintenance: Spooky Sounds and Strange Smells

By: John Riha

Published: October 27, 2011

Lots of great stuff to do this weekend, get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!!!   See you at the Taco Festival…

Friday, October 19

• Grand Opening PartyCleo & ClementineDesigners Monique Martinez-Sandoval and Jennifer Wood have made their mark on Etsy with custom-made wedding wear, delicate dresses, and handmade accessories available through their respective online shops Ouma and Mignonne Handmade. Now, they take their online success and bring it to a brick-and-mortar setting with their new boutique Cleo & Clementine. Filled with their own creations and… More >>
• Cupcakes from the CryptThe Lab at 137There’s a cupcake connoisseur coming to town, but don’t come looking for frosting-topped sweets from this most unusual of bakeshops. When Johnny Cupcakes and his Coffin Tour roll into town on Friday, October 19, expect nothing less than the unexpected. Cupcakes from the Crypt, a coast-to-coast pop-up shop tour, will bring a full collection of ghostly and ghoulish — and of course,… More >>

   

• John FogertyArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State FairThe voice of Creedence Clearwater Revival has been an abiding force in the realm of easygoing swamp rock since striking out on his own. At Coachella 2012, the guy hooked up with the reigning kings of blues rock, The Black Keys. That his signature craggy vocals fit in perfectly with the twosome during a cover of The Band’s “The Weight” is a perfect example of his sonic staying power. He is the… More >>
• Buy TicketsLos Campesinos!Crescent BallroomThe transformation of Los Campesinos! from a sprightly indie-pop group into something far more wicked and weird has been a gradual one, but thankfully the band haven’t lost their penchant for writing catchy, clever songs. The prodigious, Cardiff-based band is touring in support of an excellent new album, Hello Sadness. As the title indicates, these new songs are darker and more introspective… More >>
• Wild Western FestivalSaguaro Ranch ParkIf you happen to be one of those quaint locals who’s legitimately a native Arizonan, no doubt you suffered through a few sleep-inducing history classes concerning cowboys and Indians while growing up in these parts. Thing is, our fair state’s rough and rumble past was actually quite dynamic and action-packed, which is perfectly illustrated by the gun-toting and lively activities… More >>
• Desperado Film Festival 2012Bulpitt Auditorium at Phoenix CollegeThe last 30 years have seen drastic social changes. Telephones now meet our every whim. Medical procedures are accomplished with lasers and video cameras. And, most importantly, we have made great strides in furthering acceptance and equality of all walks of life. The open-minded train of thought seems to have resided always in the arts, where you’ll find gay sitcom leads, television talk… More >>

   

• Dave AttellStand Up LiveOne the sad day when foul-mouthed comedian Dave Attell eventually shuffles loose the mortal coil and stands tall in front of the pearly gates, the libidinous and licentious stand-up comedian will have plenty to discuss with Saint Peter. The noted vulgarian has indulged in his fair share of sinning in his lifetime, whether it’s been drinking, partying, smoking weed, or watching skin… More >>

Saturday, October 20

• Devil Dash 5KCamelback Ranch StadiumWhen contestants line up on Saturday, October 20, for the Devil Dash 5K, they won’t just be running for the complimentary headgear — though who could blame them? Instead, they’ll run for the pride of knowing that they’ve conquered a 3.1-mile allegorical recreation of hell, even if pride is sinful. During the scurry, participants run like hell through a series of challenging obstacles themed… More >>
• The Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses+HorsepowerWestWorld of ScottsdaleWhat comes to mind when you hear the names Nic Roldan and Tommy Biddle Jr.? Nothing? How about the Molina Cup? Still blank? Hmm. How about the word “Marco”? That’s right: Polo! Believe it or not, this sport of kings and people who are rich as kings is an actual, factual thing, and WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road, is bringing it to the masses Saturday, October 20. During… More >>
• 4th Annual Grand Avenue FestivalGrand Avenue Arts DistrictAs much as First Fridays can be a pain to navigate, we can’t deny that we love walking around the city when there’s so much to see and do in one evening. Lucky for art lovers and people-watchers, too, the Grand Avenue Festival presents yet another opportunity to explore and discover new sides of Phoenix on Saturday, October 20, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The fourth annual edition of the event… More >>
• Otsukimi Moonviewing FestivalJapanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix/Ro Ho EnWhen you start to feel the season changing in the air, it’s a time for renewal. And for Phoenicians, it’s a time to stop feeling so damn sweaty. The sweet, sweet smell of fall can never come soon enough for us, and it turns out that other cultures feel the same way. The rise of the Otsukimi Moon marks the traditional Japanese harvest, packed with an abundance of food and culture… More >>
• NasArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State FairNas’ 1994 effort, Illmatic, is an enduring hip-hop classic, the kind of album that showed that his wordplay put him in the master class. He’s still at it, and his 2012 record, Life Is Good, finds him navigating one of the most difficult roles modern hip-hop has to offer: that of elder statesman. Nas pulls it off with aplomb, ruminating over nostalgic beats about fatherhood and responsibility,… More >>
  • The Daily Show Live: Indecision Tour 2012 Scottsdale Center for the Performing ArtsWith the frequency that pundits toss around the term “undecided voters” you’d think politically aware adults flip-flopped like a pair of Havaianas. We have a tough time believing that people don’t know whether they’re pulling for Obama or Romney. But, for the indecisive among us, there’s something that just might help in the choosing process. Comedy…More >>

