PHX Business Journal: 3 Valley restaurants ranked among best in the nation

Three Arizona restaurants were listed among the best in the nation by OpenTable, which gave out its 2014 Diners' Choice Awards earlier this month.

Here are the restaurants that received Diner's Choice Awards:

• Café Monarch - Scottsdale
• Kai - Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort - Chandler
• ShinBay - Scottsdale

The San Fransisco-based online restaurant reservation and review company complied more than 5 million reviews for more than 20,000 restaurants across the U.S. to develop its top 100 restaurants in the country. The reviews were all from verified OpenTable diners between Dec. 1, 2013, and Nov. 30, 2014.

Kai was not only listed among the top 100, but came in as No. 8 in the entire country. Kai is regularly mentioned in top lists, including being the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the state.

Arizona does not only have restaurants that rank among the top in the nation but also highly rated hotels and resorts. Yesterday I wrote about eight hotels and resorts in the state that were listed among the top 500 in the entire world.

RISMedia: Home Prices End Year on a Stable Note

Phoenix Business Journal: Sky Harbor recognized as airport of the year

Those messages over the intercom at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airportthat welcome passengers to "the friendliest airport" may not be just a marketing technique.

Sky Harbor was recognized recently as the airport of the year by the Transportation Security Administration, reports KTAR.com.

TSA awarded Sky Harbor with the honor because it provided "exceptional courtesy and attentiveness" to more than 42 million annual passengers while maintaining high levels of security.

The honor likely highlights improvements made at the airport, which had been criticized for a number of complaints against TSA last year.

Time to go take a hike in Scottsdale area

3 BEST TRAILS IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE

GRANITE MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL

How to reach it: Access from the Granite Mountain Trailhead,136th Street and Lone Mountain Parkway.

What to expect: There is parking and easy access to the Granite Mountain Loop Trail, though the site has no water or restrooms.

The Granite Mountain Loop "is definitely one of the most scenic in the north area of the preserve," said Scott Hamilton, Scottsdale senior trails planner. "It has lots of granite boulders, huge saguaros and great views of the surrounding desert and distant mountains."

From Loop 101, take the Pima Road exit north to Dynamite Boulevard. Head east on Dynamite, then north on 136th Street.

BROWN'S MOUNTAIN TRAIL

How to reach it: Brown's Ranch Trailhead, a little more than a mile north of the intersection of Alma School Parkway and Dynamite Boulevard.

What to expect: Reach the top of scenic Brown's Mountain via this trail.

It is a 3-mile round-trip hike to the top and back, Hamilton said.

"You also have the option of hiking to the top and then going down the north side of the mountain and returning to the trailhead via either the Upper Ranch Trail or Brown's Ranch Road," he said. "You can make a loop out of it."

It is one of the most popular hikes from the Brown's Ranch Trailhead, which opened in 2013.

CHOLLA MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL

How to reach it: Brown's Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Parkway.

What to expect: This trail is a little farther to reach, but worth it, Hamilton said.  "It lives up to its name, with lots of teddy bear cholla, especially on the east and south sides of Cholla Mountain," he said.

The path passes by a spot known as Cathedral Rock. The boulder formation has bedrock metates, where Native Americans would grind food such as mesquite pods, Hamilton said. Hikers also will pass another interesting rock formation called the Amphitheater, he said.

To reach the trail, take the Brown's Ranch Road Trail to the Corral Trail.

Arizona State Fair 2014 deal guide: Rides, food and more

You can save more and make the most of your fair day by choosing deals according to your personality:

Details:Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 2. Noon-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; noon-10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Arizona state fairgrounds, 19th Ave. and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $10; $5 ages 5-13 and 55 or older. (Purchase online by Thursday, Oct. 9, and pay $6, $3 children and seniors.) 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.

• Thrill seeker

Can't wait to ride the Mach 1 or experience the Insanity? Or is the Ferris wheel more your speed? If you love rides, the best days to visit are Thursdays and Sundays, when you can purchase unlimited-ride wristbands: $30 on Thursdays and $35 on Sundays. Wristbands are sold until 9 p.m. (Buy these online by Thursday, Oct. 9, and pay $25 for Thursday wristbands and $30 for Sunday wristbands.)

• Freebie-lover

Saving money is great, but getting something for free is even better. Visit noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, when you can get in for free. That's as much as a $10 savings.

• Must-have-everything-right-now-or-else-er

By all means, go on opening day and arrive when the doors open at noon. Admission is $2. Be sure to arrive before 5 p.m. if you want the discount.

