Guide To Phoenix

The Phoenix Light Rail may seem new, but its really a rebirth of a mode of transportation which used to exist in Phoenix. Central Phoenix used to have an extensive trolley system which was removed with the advent of the automobile. It's too bad that that happened, but at lease some people had the foresight and fortitude to preserve what was left. This was done by The Phoenix Trolley project.

Fall in Central Phoenix is warm and beautiful with lots of colors from all sorts of trees. A drive on Central Avenue or a run under the canoppy of Ash trees along Murphy's Bridle Path is almost magical, so is the crinkle of leaves under the foot or bicycle tire and the smell of flora of fall.

Below is a short video of what you can see now while in Central Phoenix.

#fall-colors-video#

I like the music too. It's bursting and vibrant just like the colors: bassy, clean and inspiring.

Instead of watching the video, get on your bike and see these colors and leaves live, crunch them under you wheels and smell them as the aroma fills the air.

With the fall season upon us Central Phoenix is in the midst of a beautiful colorful scene. Just a drive down Central Ave will perk up anyone's mood. The colors are extraordinary as the Ash trees loose their foliage. 

This is also the season to do some searious hiking. We're lucky here in Phoenix that even in the bustling central city area there is a huge mountain range, the Phoenix Mountains, that are home to miles upon miles of hiking trails with many tall peaks reaching into the sky and to those who venture up their rocky sizes and make it to the top, beautiful views and amazing sunsets.

I'm lucky to live next to the preserve and I make it a point to hike and run it alone or with my smooth fox terriers as often as I can, at least 3-4 times a…

When I visited Coronado Park in the Coronado historic district the tennis courts were full, there were people doing Thai chi on the tree shaded grass, a family was feeding pigeons and several people were exercising and stretching. The public pool was empty closed for season.

The main field was filled with water, the irrigation had filled it full and it looked like a lake, maybe a shallow swamp with wild grasses strewn throughout it. If you can narrow your vision like the photo below, you could be somewhere else, but this is the middle of the city, the middle of one of the older Phoenix historic districts with home from the early 20th century: homes over 100 years sold still standing and full of life, in fact invigorated by a new influx of…

The Coronado historic district is only historic in it's home type. In everything else it is a contemporary neighborhood occupied by creative and professional people, many of whom have make this little home rather beautiful and bountiful. It take a lot of talent to make a small home work, to nurture and bloom these homes and for the most part, people are succeeding. 

Beige is the color most difficut to find in Coronado: beige takes back stage role in favor of color and personality: beige is the for the suburbs of neo tuscan, modified ranch, and newer HOA restricted homes. 

[ Photo: Artur Ciesielski ]

Each house is different and unlike the beige dipped homes of the suburb, these historic houses tend to have many colors with green, blue,…

While ordering coffee. "I don't need a lid, thanks" I said. The nice girl replied, "I have to put on the lid for hot beverages. You can take it off after you leave the counter, but I have to put it on." All I could do is smile and take my coffee and dump the lid a few feet away before I sat down to drink it.

The Business of Real Estate

The business of real estate can and is often a stressful job, that is if one cares, about the outcome. When a client need to close on a home because he's moving here and an appraisal comes in completely off the mark, that's a problem that may or may not be resolve. It's stressful situation for everyone, even though it's one of the hurdles that comes up in some transactions, though it can't always to resoved to…

The fifty mile bicycle route meanders, in part, through the lush green streets of Central Phoenix, under the canopy of huge trees, expansive irrigated lots and historic homes.

The Phoenix Sonoran Bike-way is a 50 mile route stretching between Cave Creek and South Mountain with much of it going right down the center of Phoenix except for when it splits down Cave Creed Rd. or Dreamy Draw only to meet again close to Loop 101.

Jon Talton has an interesting series going on Rogue Columnist blog: Phoenix 101, a collection of articles about Phoenix in the past and how it relates and translates to the Phoenix of now.

The new addition is on Phoenix Malls - those quintessential Phoenix landmarks that are more than for shopping, they as moms with stroller indicate are for entertainments, a stroll or walk. In the summer they serve as the metro areas parks.

Park Central - first mall - now partially an office building and at Central a strip of restaurants from The Good Egg, Starbucks to Thai Basil, it's regained some status as a meeting place at lunch and the Starbucks at this location, I hear, is one of the busiest in the city.

The light rail stations, one on 12th Street and Jerrerson heading east and the other at 12th Street and Washington heading west are full of colorful mosaics, tapestries of tile and photos of people, homes and surrounding neighborhoods.

The area and station are nicer than I expected, in fact its got something attractive and enticing to it. Along the main streets there are lots of low profile business buildings and I'm sure many make the trip via the light rail to get to work here. Eastlake Park is the main residential neighborhoods with quirky small and older bungalow and ranch homes.

There is a townhome complex, Renaisance Park, within walking distance. I think with some effort this could be a really cool area. It's certaily worth a visit. Make sure…

Do you want to know what type of architecture styles are prevalent in Central Phoenix?

Then we've got the guide for you. This architectural guide presents many of the prominent styles common in the historic districts of Phoenix as well as Phoenix in general. 

We go into a history of a particular style, it's roots and sources with references in many cases.

In each description you'll be able explore further the neighborhoods where each style can be found.

We have many photos coming and are expanding the list as more articles are completed.

18 styles are now available: anything from Cape Cod Revival, to the Normal Revival Style, Tudor, Transitional Ranch and coming soon we'll expand the modern and contemporary sections as well as attempt…