CONTENTS | JULY | 2017
06 SPOTLIGHT It’s All in the Details
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10 TRAVEL
Escape to the Beach Communities of San Diego
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16 REAL ESTATE
Vistancia’s First Half 2017 Market Update
18 CRAFTS
Magic Moon Sand Recipe
20 HAPPY HOUR
Ten Summer Value Wines
24 PET FRIENDLY
Caution: Hot Surface. Caring for our Pets in the Arizona Summer Heat
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OPEN DOORS ARIZONA is published by Lion Tree Communications.
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SPOTLIGHT
It’s All in the Details By Stacy Dragos Agent, Century 21 TOMA Partners Owner, The Paint Shop, Inc.
WHEN MY HUSBAND, CHRISTIAN, AND I MOVED TO BLACKSTONE back in 2009 with our four children, it was evident that what you got for just over $1,000,000 wasn’t what you’d expect. It was previously bank owned and in pretty bad condition. Here’s a glimpse into the 4,441 square foot home when we moved in. But with a little creativity and years of hard work, we were able to transform it into something extraordinary.
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Above: Our living room when we moved in was nothing short of blah. Below: Completely transformed, the living room became everything we wanted.
Moving in, we realized we had a lot of work in front of us, but that actually added to our excitement. We knew this home had great potential. We were coming out of the recession, self-employed and raising four children. Creativity wasn’t an option, it was a way to get things done. But being a licensed residential and commercial painting contractor and having worked in some of the Valley’s most affluent communities for nearly two decades, you get to see firsthand the possibilities for transforming a space. So we were confident that we could make it happen. Here’s the before and after shots of our front courtyard area. Adding a courtyard wall topped with cantera copings and an interior fountain, a custom iron gate and additional landscape, not to mention a commercial misting system and surround sound, we created the perfect outdoor dining spot for hosting friends and family.
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Truly it felt as though we now had added another complete room to our home. The only difference was that this room was under the stars. >>>>
When your single story footprint takes up most
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of your lot space, it’s time to get creative.
Top Inset: Before shot of front of home. Above: The completed front courtyard.
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As our personal home projects wrapped up this past year, I added ‘real estate’ to my portfolio of licenses (along with k-12 teaching certificate and painting & flooring contractor). Occasionally I would tease Cristian, asking him “What’s next?” If anything, it would be general contracting, as we continue to expand our services to friends and family and have phenomenal subs with whom we work hand-in-hand. And as if our own renovation wasn’t enough, in 2015 we also helped finish the Salvaggio residence, a custom estate overlooking the course in Blackstone (see cover photo of this magazine). A recent job promotion took the Salvaggios out of state, and my newly added real estate license proved to be an amazing asset! In less than three weeks the home was under contract. We, too, recently sold our Blackstone home to an amazing family who fell in love with it from the beginning. Now we’re all off to new adventures! Some things are just meant to be.
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Taking a home from ordinary to extraordinary is what makes this process so much fun!
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Clockwise from Top: The family room renovation completed; in progress; the before shot.
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Clockwise from Top: The Dragos kids growing up in Blackstone. Cristian and Stacy at the November Member Welcome Back event. Golfing with Grandpa.
TRAVEL
Escape to the Beach Communities of San Diego Courtesy of San Diego Tourism Authority
Above: Windansea Beach La Jolla. Photo by Lisa Field, SanDiego.org
With more than 260 days of sunshine and 70 miles of sparkling coastline, San Diego definitely lives up to its reputation as California’s beach city. Tucked along this impressive stretch of sand are several vibrant beach communities with a style and personality of their own, where visitors can explore, let loose or just relax and experience the area like a local. 10
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The following are five favorite and distinct beach neighborhoods for visitors to discover this summer, offering something for every type of visitor.
