My wife and I went to Arizona Mills this past weekend and enjoyed a day of window shopping and lunch at Johnny Rockets, our favorite burger joint!

As we made our way around the mall, we came upon the Rainforest Café, which is described as a “Wild Place to Shop & Eat”.  We have had lunch at the Rainforest Café twice before and we love the tropical rainforest setting with indigenous creatures all around you, but the best feature in our opinion is the large fish tanks at the entrance and in the dining room. This is a great place to take the kids.

So the next time you are enjoying one of our premier Vacation Rentals in Ph0nix, AZ that you reserved through Arizona Lodging Experts, you can make plans to visit the Rainforest Café and have your own wonderful adventure. If you want to secure your own Scottsdale Arizona vacation, just call the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350. They offer premier Arizona home rentals in many areas in the valley of the sun, including Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Desert Botanical Gardens

Make a day of it…the Desert Botanical Gardens are so close to the Phoenix Zoo.  Head to the Zoo early in the morning, enjoy the sights and sounds of the animals and then cruise on over to the incredible flora at the Botanical Gardens.  What is it about Arizona plant life?  Being in the desert the plant life is much different from anywhere else in the nation.  Our long hot summers would kill most other plant life.  Arizona plant life is displayed beautifully at the Botanical Gardens as you will see when you visit there.  You will find volunteers all around who are caring for the plants and will gladly chat with you about the different varieties of cactus and succulents which thrive in the desert climate.

Spring time is the best time to visit.  You can see the new blooms in an array of breathtaking colors on the cactus, trees and shrubs which are indigent to the Arizona desert climates.  On Sundays from Noon – 2pm on the Ullman Terrace you can enjoy live music.

You can also check out the Botanical Gardens on line at www.dbg.org and see all the events that are available.  You can have a guided tour, plan an event or celebration, view the beautiful exhibits, or check out the current list of events.

Current events at the Desert Botanical Gardens:

Through September 24, 2011 you can enjoy nightly flashlight tours of the wonderful gardens.  See the flora and fauna react to the evening darkness.  Every Thursday and Saturday through September 24 at 7pm

September 9, 2011 – 6-8:30 pm -  BIG BUG sculptures tower above the trails of the Botanical Gardens.  This event is for garden fund and patron circle members only.  Enjoy the infestation of David Roger’s Big Bug sculptures.  There are refreshments and music.  Bring along your flashlight … you don’t want to run into one of these life size creatures unprepared.  Reservations required.  You can also purchase a picnic dinner on site while the little ones enjoy creating their own bug drawings or bug tattoos.  What a fun night

September 10, 2011- General Members Opening Night:  David Rogers’ Big Bug Member Preview

September 12, 2011 – January 1, 2012 – Grand Opening viewing of David Rogers’ Big Bugs all created from natural materials.  Come see for yourself…these are grand size creatures.

The FALL CONCERT series in incredible and you should plan in advance.

The 2011 Fall concert series is every Friday from 7pm-9pm and the doors open at 5:30pm.

October 7-- Sonoran Jazz Project (jJazz – Motown

October 14– Domingo Degrazia (Flamenco – Spanish Guitar)

October 21 –Silver Thread Trio featuring the Rosano Brothers (Americana – Gypsy Jazz)

October 28 –Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta (Latin – Mambo)

November 4 –  Crossing 32nd Street Music Ensemble dives into a tribute to the Beatles

November 11– Fuerza Caribe (Salsa)

November 18 –Traveler (Violin)

Fall Festivals at the Gardens include:

October 14-16 – The Fall Plant Sale Festival

This is the time to purchase from the largest arid-adapted plants that are for sale in one location

October 20-23 - The Great Pumpkin Festival

This is the place to find that Perfect Pumpkin for Halloween – bring the kids and let them pick out that perfect Great Pumpkin

October 29-30 – Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

This is a Latin American, Mexican and American Southwest celebration for departed loved ones.  The celebration includes entertainment, story telling, dance and song.   In the Mercado you will find wonderful items for sale such as artwork, delicious pastries and wonderful food.