     

  • Buy Tickets Bowerbirds Crescent BallroomFreak folk hasn’t been freaky since Joanna Newsom put down her harp and started hanging out with MGMT. Even the godfather of the gloaming, Devendra Banhart, has been remixing Oasis and dabbling in tropicalia. But to the young suburban woodsmen and woman of the Bowerbirds, folk and pop have never been enemies. Since 2006 they’ve been trilling out lo-fi, acoustic ambience that would be… More >>
    

    Sunday, October 21

    • Prince Royce Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State FairBachata/R&B pop star Prince Royce has enjoyed a charmed couple of years. Collaborations with Latin rapper Daddy Yankee and high-profile tours with Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias have put his potent blend of Latin sounds and urban pop in the ears of new listeners, and his cultural sidestepping got them quickly taking notice. His 2012 record, Phase II, instantly shot to number one on the Latin… More >>
    • 3rd Annual Arizona Taco Festival Salt River FieldsThe beauty of the taco is pretty easy to see. It’s ethnic, easily transformable, and, really, we don’t have a choice but to like them because they’re everywhere you look in this city. As if we need an excuse to eat them more often, it’s about to be full-on taco-topia at Salt River Fields, 7555 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. On Sunday, October 21, the third annual…More >>
    • National Theatre Live: The Last of the HaussmansPhoenix Art MuseumWhile flower power idealism changed the world in the 1960s, that’s not to say that hippies have had it easy since. The Last of the Haussmans is a humorous exploration of what happens when those funky chickens of the counterculture come home to roost in reality. Recorded from the stages of London’s National Theatre, it plays on Sunday, October 21. Julie Walters, most well known for… More >>
    • Black Theatre Troupe: Two Trains Running Playhouse on the ParkIt’s hard to imagine that just five decades ago, racism wasn’t just tolerated, but, in some areas, legislated. African-Americans across the country found themselves disenfranchised by the government that freed their ancestors a century earlier. But what is freedom, really? Author and playwright August Wilson explores these themes in his ten-part play series “The Pittsburgh Cycle.”… More >>

       

What’s the most sought-after amenity in a property? Probably waterfront, but those homes are limited in number.

There’s no debate for second place: view. You can talk about imported hardwood floors and landscaped yards, but brokers and agents agree that views help to sell homes more than any other highlight.

Look at the ads online and in the newspaper. If a home has any view at all, it’s always mentioned:

“Peek-a-boo lake view” can sometimes be viewed only by standing on a toilet near a second-floor dormer window and cranking your neck to get a glimpse of water through the neighbor’s trees in winter.

The recent story about former baseball star John Olerud’s home near Seattle again has brought views to the front burner — and also local laws that govern how they can be maintained.

Olerud, a one-time American League batting champ and three-time Gold Glove winner, has been asking his neighbors for more than two years if he can pay to cut down a tree blocking his view of the Seattle skyline. For two-plus years, the neighbors have refused. Now the Oleruds want the neighborhood Board of Adjustment to order their neighbors to cut down the tree, saying it unreasonably obstructs the view from their $4 million property.

Ironically, the tiny suburb where they live was the first in the area — and one of the first in the nation — to adopt a process for condemning trees that block too much of neighbors’ sunlight or scenic views. No tree has been cut under that 20-year-old law.