• Dairy lover

If you're fond of milk, yogurt and cheese, the fair has a deal just for you. Any day of the fair, bring in a receipt documenting the purchase of three dairy items: one milk product, one cheese product and one yogurt product. All products must be purchased during the same transaction. In return, you'll save $3 off a regularly priced adult, child or senior admission. Not valid online or with other offers. Other restrictions apply.

• Foodie

Do you go to the fair for the food? If you want the best dining deals, visit from noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 17-31. That's when you can get select food items for $2.

• Philanthropist

If you like to make charitable contributions, visit Wednesdays for the "We Care Wednesdays" promotion.

Get free admission until 6 p.m. Wednesdays with a specific charitable donation. On Oct. 15, bring three cans of non-perishable food to benefit St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance. On Oct. 22, bring gently used jeans, backpacks or tennis shoes to aid St. Vincent de Paul. On Oct. 29, help homeless veterans through Arizona Stand Down when you donate an all-day Valley Metro pass.

• Happy-hour frequenter

The fair offers happy-hour prices noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31. Sample a variety of foods for $2 each at numerous vendors, plus play select games for $2 and go on select rides for $2.

• Stay-cationer

Start out early on weekends. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, admission is $2. That's a savings of up to $8 per person that you can spend on rides, food and entertainment.

• Young reader

Get kids ages 5-14 reading with this deal: Read three books and get three carnival rides for free. To take advantage of the deal, print a form at azstatefair.com (search for "Read & Ride").

Kids 7-14 must summarize the books; those age 5 or 6 may draw pictures. Forms must be signed by an adult. Students must be present to redeem the form for ride passes. Other restrictions and rules apply.

• Carpooler

If you want to save on parking, park in the half-price lot. You'll have to walk a little farther — the lot is on the southwestern corner of 19th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard — but you'll save $5. Parking in the main lot is $10. The half-price lot is open each day of the fair. Park for free on weekends at the State Capitol parking lot at 17th Avenue and Washington Street, and ride a shuttle to the fair. Free parking is available starting 6 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

• Grocery shopper

When you spend $40 or more at any Fry's Food Stores location, check the bottom of your receipt to find two free adult admissions. Bring the receipt to the admissions desk between noon and 6 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 17, 24 or 31, to get in for free. There's a limit of two admissions. You must have the original receipt to get the discount. Other restrictions apply.

• Mixer-and-matcher

The fair offers so many deals that you probably can combine several types of bargains, especially if you get the Passbook to Savings. Take advantage of as many deals as you can.

Fed keeps rates low, but brace for the inevitable: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Record-low interest rates will be around for at least a few more months, the Federal Reserve made clear Wednesday.

Enjoy the easy money while it lasts.

By mid-2015, economists expect the Fed to abandon a nearly 6-year-old policy of keeping short-term rates at record lows. Those rates have helped support the economy, cheered the stock market and shrunk mortgage rates. A Fed rate increase could potentially reverse those trends.

Mortgages could cost more. So could car loans. Investors could get squeezed.

Fed keeps rates low, but brace for the inevitable: Associated Press

Fed keeps rates low, but brace for the inevitable: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Record-low interest rates will be around for at least a few more months, the Federal Reserve made clear Wednesday.

Enjoy the easy money while it lasts.

By mid-2015, economists expect the Fed to abandon a nearly 6-year-old policy of keeping short-term rates at record lows. Those rates have helped support the economy, cheered the stock market and shrunk mortgage rates. A Fed rate increase could potentially reverse those trends.

Mortgages could cost more. So could car loans. Investors could get squeezed.

Fed keeps rates low, but brace for the inevitable: Associated Press

Realtor.com® Report: Healthiest End to Spring Home Buying Season in Three Years!

For the first time in three years, the peak home buying season is bucking its usual slowdown, showing nationwide price and inventory increases, according to therealtor.com® July National Housing Trend Report.

“This is the first time, since the beginning of the recovery, that we expect to see positive momentum throughout the second half of the year,” said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for realtor.com^®.

For the past two years, the housing market saw external economic factors overshadow the gains made during the peak home buying season of April to July.

But not this year, Smoke said.

“This year, we’re ending the traditional season with high buyer and seller confidence demonstrated by price appreciation, increases in inventory and quick home sales,” he said.

Downpour wakes up metro Phoenix, shuts down freeways, floods streets

IT'S A RECORD!!! Phoenix Sky Harbor 2.96 in. of rain breaks the all-time calendar day record total previously 2.91/1933.