Get Groovy in Ocean Beach Located north of Point Loma, the eclectic vintage beach town of Ocean Beach (OB), which still retains its 1960s feel, welcomes everyone with its friendly and laid-back vintage vibe. Popular activities include sunbathing, surfing, skateboarding at Robb Field Skate Park and strolling numerous surf stores, taco shops, thrift boutiques and the largest concentration of antique shops in San Diego along Newport Ave. and Voltaire St. Must-sees: OB Pier, the longest concrete pier on the west coast, stretches a half mile out to sea and is a favorite fishing spot. At
popular Dog Beach, visitors watch tail-wagging dogs of all kinds frolic in the surf off-leash. Best Bites: An OB institution for almost 50 years, Hodad’s serves up one of San Diego’s most mouthwatering hamburgers with a side of crunchy “frings” (onion rings and French fries). Top Sunset Spot: Nearby Sunset Cliffs, with its sculpted sandstone bluffs, transforms into a palette of vibrant oranges and reds as the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean.
Courtesy SanDiego.org
Bustling Mission Beach Located adjacent to Mission Bay, San Diego’s classic boardwalk beach town of Mission Beach resonates with a lively, youthful energy along nearly two miles of oceanfront paths and a multitude of shops, restaurants and bars along Mission Blvd. The bustling boardwalk is perfect for inline skating, beach cruiser cycling or people watching. Anchored by Belmont Park amusement park, there’s plenty of beachfront fun in addition to soaking up the sun. Courtesy SanDiego.org
Make a Splash in Mission Bay Located just minutes from downtown, the 4,600-acre Mission Bay is the largest man-made aquatic park in the world and home to SeaWorld San Diego, 27 miles of tranquil shoreline, soft sand beaches, bicycling paths, grassy parks for picnicking and barbecuing, and endless water activities from standup paddle boarding and kayaking to sailing and jet skiing.
Must-sees: The Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park, one of the top 12 historic roller coasters in the U.S. (USA Today), is as thrilling today as it was when it opened in 1925. Best Bites (and Brews): Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill is famous for winning “best fish tacos” at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. Tapping into San Diego’s celebrated craft beer scene, Draft serves dozens of local beers on tap and is a hot spot for a beachside brunch.
Must-sees: Guests can cruise Mission Bay aboard the Bahia Belle, a historic sternwheeler that by night becomes San Diego’s only floating nightclub. Open since May 2017, the new Ocean Explorer land at SeaWorld will feature exciting marine life encounters and a Submarine Quest ride.
Top Sunset Spot: The pool-themed decor of Cannonball, the largest oceanfront rooftop restaurant in San Diego, provides prime sunset viewing while enjoying delicious and inventive sushi and more.
Can’t-Miss Event: Closer than a trip to the tropics, the Catamaran Resort offers Polynesian food and culture during the annual Sunset Luaus, June 30–Sept. 1, 2017.
Insider Tip: For a respite from the bustling boardwalk, head to the wider South Mission Beach, which offers lots of room to spread out on the sand or join in some beach volleyball. >>>>
Best Bites: The first Rubio’s restaurant opened in 1983 in Mission Bay and introduced the world to “the original fish taco,” a tasty Baja food staple that is synonymous with San Diego beach culture. Taking seafood to another level, the Seafood Tower at Oceana Coastal Kitchen brims with the freshest, most delicious bounty of the sea. Top Sunset Spot: Fine dining and boutique wines pair perfectly with stunning sunsets along the bayside patio deck of Tidal restaurant at the Paradise Point Resort.
Courtesy Annie Pearson SanDiego. org
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Surf-centric Imperial Beach The southernmost beach town in California, located five miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, Imperial Beach (IB) features a 4-mile stretch of beach offering gnarly surfing, sport fishing, beach volleyball and horseback riding — the only beach in San Diego where visitors can ride a horse. IB is also a bicyclist’s dream; the new Bikeway Village offers a shopping and dining pit stop along the Bayshore Bikeway, which winds around San Diego Bay. Must-sees: IB Pier provides panoramic views of downtown San Diego to the north and Los Coronados Islands off the coast. Nearby Tijuana River National Estuary, the largest salt water marsh in Southern California, is a top birding spot with scenic nature trails for wildlife viewing. Can’t-Miss Event: On July 29, 2017, dozens of dogs take to the waves of IB during the annual Surf Dog Competition, America’s premier dog surfing event attracting thousands of spectators. Best Bites: The Tin Fish on the IB Pier serves up sweeping views, as well as tasty fish and chips. For fine dining, the new SEA180 Coastal Tavern makes a splash with Baja-Mediterranean fare.