To obtain a tree-cutting order under the “view obstruction and tree removal” ordinance, an owner must show that a view is unreasonably blocked, that the obstruction decreases his enjoyment of his property, and that removing the tree wouldn’t unreasonably decrease a neighbor’s enjoyment of his property.

While some views can be stunning and mesmerizing, even the slightest territorial view can affect home values and sales prices. Homeowners in San Francisco, Boston, Miami, San Diego and elsewhere are often spoiled and take for granted the number of water-view properties in their region, opportunities not available in most areas of the country.

For example, view homes are so common in West Seattle that an agent told me that a view was “not that important because you get used to it. You don’t even notice it after a while.”

So how do we determine a view’s value? In Southern California beach cities, agents and brokers have assigned values of ocean view properties by the “type” of water in the view. For example, a “whitewater view” (waves crashing, whitewater foam) is much more expensive than a “blue water view” (no coastline). If you can barely make out water in the distance, it’s tagged as a “horizon” view.

The value of a view will always be what someone will pay for it. In that regard, it’s similar to a home or a painting. You can establish a market value by comparable sales, but people will often pay more or less than the established price.

Nearly three decades ago, Burnell Thorley, a real estate appraiser, took a step to ascertain the value of a view of a vacant lot for his master’s thesis. Thorley researched 94 of the 614 lots in three large subdivisions and compiled statistics on each lot. By considering 14 variables, including the date of sale, shape, square footage, location, water and degree of view, he determined the value of the view.

In some cases, the view was worth 50 percent of the selling price of the lot.

A view can be foreground, middle ground or background. It can be man-made (noisy freeway) or natural (placid lake). The value has always been in the eye of the beholder.

(Reprinted from Inman News, Tom Kelly)

Although there may be other activities and events associated with these haunted attractions, the main event is probably the terrifying, horrifying, spine-chilling haunted house(s). You’ll find that typically they are not recommended for young children or people with weak hearts. Frankly, if you are squeamish or frighten easily, I probably don’t recommend these at all. But if you like a good, gruesome scare, you have plenty of haunted attractions in the Phoenix area from which to choose.

13th Floor Haunted House

Courtesy 13th Floor Haunted House

Arizona’s Original Scream Park

© AZ Scream Park

Loop 101 at McDowell Road in Scottsdale
480-444-2590
15 acres of terrifying fun with 4 separate haunts: Castle of Darkness (an old, medieval castle where creatures come alive and out of the walls at night), Gold Miner’s Revenge (over 30 minutes of fright as you wander through the Old West while the zombies protect their secret treasure), 3-D Fear Factory (an indoor maze all painted with 3-D paint where the creatures appear along with your inner most fears), Horror High (the creepiest school you’ve ever seen as zombies and ghouls run wild). Not recommended for children under 12. Check online for a coupon. Cash only when paying at the park. A 2-Haunt pass is $22 and the 4-Haunt ticket is $27. Check online for coupon. There’s also a charge to park.
In 2012: October 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25-31, November 1, 2, 3
See pictures of Arizona’s Original Scream Park from previous years.

The Crypt Haunted Attraction

© The Crypt

Fiesta Mall, 1445 W Southern Ave, Mesa
No phone number provided
You are welcome to check in and stay awhile. Dr Vantas will take gooooood care of you. At the Asylum, there is a difference between being startled, scared and grossed out. The Asylum manages to do all three with a macabre sense of humor. The actors are aggressive and the septic scene setting is in your face. A dark winding Gothic labyrinth of supernatural horrors, the suspenseful Crypt has a mysterious and eerie side. It is full of haunting surprises, demons, and monsters around every wrong turn. Whatever you do, don’t let the Crypt Keeper catch up to you! What about the Chaos Maze? Get lost and love it. Crypt and Asylum are not recommended for children under 7; all children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Single attraction admission (to either The Crypt OR The Asylum) is $13. Admission to both The Crypt and The Asylum is $18. Fast Pass Ticket $25. Chaos Maze $5 or a $2 add-on to a single or double haunt ticket. Check online for coupon.
In 2012: September 28, 29, October 5-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-31
See pictures of The Crypt from previous years.