How much will $100 buy in your state? A Benjamin is worth $116 in Mississippi, but only $85 in Hawaii Read more: http://www.dailymail.c

Newsday: Reverse mortgages: the basics

I'm 89 and my wife is 85. We're on a fixed income and find it very difficult to pay our bills, even though we're very frugal. We've been married 67 years. Is it a good idea to get a reverse mortgage on our home of 50 years?

It certainly sounds as if you should consider one.

---

I can't squeeze reverse mortgages into a single column, so this will be the first of two; the second will appear next week. This week: the basics. Next week: the potential pitfalls.

These loans are available only to homeowners who are 62 or older. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the appraised value of your house and the government's estimate of future interest rates. Currently, an 85-year-old can borrow 63.5 percent of the appraised value of her house, says Mike Temares, a HUD-certified reverse-mortgage counselor at Nassau County Family and Children's Association, but this percentage may become smaller after Aug. 3.

You must use part of the loan to pay off any existing mortgage. You can take the rest as a lump sum, a line of credit, monthly payments or any combination of the three. None of it is taxable.

As long as you pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums, no payments are due on the reverse mortgage loan until you move, die or sell the house. Then, you or your heirs must repay the loan plus accrued interest and fees. But your total debt can't exceed the market value of the house. If it sells for less than you owe the bank, federal insurance pays the difference. The cost of this insurance is included in the price of the reverse mortgage.

The bottom line A reverse mortgage can be a good source of income if you're 62 or older, house-rich and cash-poor.

Read the entire article

The True Impact of Mortgage Defaults on FICO Scores

Source: Fair Isaac Corp./ FICO

Read article:  http://thepowerisnow.com/magazine/2014/07/the-true-impact-of-mortgage-defaults-on-fico-scores/

Zagat names top 11 restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale

Zagat recently released a list of the "11 Hottest Restaurants in Phoenix and Scottsdale."

Dallas-based Farah Fleurima wrote the list for the restaurant guide company, which is owned by Google.

We've eaten at all of Fleurima's picks, and our opinions are pretty well aligned. Here's what we said about each place.

Details: zagat.com.

Southern Rail

300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. southernrailaz.com.

AZCENTRAL

5/30: Justin Beckett's Southern Rail to open in Phoenix

Crudo

3603 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-358-8666, crudoaz.com.

AZCENTRAL

Seftel Top 10

Nobuo at Teeter House

Heritage Square, 622 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-254-0600, nobuofukuda.com.

AZCENTRAL

Top 10 restaurants for small plates in metro Phoenix

The Gladly

2201 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-759-8132, thegladly.com.

AZCENTRAL

Review: The Gladly resembles older brother, 3.5 stars

Pizzeria Bianco

Heritage Square, 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-8300, pizzeriabianco.com.

AZCENTRAL

Top 10 pizza restaurants in metro Phoenix

Sweet Republic

6054 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-535-5990. Also, 9160 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-248-6979, sweetrepublic.com.

AZCENTRAL

Restaurant Gems: Sweet Republic perfect for AZ summer

ShinBay

7001 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-664-0180, shinbay.com.

AZCENTRAL

Seftel: Top 10 Japanese restaurants in metro Phoenix

Bink's Midtown

2320 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix. 602-388-4874, binksmidtown.com.

AZCENTRAL

Top 10 vegetarian restaurants in metro Phoenix

The Henry

4455 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-429-8020, foxrc.com.

AZCENTRAL

Photos: Sam Fox's 15 restaurant concepts

The Local

1011 N. Third St., Phoenix. 602-441-4333, iamthelocal.com.

AZCENTRAL

First Bite: The Local in downtown Phoenix

Otro Cafe

6035 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-266-0831, otrocafe.com.

The 10 Best Cities to Raise Children Scottsdale ranked as number 1!

Ranking was determined by:

• Crime Rate
• Public School Ranking
• Public Parks Per Capita
• Average Family Salary
• Cost of Living

Number 1 is Scottsdale, AZ, followed by:

• Fremont, CA
• Irvine, CA
• Chandler, AZ
• Raleigh, NC
• Plano, TX
• San Diego, CA
• Honolulu, HI
• Henderson, NV
• San Jose, CA

It became clear very quickly these two things were the most important of the five criteria we used to judge the best cities to raise your children. No city ranked worse than 28th in crime rate, and all cities were 17th or better in public school rank. It seems that parents are concerned with these two things the most, so it was no surprise it was a huge factor. What did surprise us was that every city in the top ten had a relatively high cost of living, but we surmised that this was simply due to the high average income, and that you possibly have to pay a little more for the perks.

Which Mortgage is Right For You?