November 11-13 – Enjoy Chiles and Chocolate (Friday- Sunday 10am-5pm)

The Gardens will be full of spicy and chocolate delights.  Indulge yourself with wonderful treats of the southwest while enjoying your tour of the gardens.

Entertainment is provided by DJ Miguel Ivery.  Enjoy his hot Latin tempo and hot dance routines

The Menu for this wonderful event is:

Station 1: Dorrance Hall

Traditional Chili, Green Chili with Pork, Chicken Mole, Vegetarian Chili, Ghirardelli Chocolate Brownies, Sodas, Bottled water and lemonade.

Station 2: Boppart Courtyard

Fresh roasted chilies, chicken street tacos, both served with chips, red and green salsa

Station 3:  Butterfly Kiosk

Fill up with bean, rice and cheese burritos, green chili pork burritos, tortilla chips and salsa

Enjoy the wonderful music and dance, the incredible food, the amazing gardens and of course the wonderful Arizona desert weather.

Fall 2011 Avant-Garden – Thursday evenings 6pm-8:30pm

Local Arizona talent, food and music will be presented.  This season honors “David Rogers’ Big Bug” exhibit.  This is where you can learn about a different bug each week at the Discovery Station.

October 6 – Hail the Ale “Jon Schmidt” will present his knowledge of beer education.  This is an Oktoberfest inspired gathering with music from the “Bac Cactus Brass Band.

October 13 – In Bloom

Local fashion designers will present their new stylings to the tunes from local band “Covela”

October 27 – A Spirited Evening

Local Jester’z Improv Comedy will perform with local band Banana Gun

November 3 - Stop, Cook and Listen

Did anyone say HERBS, fresh from the garden.  Enjoy the cooking while relaxing under the stars and listening to bluegrass music

November 10 - Toast the Taste

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.  Wei of Chocolate and Fair Trade chocolatiers will present a chocolate array, organic wine tasting, and FourWayFree will perform acoustic pop-rock.

November 17 – Have You Heard

Poetry in the garden…HB and HomeBase Poetry return for an encore performance.

Location: 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ  85008 (in the Papago Park next to the Phoenix Zoo)

480-941-1225 (Monday through Friday)  Recorded Information:  480-941-1217

Hours:  Monday through Sunday year round – 8am to 8pm (7am for members on Wednesday and Sunday)

Admission:  Adults $15, Seniors $13.50, Students (13 to 18 yrs) $7.50, Kids (3 to 12 yrs) $5.00, Kids under 3 yrs are free

This is a great time of year to come to the valley and enjoy an Scottsdale Arizona vacation. There is an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy, especially if you are into fitness and outdoor fun. Many of our vacation rentals in Scottsdale Arizona are close to the miles of bike trails. They go from North Scottsdale through the greenbelt all the way to Tempe Town Lake. You can walk, bike, or run for miles through beautiful parks in Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix. Go to www.scottsdaleaz.gov to look for bike paths or other Scottsdale activities. There are many art fairs and outdoor festivals going on this time of year including several farmer’s markets. The weather is spectacular with warm temperatures and sunny, blue skies almost every day. There are a lot of people out and about enjoying fun in the sun in Scottsdale.

My wife and I had the pleasure of trying our friend Spencer’s homemade Seafood Spaghetti Sauce this past weekend, and we both agree, it was 100% delicious, not to mention the simple ingredients. It consists of Onions, Garlic, Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper, Heavy Cream, Mushrooms and Fresh Parmesan. All ingredients were blended accept for the mushrooms. They were added after blending so they could become soft in the reheating of the now creamy sauce. Trust me when I say “It was a work of art.” It was like watching a great chef in a famous restaurant show you how it’s done by making this amazing dish look about as easy as making a box of Mac and Cheese. Lucky for you, I documented the entire process with photos that can be seen in the following slideshow. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 Sweet Yellow Onion
6 Cloves of Garlic
12 Roma Tomatoes
1 Lb of Shrimp
6 Large Scallops
1 Lobster Tail
1 Package of Sliced Mushrooms
Heavy Cream
Fresh Basil
Salt & Pepper