The Nest Haunted House

© The Nest

The Nest is the first haunt in the world to develop a personalized terror experience, tracking it’s guests through the haunt. They’ll be greeted by name and have personal photos of friends and family flash right before their eyes. The Nest boasts more than $1 million in special effects and animatronics. Visitors will make their way through a horrifying maze of connecting sections, featuring Bleak – a terrifying, dark labyrinth that defines claustrophobia – followed by Mirror Maze, Turmoil 3D – a three dimensional experience – and culminating with a walk through the horrific rooms of The Nest, where Jacob Kell, the serial killer upon whom the attraction is based, will wait with personalized greetings. Nest is not recommended for children under 12. $25 per ticket, $40 per VIP ticket, discount coupons available online.
Rawhide, Chandler
In 2012: September 28, 29, October 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31
See pictures of The Nest from previous years.

The Panic Park

© The Panic Park

The Panic Park, a five-acre haunted house attraction has three main themed attractions: Haunted Hollywood Back Lot Tour, Hellbilly Hideout and the Toxic Waste 4D Maze. Youngsters and fear-averse adults may prefer The Panic Park’s less-freighting attractions such as the live stunt show “How to Train your Zombie,” a pumpkin patch, live Zombie Paintball and more. On select nights, the Park will feature a block-party atmosphere with live music. Tickets are $5 for general admission (grants access to the Park, stunt show, Zombie Paintball, includes parking), $27 for an all-access pass including access to the three haunts and parking, and $35 for an All-Access VIP Super Pass which includes all of the above plus VIP Parking and a Fast Pass to all haunts allowing immediate access to the front of the lines. No extra ticket charges for advance online ticket purchases.
The Pavilions at Talking Stick, 8800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale
In 2012: Thursdays through Sundays, September 28 – October 28, as well as October 29 – 31
See a picture of The Panic Park.

Vaseo Haunted Mansion

Courtesy Vaseo Apartments

Vaseo Apartments presents its Haunted House, open to the public, a “spook-tacular” event with zombies, clowns and frightening features. The blood-curdling success of last year’s haunting, which drew more than 3,000 fearless guests in two nights, has inspired the community to extend this year’s event to run for four nights. The haunted experience also features food, music, and activities, such as childrens’ costume contests, face painting, a bounce house, and “scary-oke.” Raffles will be held each night with prizes awarded. Tickets will be sold at the door for $2 per person, per entry. Proceeds benefit the local Washington Elementary School District, as well as North Canyon High School.
Vaseo Apartments, 16220 N. 7th Street, Phoenix
In 2012: October 19-20 and October 26-27 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m
See a picture of Vaseo Haunted Mansion actors.

Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.

The Legend of “Stingy Jack”

People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloweenfor centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns.

Market Summary for the Beginning of October

(Reprinted from The Cromford Report, 10/2/12)

In September we started to see a change from the summer doldrums that have hung around since June. Before we comment on what’s going let us examine the basic ARMLS numbers for October 1, 2012 relative to October 1, 2011 for all areas & types:

• Active Listings (excluding AWC): 15,562 versus 19,327 last year – down 19% – and up 8% from last month
• Active Listings (including AWC): 21,624 versus 26,869 last year – down 20% – and up 5% from last month
• Pending Listings: 9,714 versus 10,841 last year – down 10% – and down 4% from last month
• Monthly Sales: 6,719 versus 7,645 last year – down 18% – and down 15% from last month
• Monthly Average Sales Price per Sq. Ft.: $100.80 versus $80.33 last year – up 25% – and up 2.7% from last month
• Monthly Median Sales Price: $150,000 versus $114,467 last year – up 31% – and up 2.9% from last month

The change in price over the last 12 months is clearly impressive. There are very few occasions in which the average price per sq. ft. rises by 25%. The only previous time I know of is May 2005 to March 2006 and that was at the height of the bubble. A rise of 2.7% in the single month of September would also normally be startling, but we have got used to big numbers. When the market eventually gets back to normal we should expect to see 2.7% for a whole year, not a single month.

What we have seen is the “coiled spring theory” in action. Supply got extremely low last year but prices refused to react until the fourth quarter of last year. Now prices have moved substantially higher we are seeing signs of the market cooling. Supply is growing as sellers start to take advantage of the higher prices achievable. Some buyers have become discouraged by the amount of competition and higher prices and so left the market, resulting in some softening of demand. Sales volumes though ARMLS are well down. However this is somewhat misleading because a large number of real estate transactions are happening outside of the MLS. Deals between investors, new homes sales, trustee sales, pocket listings and private sales add up to a significant volume which is missing from the MLS numbers but captured by the county records.