Selecting the perfect mortgage for your needs can be a difficult choice. You want to make sure that you'll be able to make the payments, and save the most money in the long run. Even though there isn't a bad choice when it comes to different types of mortgages, it's essential that you choose the best loan for your needs and expectations. 
Read more...

Summer Cooking Classes at Sassi with Chef Christopher!

If you've ever dreamed of learning to cook Italian under the instruction of a renowned chef now is your chance! Chef Nicosia's intimate Food + Wine Series canvasses the cuisine of Italy from the coasts to the wine country. Space is filling up quickly for individual classes and the full summer course. Sign up today! www.sassi.biz

Say Goodbye to the Decades-old Pinnacle Peak Patio!

You will still have time to visit this Western themed restaurant, as the family hopes to stay in business at the current location through 2015 and then relocate the restaurant to a new location.

Read the article

Choose Your 5 Top Priorities When Shopping for a Home!

Make it easier on yourself, when shopping for a new home.  Make a list of your top  "must haves".  Then whittle it down to 10, or better yet, 5.

Read the entire article

Tips to Keep Scorpions Out of Your House!

If you live in the Valley, you know that the nasty little devils are inevitable.  There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of finding one in your home, besides investing in the blue scorpion light and begging your husband to get up in the night and kill them for you!

Read the entire article.

Take a peek at your favorite celebrities' homes!

Get a glimpse of the homes of our celebrity favorites!  From Jessica Simpson to Michael J. Fox.

 Take a look!

Do you love golf? Check out these hidden gems!

Everyone has heard of some of Scottsdale’s top courses like Grayhawk, Troon North, and TPC Scottsdale. With such notable courses like those, other courses that are as equally exceptional might go unnoticed.

Take a look at these photos!

Pink Full Moon April 15th!

Friday, April 25th Artopia!

NFL: The Pro Bowl Coming to Phoenix Next Year!

Arizona will not only host this season's Super Bowl, but also the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced on Wednesday. 

The Pro Bowl will be played on Jan. 25, 2015, a week before the Super Bowl, at University of Phoenix Stadium and televised live on ESPN at 6 p.m. It will be the first time the game will be played in Arizona.  Read Article

Have you, or someone you know, lost a home through short sale or foreclosure?

If you lost your home in a short sale or in a foreclosure, you would normally have to wait 36 months to purchase a primary residence again with an FHA fixed-rate mortgage. However, the FHA Back to Work Program allows a buyer to purchase a primary home just 12 months after a foreclosure, short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Do you qualify?  

Do you have a pool? Think Liquid Pool Covers!

SRP:  Reduce evaporation (30 to 50%) from your pool (and reduce heat loss)  

Pool water fact: With more than 300,000 pools in Arizona, the water lost to evaporation each year is significant. The average pool contains 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of water and evaporates its entire contents each year.

The cost is relatively inexpensive, about $3 a week!  Check it out!

3 Reasons to Sell Your Home this Spring

by The KCM Crew on April 8, 2014

1. Demand is about to skyrocket

Most people realize that the housing market is hottest from April through June. The most serious buyers are well aware of this and, for that reason, come out in early spring in order to beat the heavy competition. We also have a pent-up demand as many buyers pushed off their home search this winter because of extreme weather. Sellers in markets where seasonal weather is never an issue must realize that buyers relocating to their region will increase dramatically this spring as these purchasers finally decide to escape the freezing temperatures of the winters in the north.

These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!

2. There Is Less Competition - For Now

Housing supply always grows from the spring through the early summer. Also, there has been a growing desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners have seen a return to positive equity as prices increased over the last eighteen months. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future.

The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don’t wait until all the other potential sellers in your market put their homes up for sale.

3. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by approximately 4% this year and 8% by the end of 2015. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with an interest rate at about 4.5% right now. Freddie Mac projects rates to be 5.1% by this time next year and 5.7% by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Moving up to a new home will be less expensive this spring than later this year or next year.

36th Annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival

The 36th anniversary of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is the longest running event of its type in the nation. The Festival has grown to a community favorite hosting over 35,000 guests, 20 events, 100 restaurants, dozens of top chefs and countless fine wine and spirit selections.

The six day festival offers a diverse menu of luxurious dinners, themed cocktail parties and our signature event, the Great Arizona Picnic featuring 50 restaurants, chef demonstrations, live bands and specialty tasting venues.  

Since 2002, the League has donated over $3.8 million to arts organizations in Arizona.  This is an excellent (and inexpensive) way to sample the cuisine from a wide variety of local restaurants.  


Get the details