The Press

I have recently found a wonderful place to meet friends and colleagues. It is a coffee shop with the atmosphere of gathering. The Press located in City North. You have heard me taught the excitement of City North. It is wonderful to feel the energy of this new development. The Press is a great place to sit back and enjoy lunch, wine or a great cup of coffee. The name "Press" is the combination of coffee French press, panini press, and wine press.Being from the great Northwest, we pride ourselves in knowing the best place to find a shot of espresso or a caramel macchiato. We take a lot into consideration when finding the place that we get our daily espresso, or 5 lattes a day. The first importance is the coffee. We don’t want a cup that is bland and definitely one that is not over roasted. The Press has found a great coffee roast to start with. Then you need a barista that knows how to put your drink together. The coffee is important but service is what makes us come back again and again. It is like the show Cheers. We need a place that we feel we belong. As I waited for my venti skinny vanilla latte, recently I had an opportunity to chat with Lisa. She happened to also be from the Northwest, Vashon Island. Although much younger than myself, she was interested in hearing my stories of Bellevue, when I moved there as a kid. Before I knew it, all the baristas were listening in to our conversation. Interested in knowing how people survived rain every day. Of course, I told them it was coffee houses like this that made your day. I then had an opportunity to talk with Steve the owner. He was there to accommodate my every need. We talked about the success of the opening night Block Party at City North and of course about all his great creations on the menu.The Press does not only offer a great cup of coffee (or latte), but has a variety of panini that are wonderful. It also has a great selection of wine for evening gatherings. This Friday they are offering a wine tasting of 4 different selections. A great way to come experience this truly great place. I hope to see you there.

Block Party

Many of my clients have shared their childhood stories of growing up in the Phoenix area. Their families would pile into the back of the station wagon and drive a short way up north to a favorite picnic spot in the desert. A special rock outcropping would help them to remember where to park. The kids would run around and explore the vast desert while the parents enjoyed the fresh air and relaxing moments without having to travel too far. I like to ask them if they could pinpoint on a map exactly where is this picnic location and often they point to the Desert Ridge area just north of the 101 and east of Tatum Boulevard. It was such a special treat to enjoy clean desert living, good food and entertainment, all so close to home.Today, the Phoenix metropolitan area is the fifth largest city in the country. Our great city has grown in leaps and bounds but still retains its unique characteristics remembered so fondly by the Phoenix “old-timers”. The Thomas J. Klutznick Company (www.tjkcompany.com) and the Related Urban company (www.related.com), co-developers of the exciting new project called CITY NORTH, take the ‘desert good life’ very seriously. Their vision for this project consists of a wonderful urban village where people can enjoy the Arizona life to the fullest. Please join me each week as we delve into the various components of this fascinating project. Learn about what retail shops and restaurants are coming and when they will be opening their doors for business. Discover all the housing options that are included in this urban village. Learn how the developers have designed the buildings with the goal of achieving the LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), from the U.S. Green Building Council. I look forward to your questions and comments as we watch this project unfold before our eyes.Today, I want to announce the Grand Opening celebrations taking place from November 13-15th. Please click on http://www.citynorthaz.com/ for all the details planned for this event. I know I’ll be there breathing in the fresh Arizona air, maybe eating some good food and enjoying some of the entertainment that is planned. The old saying, “the more things change, the more things stay the same” comes to mind. Whether it’s the location of this project or the extraordinary efforts the developers have taken to design and build a unique urban village, I just feel this is going to be a very special place to live, work and play!

City North

Working and living in the Desert Ridge, CityNorth area of town I have viewed many exciting developments. Hard to imagine that Desert Ridge is nearing its 7th anniversary. We have come to make it such an intricate part of our lives, whether networking for business, meeting a friend for lunch or catching a movie with the family.It is exciting to be living in a vital growing area. It is hard to imagine that when I drove into to town in 2001, I had trek through the construction of the 101. It was only open to 19th Ave. Desert Ridge was under construction and Highway 51 ended at Bell Road.Now we are looking forward to the opening of City North, a premier shopping, living and business center. It is being referred to as a “Posh Urban Oasis”. Offering us art galleries, entertainment, fine dining and upscale shopping. We are all anticipating that November 13th opening of High Street. In time for our holiday shopping we will be able to enjoy the opening of 46 retail boutiques and several new names to Phoenix in high end restaurants, Ocean Prime, 25 Degree and Blue Martini for a few. We will have Guess, Chico’s and many more prominent names.Being from the Seattle area and working for Nordstrom in high school, I am very excited to see the opening of the new Nordstrom’s store in 2010. And I have never set foot in a Bloomingdale’s, but know of the excitement it creates in my East coast native friends. Of course the new Macy’s will also be a great addition.CityNorth is simply AWESOME. The addition to our already thriving Desert Ridge area is going to be second to none in our Valley. Stand proud Phoenicians we will be the destination.