In August Bank of America decided to create a new pool of REOs by foreclosing on an unusually large number of homes and setting the credit bid at the outstanding debt, so we should see REO inventory grow over the next 2 months. This will be good news for buyers who have struggled with ever decreasing stocks of REOs over the last 3 years, but the effect will be very short-lived. The age of the REO is almost over. Soon we will have to live with just a trickle. Short sales are down too, but will remain a significant part of the market for the foreseeable future.

September was a very quiet month for foreclosures and it appears that Bank of America stopped its REO creation program just 5 weeks after starting it. The number of Notices of Trustee Sale in Maricopa County was 2,690, the lowest total since July 2007 over 5 years ago. The number of recorded Trustee Deeds was 1,855, down 30% from August and down 34% from September 2011.

Although supply remains well below average, a cooling market trend has set in. Prices will continue to rise in October, but we won’t see frenzy again before next Spring. Below $200,000 we should still expect far too many offers for each listing, but patient and careful buyers will probably find things easier than if they wait until the market enters the silly season again next February.

In the meantime, the institutional buyers with deep pockets are still loading up on homes to turn into rentals. These include the Blackstone Group, Two Harbors, AH4R and American Residential. Smaller scale investors are still avidly picking up anything the big buyers leave behind. There is often not much left for ordinary home buyers, so they will welcome the current cooling trend, if indeed they notice it.

It’s OCTOBER!!!!

Here are all of the days and ways to celebrate this month…

Enjoy!

***We really like that this in National Pizza Month***

October, 2012 Bizarre and Unique Holidays

Month:

• Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
• American Pharmacist Month
• Apple Jack Month
• Awareness Month
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Clergy Appreciation Month
• Computer Learning Month
• Cookie Month
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Eat Country Ham Month
• International Drum Month
• Lupus Awareness Month
• National Diabetes Month
• National Pizza Month
• National Vegetarian Month
• National Popcorn Popping Month
• Sarcastic Month
• Seafood Month

Weekly Celebrations:

• Week 1 Get Organized Week
• Week 1 Customer Service Week
• Week 2 Fire Prevention Week
• Week 2 Pet Peeve Week
• Week 3 Pastoral Care Week

Each Day Year 2012:

1 World Vegetarian Day

2 National Custodial Worker Day

2 Name Your Car Day

3 Techies Day

3 Virus Appreciation Day

4 National Golf Day

4 National Frappe Day

5 Do Something Nice Day

5 World Teacher’s Day

6 Come and Take it Day

6 International Frugal Fun Day - first Saturday of the month

6 Mad Hatter Day

6 Physician Assistant Day

7 Bald and Free Day

7 Oktoberfest in Germany ends, date varies

7 World Smile Day

8 American Touch Tag Day

8 Columbus Day - second Monday of month

9 Curious Events Day

9 Fire Prevention Day

9 Leif Erikson Day

9 Moldy Cheese Day

10 Emergency Nurses Day- date varies

10 National Angel Food Cake Day

11 It’s My Party Day

11 Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day

12 Cookbook Launch Day

12 Old Farmer’s Day

12 Moment of Frustration Day

12 World Egg Day -  second Friday of the month

13 International Skeptics Day

14 Be Bald and Free Day

14 National Dessert Day - take an extra helping, or two

15 White Cane Safety Day

16 Bosses Day

16 Dictionary Day

17 Wear Something Gaudy Day

18 No Beard Day 

19 Evaluate Your Life Day

20 Brandied Fruit Day

20 International Newspaper Carrier Day -date varies each year

20 Sweetest Day Third Saturday of month

21 Babbling Day

21 Count Your Buttons Day

21 National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day find a recipe, too.

22 National Nut Day

23 National Mole Day

23 Tv Talk Show Host Day

24 National Bologna Day

24 United Nations Day

25 Punk for a Day Day

25 World Pasta Day

26 Frankenstein Friday - last Friday in October

26 National Mincemeat Day

27 Make a Difference Day-  fourth Saturday of the month, an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors.

27 National Tell a Story Day - in Scotland and the U.K.

27 Navy Day

28  Mother-In-Law Day - fourth Sunday in October

28 Plush Animal Lover’s Day

29 Hermit Day

29 National Frankenstein Day

30 National Candy Corn Day

30 Mischief Night

31 Carve a Pumpkin Day - no surprise here

31 Halloween

31 Increase Your Psychic Powers Day