We hope that you might find the time to try one of our many recommended recipes while enjoying a wonderful vacation rental in Arizona provided by Arizona Lodging Experts. Arizona Lodging Experts has been offering premier property management in Scottsdale, Phoenix and the surrounding area for over 12 years now. Contact them for all your rental needs in Arizona.

There are 15 major league baseball teams that enjoy their spring training in the valley. These games bring an abundance of winter visitors to Arizona who are seeking to experience an Arizona vacation while staying in Scottsdale Vaction Home Rentals. The Arizona Cactus league gives fans the opportunity to preview the teams and watch the games while availing themselves to our gorgeous weather. For general Cactus League information you can contact www.cactusleague.com. Guests can experience the more intimate stadiums at lower prices and even get to meet some of the players and grab some autographs. All the teams and stadiums are in Maricopa County so none are very far away. The new stadium in Scottsdale is already experiencing record setting attendance. You can contact them for ticket information at www.saltriverfields.com.  It is always a good idea to find Arizona home rentals early because they sell out very quickly before the season begins. The easiest and best selection of rentals in Arizona is found by contacting Arizona Lodging Experts.

I love to cook for my beautiful wife Lolis whenever possible, and there are several reasons why. We save money overall by not going out to eat, plus I feel that I can “whip up” a pretty darn good meal when I get the cooking itch! Case in point: This past weekend when I made Spicy Pork Chops with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Coleslaw and Sweet Corn. Total cook time took about 2 ½ hours and everything turned out very, very good.

I started by cooking the pork chops, since they need to cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours at 325. This way they can cook slow and easy and come out tender as can be. In our large casserole dish, I added a little extra virgin olive oil and about a ½ inch layer of beef broth, so the chops don’t dry out during cooking. Then I mixed the spices for the pork chops, which included the following ingredients:

Black pepper
White pepper
Kosher salt
Chipotle powder
Chorizo powder
Garlic salt
Season all
Lawry’s season salt
Mrs. Dash lemon pepper
Ground Coriander seed
California chili powder
Cayenne
Paprika
New Mexico Chili Powder

Nothing too heavy, all in moderation and light on all salty spices, so the perfect balance. Cover every pork chops front and back with the great spice mixture and put in the oven for the first hour. Set the timer. Once the timer goes off, you want to take the chops out of the oven for a moment, grab a spoon and “spoon” some of the juice in the pan over the chops to marinade even more, then put back into the oven for another 30 minutes to an hour. Make sure your chops DO NOT dry out. You can add more beef broth if needed. At this point, you would begin the additional sides you intend to pair with your pork chops so everything it finished at the same time. Here are our finished pork chops that cooked for 2 hours at 325 degrees. Doesn’t that look good…?!

My goal is this. I am hoping that one day, maybe a rental guests who might be staying in a wonderful rental in Arizona provided by Arizona Lodging Experts, the premier property management in Phoenix, AZ, Scottsdale, and many other areas, might see my blog and try one of my meals and give me some feedback. I know my wife Lolis likes my cooking, and so do my sister Acacia, my niece Caitlin and my Papa Rick, but I am dying for some outside feedback, good or bad. That is my wish for 2011.

Spicey Pork Chops

Cooked To Perfection

Pork Chops, Coleslaw, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Corn

Celebrity Fight Night Charity Event

The star studded charity event in the valley on March 19^th is one of the nation’s most elite fundraisers in the country. They raise more that $65 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center This year’s event features musical performances by rockers Matchbox Twenty and singer Kelly Clarkson, along with country singer Lee Greenwood, rocker Bret Michaels and “America’s Got Talent” finalist Jackie Evancho. Country music superstar Reba McEntire serves as emcee, and comedians Billy Crystal and Sinbad also perform. Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West, provide the after-party entertainment. Also attending the event are this year’s recipients of the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night awards: actress Halle Berry, GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons, former NBA and NFL owner Red McCombs and LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr.