Photo by Lisa Field, SanDiego.org
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Top Sunset Spot: Paying homage to IB’s proud surfing heritage, the landmark “Surfhenge” surfboard sculpture at the pier entrance is a great vantage point to watch the sun create a kaleidoscope of color. Visitors can relax on one of the 10 surfboard benches situated about the plaza.
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Picture-perfect La Jolla La Jolla, the multifaceted “Jewel of San Diego,” shines with a variety of beaches ranging from expansive shorelines to scenic coves and sea bluffs. La Jolla features three distinct areas to explore: La Jolla Village, featuring boutique shopping and fine dining along Prospect St. and a pristine cove for swimming, snorkeling and tidepooling; mile-long La Jolla Shores, with its surf shops, kayak tours and iconic oceanfront dining, and the Torrey Pines mesa, home of the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course, award-winning spas, Torrey Pines Gliderport (North America’s largest tandem paragliding/ hang gliding site), Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse. Must-sees: Sunny Jim Cave, the only known land access sea cave on the California coast, offers a mini adventure in the heart of La Jolla Village, which can be accessed through the Cave Store. The Children’s Pool, a sandy, crescent-shaped cove south of La Jolla Cove, is home to dozens of seals, offering fantastic photo ops from the seawall. Can’t-Miss Event: Green Flash Concert Series on Tide Pool Plaza at the Birch Aquarium, June 21–Sept. 20, 2017, features live music, savory bites, craft beers and wine. (At sunset, be on the lookout for a real “green flash,” a rare optical phenomenon when the sun glows green for a couple of seconds just before dipping into the sea.) Best Bites: The landmark Marine Room with its dramatic on-the-sand location and exquisite global-inspired menu has wowed diners for more than 75 years. For casual al fresco fare and craft cocktails with amazing views, head to the rooftop Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove. Top Sunset Spot: The historic, Instagram-worthy thatched-roof surf shack at La Jolla’s Windansea Beach frames the sunset perfectly as ocean waves crash against the rocky reefs.
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Courtesy Annie Pearson SanDiego.org
REAL ESTATE
Vistancia’s First Half 2017 Market Update By Benjamin J. Katz Benjamin J. Katz is co-owner and designated broker at Lake Pleasant Real Estate, the neighborhood boutique brokerage located in the Vistancia Marketplace.
In December of last year a number of national publications predicted Phoenix would be the #1 real estate market in 2017. Those predictions were on the money. The real estate market has been sensational through the first half of 2017 in the Phoenix area, including North Peoria and the Vistancia master planned community. North Peoria (85383) has seen a 26% increase in sales with 719 homes sold year to date (YTD) compared to 572 homes in the first half of 2016. Our zip code has also seen an 8% increase in values ($383k average sales price in 2017 compared to $354k in 2016). This is great news for homeowners looking to sell their home. Many homeowners are taking advantage of the increase in value to move up to something larger or newer and lock in mortgage rates while they’re still at record lows. Others are selling now to downsize and are paying cash or taking out a small loan to minimize their monthly expenses. Vistancia sales make up about 33% of all sales in 85383. Sales have been strong both on the resale side and new construction side. Vistancia only has a handful of residential parcels remaining to build on before they head over the canal and start building Vistancia North. Sales in the northern part are predicted to start in 2019-2020. Right now the developer and marketing team are finalizing a name for the northern part and then they will start locking down builders.
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Vistancia sales make up about 33% of all sales in 85383. Sales have been strong both on the resale side and new construction side.
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Trilogy® existing homes sales have been absolutely remarkable throughout the first half of the year. Trilogy resales have seen a 37% increase in number of homes sold, with 107 YTD compared to 78 in the first half of 2016. Values have spiked up 13% in the active-adult community!
about a month quicker than homes built prior to 2008. It is very important to update your home to what buyers are looking for if you want to sell your home at the highest possible price in the shortest amount of time.