If you are in town on a Scottsdale Arizona vacation, it would be a great charity event to attend. There is a dinner with live music and lots of celebrities. The event is at the JW Marriott in Desert Ridge. It is very close to most of our Scottsdale Arizona vacation rentals. It is alot of fun and a great cause.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa

5350 E. Marriott Drive Phoenix, AZ, 85054

PHONE: 602-956-1121

March 19, 2011

www.celebrityfightnight.org www.jwdesertridgeresort.com

PRICE: $1500 – $5000 : $1,500-$5,000

Montezumas Castle National Monument

In 1906 Montezuma’s Castle was recognized as a National Monument.  The Sinagua culture,  a native group survived in this area in the cliff dwelling and in huts along the waterways for centuries, long before Columbus discovered the “new world”.  The Verde Valley provided everything they needed to sustain the habitat they lived in.  The public has not been allowed inside the Castle for the past 50 plus years.  This is due mainly to its age and fragility.  Built into a cliff, you will find this 20 room apartment above Beaver Creek. This was not the only structure at that time, however, it is the only one that has survived time.   When you look through the windows you are peeking into America’s past and into the best kept cliff dwelling in the US.  Built by the Sinagua’s  nearly 1,000 years ago it depicts survival and amazing creativity in designing a dwelling to protect them from the blistering desert sun during the day and cool to frigid temperatures at night. At 9am every Sunday Ranger John will guide you through the Montezuma Well which is 11 miles from the Castle. The Well is the result of a collapsed limestone cavern allowing a million plus gallons of water to run through the well daily.  The fresh warm water that continuously flows created an aquatic habitat found nowhere else in the world.  For thousands of years this well has provided an oasis for humans and the local wildlife.   Here you will find animal species you have never seen before. NAU has been researching where the water is coming from and how it maintains its constant and consistent 74 degree temperature.  Somewhere deep in the layers of earth lies the secret of this well.   As you wander through the winding pre-historic dwellings you will find pueblo ruins and an irrigation ditch over 1,000 years old that is still used today by the locals.  In 1933 an excavation crew discovered the Tuzigoot Village, stabilized it and built a museum which holds the Tuzigoot People’s story.  Not a lot is known about the Tuzigoot people.  They were believed to be hunters and traveled along the Verde Valley.  The citadel is said to have possibly house 250 people in its 110 rooms.  The size of the city and the number of people caused them to create solutions to problems and learn how to live together and make good choices to survive.

The Montezuma Castle Visitor Center holds the largest displays of ancient Sinagua artifacts, approximately 23,016 items. They were known for their beautiful textiles and pottery.  You will find the displays incredible.

There is a lot of walking and the summer temperatures are extreme.  Dress appropriately, wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of bottled water to make sure you stay hydrated.  Winter temperatures can range between 14 degrees and 45 degrees, a vast difference from the summer temperatures.

Mailing Address:  Montezuma Castle National Monument, PO Box 219, Camp Verde, Arizona   86322

Visitor Center Phone:  928-567-3322 – Managed by the National Park Services

Park Headquarters Phone:  928-567-5276  Fax:  928-567-3597

Website:  www.nps.gov
Directions:  take the I-17 to exit 289 drive east approximately 1/2 mile to the red traffic light turn left on Montezuma Castle Road.

Hours:  June through August  8am to 5pm;  September through May 7am to 5pm (Closed on Christmas Day)

Montezuma Castle Admission:  Adults 16 and over, $5.00 (good for 7 days) Children under 16 are free

Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments – discounted rate for both together is $8.00 – ask for the pass if you plan to see both parks.  There is no admission fee to visit Montezuma’s Well.