One thing we are really noticing is the demand for highly upgraded or recently updated homes in Trilogy. Homes in Trilogy built in 2008 or newer are selling for $15,000 more on average and selling
Meanwhile, Blackstone sales are on pace for about a 25% increase in homes sold compared to 2016. There has been a noticeable increase in demand for homes in the $650,000-$1,000,000 price
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It’s Back!
$40 • $30 • $20 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST
range. Both Toll Brothers and David Weekley’s sales numbers are terrific and Blackstone should be completely sold out in the next 2-3 years. We are seeing a number of residents from Trilogy and the Village make the move over to Blackstone and join the club if they weren’t already members. On the mortgage side of things, interest rates have been a roller coaster since the beginning of the year. They are still incredibly low but many buyers are choosing to purchase now to ensure their payment will be low. With regard to refinancing, a lot of homeowners are moving to a 15-year fixed mortgage right now. Vistancia resident Jeremy Strunk with LendSmart Mortgage offers a tip for those who are still paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). “As long as your home has 20% or more equity, we can refinance you into a 15-year mortgage at a lower fixed rate and no PMI payments. Now these homeowners are paying down their mortgage balance much quicker at a similar monthly payment as before.
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CRAFTS
Magic Moon Sand Recipe By Vanessa Coppola Visit www.seevanessacraft.com for more creative ideas!
WE’RE ONE MONTH INTO SUMMER AND TRYING to find ways to entertain the kids indoors and out of the heat can be challenging. I’m a firm believer in allowing children to be bored. I find that their most creative ideas come out of boredom. However, I occasionally like to provide a few open-ended play ideas to harness their imagination. Sensory play is a great way to do just that and this magic moon sand recipe will keep them busy for hours! SUPPLIES 1 cup baby oil 8 cups all purpose flour INSTRUCTIONS Step 1: Add 1 cup of baby oil to 8 cups of flour and mix. You can mix with a spoon, whisk or I recommend a pastry blender. Feel free to double this recipe for a larger batch or multiple children. You can also add essential oils or food coloring to the mix, always making sure to supervise children. Step 2: Transfer the magic sand to a large play tray or water table. Add in small play shovels, scoops and toys. Toy dinosaurs or cars are always a hit when playing with magic moon sand! Step 3: Let the kiddos explore (supervising little ones, so nothing ends up in the mouth)! If you are playing inside, I recommend doing so over tile or an area that can be easily swept/vacuumed, as things might get messy during play. If you are worried about the mess, play outside.
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HAPPY HOUR
Ten Summer Value Wines By Robert Whitley Robert Whitley is publisher and managing partner of Wine Review Online, author of “Wine Talk,” a column syndicated nationally by the Creators Syndicate, a monthly contributor to the Reuters “Vine Talk” column, and director of the following international wine competitions: Critics Challenge, Sommelier Challenge, Winemaker Challenge and San Diego Challenge. www.winereviewonline.com.
Photo by Matt Wallace
It’s summertime and the living’s easy. So, too, should be the wines you drink. May they go down easy and be easy on your wallet as well.
Bolla 2012 Torr’Alta, Veronese IGT, $19.99. Where once the Bolla wines were reliable but never inspiring, today they are reliable and often brilliant. This red blend of indigenous and international red grape varieties is nothing less than stunning. It’s a beautifully balanced red wine for all occasions, from pasta to grilled meats.
I’ve selected a handful of superb wines that, in my humble opinion, over-deliver for the price. Some of these are perennial favorites, such as the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, and some are recent discoveries, such as the well-balance and elegant Stateland Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County in California’s Central Coast.
Buena Vista 2015 Chardonnay, Carneros, $20. Jean-Charles Boisset immediately set about the renovation of the historic Buena Vista Winery after purchasing the crumbling property several years ago. The result is a thing of beauty. JCB also went to work on the wines. This vintage of Buena Vista Chardonnay is a thing of beauty, too.