This past Saturday, March 12th, it was 87 degrees here in Phoenix Arizona, so my wife and I decided to visit Desert Ridge Mall. Desert Ridge is less than 10 minutes from our apartment, so getting there was a snap! We decided stop by the Rock Bottom Brewery and have a cold beer before making our way to Fatburger for lunch. It was so nice to sit outside on the patio and enjoy a cold Pilsner beer with my lovely wife Lolis, while watching all the people “out and about” enjoying this amazing warm weather. I imagine all the visitors from out of state that are here enjoying a great rental property in Arizona are happy with this above average weather, especially our Canadian visitors. It has been a cold winter for many people. Many visitors that come to enjoy one of many Arizona home rentals do so because of the weather, so we welcome you with open arms.

After enjoying a few cold beers at Rock Bottom, we did a little window shopping as we past each store on our way to Fatburger. We like Fatburger more than In-N-Out burger, and of course a lot more than McDonalds and Jack in the Box. No comparison. Fatburger has well cook, made to order burgers which have a great flavor and fresh ingredients. I am glad we have a Fatburger so close to home.

If you have plans to enjoy a beautiful Phoenix or Scottsdale rental anytime soon, then contact the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts and they can assist you with your search. ALE “for short” can also help you with restaurant ideas, shopping ideas, you name it! They are the best at what they do and have proven so for over 12 years now. They are one of the only Phoenix Property Management Companies that can boast this.

Fatburger at Deset Ridge Mall

Great Burgers!

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

One of North America’s largest ancient structures ever built is known as the The Casa Grande Ruins or “Great House”.  The purpose of this structure is historically unknown.  Many have guessed but there is no written document or story stating its purpose or history.

There is evidence that Casa Grande was built by the Sonoran Desert people to create the ability to trade and provide irrigation farming which was in effect for over one thousand years and lasted till 1450.  The Sonoran Desert people left behind no history or written language documenting their existence at Casa Grande.  However in 1694 when Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived he started making journal entries to document his activities and the naming of Casa Grande or “Great House” as it has been known.  As time went by and others arrived in Casa Grande, documentation started to emerge reflecting back on what was seen and what was done. Articles were written by  Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza in 1775 and Brig. General Stephen Watts Kearny in 1846.  These and subsequent written articles started to spur interest in Casa Grande and during the 1860’s the area became so popular and well known that a twenty mile railroad line and and stage coach line ran through casa Grande.  This brought in more and more people and the area grew.  Consequently, as the town grew,  more damages and vandalism was done to the town, which is not uncommon as a town grows.

Archeologists suggest that the Sonoran Desert people are part of an earlier hunting culture.  As the climate became hotter and drier, the wildlife became far more sparse resulting in a difficult place for the people to survive without meat.  The introduction of corn turned them around from hunters to farmers.  Even though the climate was dry and hot they made due by creating irrigation with rivers and mountain run offs to keep the ground productive and the corn growing.  The Desert people, over time created a form  of pottery known as “red-on-buff”.  Much of this is displayed in the museum. Sunday, February 12 and 13, 2011 is the American Indian Music Festival at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.  This is thr third annual festival and it is a celebration of the prehistoric connection and continuity with today’s modern American Indian cultures.  The similarities are demonstrated through dance and music.  Arts and crafts made by the local artisans are available for purchase and this includes authentic American Indian food delicacies. 

1100 W. Ruins Drive

Coolidge, AZ  85228, 

Take Interstate 10 to the Coolidge exit, follow the signs to the park entrance.

Hours:   9am to 5pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (closed) – Managed by the National Park Services

Admission: $5.00 – Adults (16yrs and up); Children under 15 yrs of age – Free; School Groups call ahead to apply for “Educational Fee” waiver; Commercial Tours Groups – $5.00/person unless visitor has a valid “American the Beautiful” pass

Phone:520-723-3172

Website:  www.nps.gov