The common thread among all of these wines is their ability to hold their own when tasted side-by-side by significantly more expensive wines of the same type. For summer entertaining, all should please even the most discriminating wine enthusiast and make you the host or hostess with the most!
Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino, $25. The value in the Montalcino region is in Rosso di Montalcino, which is made in the same manner (100 percent Sangiovese) as the famed Brunello but typically from younger vines planted outside the strict Brunello boundaries. Castello Banfi puts as much effort into its Rosso as it does its far more expensive Brunello, and it shows.
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Francis Coppola 2015 Director’s Chardonnay, Sonoma County, $17. The Coppola winery is hitting on all cylinders and at all price points. The Director’s Chardonnay is a great example of the new California style, which puts more emphasis on the quality of the grapes rather than the quality of the oak. Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Sonoma County, $22. It’s hard to argue with anything Gloria Ferrer puts under cork these days, particularly its value-oriented Sonoma Brut. We love the complexity of Gloria Ferrer’s vintage-dated prestige cuvees, but for a non-vintage everyday sparkling wine the Sonoma Brut is unbeatable for the price. Kim Crawford 2016 Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand, $17. This Kiwi winery is renowned for its pungent Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s far from a one-trick pony. Its ultra-smoorth Pinot Gris is pure deliciousness. Navarro Vineyards 2016 Pinot Grigio, Anderson Valley, $16. Never be surprised by anything that comes from Navarro, the small family run winery located in the remote Anderson Valley district of California’s Mendocino County. Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, whatever the grape, Navarro nails it. They’ve nailed this Pinot Grigio, too. Noble Vines 2014 Pinot Noir, Monterey County, $14. Decades ago the conventional wisdom said plant Cabernet Sauvignon in Monterey County. Only problem with that was the climate. The northern end of Monterey is too cold (yes, even in summer) for Cabernet to ripen. But Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, early ripening grapes, do just fine. Well, this Pinot Noir is better than “just fine” and the price is eye-popping considering you wouldn’t think twice if it was listed at $35. Sartori di Verona 2013 Valpolicella DOC, Italy, $15.99. Sartori is one of the quality leaders in the Verona district of northern Italy, home of Valpolicella. This vintage is yet another splendid example of how much Valpolicella has improved in the past 30 years. What hasn’t change much is the pricing. It hasn’t caught up to the quality, which makes Valpolicella from a good producer one of the greatest values in red wine today. Stateland Cellars 2015 Pinot Noir Reserve, Santa Barbara County, $24. Blindfolded, I dare you to pick this as the cheapest Pinot Noir from a flight of otherwise $40 to $500 Pinots stocked by your favorite wine merchant. The highly regarded winemaker Adam LaZarre of Paso Robles is the hidden hand behind the scenes. LaZarre is a master at sourcing excellent gapes for his modestly priced wines.
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PET FRIENDLY
Caution: Hot Surface
Caring for Our Pets in the Arizona Summer Heat Let’s be honest. We all talk to our pets. And I don’t mean just the normal commands like: sit, stay, speak; I’m talking about complete sentences if not full-on (albeit very one-sided) conversations. Meanwhile, we also work to gain an understanding of our pets’ communication back to us, as they request (or in some cases demand) things like food, walks and bathroom emergencies.
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But when it comes to pain, pets are more often than not masters of internalization, showing little to no outward signs of the actual level of their discomfort or distress. Because of this, as pet owners we need to be vigilant in our observation and attentiveness to our pets’ behaviors, especially in the Arizona summer heat. “Being covered by fur works well in the winter, but it can make it difficult to manage the heat of a summer day,” said Douglas Aspros, DVM and former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). “Both dogs and cats dissipate heat by panting [and] as they get overheated, they pant more quickly trying to maintain a safe internal temperature.” So, when they’re exposed to hot conditions and/or vigorous exercise, your pet’s panting should be closely monitored so that you can recognize if it becomes excessive or if your pet’s breathing becomes labored. Certain breeds that have naturally compromised upper airways (like Bulldogs, Pugs and Shar Peis) are more susceptible to this condition. According to Dr. Aspros, these pets can even fall prey to heat stroke due to over exertion through panting. Increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling and weakness are also warning signs of possible hyperthermia. That’s your pet telling you that it’s time to cool things down – right away. Cease the activity, move to a cooler environment and provide cool water for your pet to drink.
Watch Your Step One of the most common dangers to a pet in the heat of an Arizona summer is contacting hot surfaces while out on walks. Keep in mind that while every surface is unusually hot when it’s 118 degrees outside, asphalt is much hotter than cement due to its dark color and absorptive properties. But pets’ paws can be in danger at much lower air temperatures than that. This is because ground surfaces retain heat and create hotter temperatures exponentially as heat and sun exposure continue.
If you’re going to walk your pet on a hot day, test the walking surface with the back of your hand for seven seconds. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it will be worse for your pet. We recommend you drive your pet to a grassy park, walk your pet early in the morning or after sunset, or purchase quality paw protectors before you embark on your stroll.
But it’s a Dry Heat No one who’s ever lived in Arizona needs to be reminded how hot it can feel in the summer, especially with direct exposure to the sun. Leaving a pet outside in that heat for extended periods of time can be dangerous. Make certain that when outdoors your pet has access to shaded areas throughout the day (keep in mind that as the sun moves, so does the shade), and provide lots and lots of water. Putting ice cubes in the water bowl will keep it cool longer. If you have a fenced yard, dog doors that give your pet free access to move in and outdoors at will are a great solution. There are also a wide variety of relatively inexpensive cooling pads for pets on the market.
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According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, an air temperature of just 87 degrees Fahrenheit can produce an asphalt temperature of up to 143 degrees! For some perspective, it takes less than 60 seconds for skin damage to occur at 125 degrees, and at 131 degrees you can fry an egg. And while these statistics represent the worst possible scenario – i.e. direct sun, no wind, low humidity and high radiant energy – that describes an Arizona summer in a nutshell! Magnifying this danger is the fact that our pets’ bodies are generally small and relatively close to the hot ground, leaving them even more vulnerable to becoming overheated.
From paw protectors to cooling pads to dog doors, there is an abundance of pet products available to help protect our furry friends from overexposure to the heat and the sun.
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Both dogs and cats dissipate heat by panting [and] as they get overheated, they pant more quickly trying to maintain a safe internal temperature.
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Douglas Aspros, DVM and former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
It’s Getting Hot In Here “Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle,” advises Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop, which is potentially fatal.” In fact, on a day when the outside temperature is 95 degrees (a very mild day in the summer here), the inside temperature of a vehicle reaches 114 degrees in just 10 minutes, and a suffocating 129 degrees in 30 minutes (source: Pet Plan). Imagine if it’s 110 outside! Thankfully, at least 16 states have laws protecting animals left in hot vehicles. In Arizona, A.R.S. § 13-2910 makes it illegal to leave an animal “unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result.” Yet we still hear in the news about instances of people leaving pets in hot cars “just for a few minutes,” sometimes ending in broken windows, citations issued for animal cruelty, or even a fatal outcome for the pet. And while largely unintended, these negative outcomes can easily be avoided. First, if it’s a hot day just leave your pet at home. Or, if you want to take your pet on a shopping
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trip, make sure the shop you’re visiting allows pets inside. Many shops and malls across the country now welcome pets (as long as you clean up after them, of course).
Just a Little Off the Side Giving your long-haired pet a trimming and brushing is a good way to control shedding, tangles and remove loose fur. But don’t get carried away. While some may think that drastically shaving their pet’s fur off will help keep it cooler in the heat, according to the ASPCA the layers of your pet’s fur actually protect it from overheating and sunburn. Keeping the furry members of our families safe, happy and comfortable is a big responsibility. In the summertime in Arizona especially, it is a full-time job. Remember that our pets rely on us for just about everything in their lives. And while it would be easier if they could actually answer us when we ask them how they feel, by paying close attention and following these common-sense practices, you’ll have the answers you need to care for them in the heat.