Phoenix Light Rail news and information

Fat Tuesday on Mill Rockin the Mardi Gras

by Rail Life on February 5, 2010

Fat Tuesday on Mill Avenue in Tempe has been around for 20 years! Why? Because they do things right. I’m pretty sure that our friends at Monti’s, are the only place along the Mill Avenue District that have been around longer.

Yesterday, I met with my friend Chad who owns and manages Fat Tuesday in Tempe and talked about a bunch of the cool things they are doing to celebrate Mardi Gras on Mill Avenue. Chad is celebrating their 20 year anniversary BIG time! In fact, the celebrations have already started with a ramped up menu featuring some GREAT food ( trust me, it’s good, you need to check it out ) and by throwing the biggest Mardi Gras party Tempe has ever seen. The Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras promotion started last Saturday and runs for 18 days with their blow out on Fat Tuesday on the 16th. Yes, mark your calendar for Fat Tuesday on February 16th.

Each day leading up to Fat Tuesday has something different. Today, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman will be on hand to give the “official proclamation of Mardi Gras” at 4:30pm.

Sunday, they are throwing a HUGE New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Party. If you are looking for a place to watch the big game, you probably can’t go wrong here!

Saturday the 13th is a “frat boy” crawfish eating contest where the winners get a $500.00 bar tab. Oh, my… I can’t wait to see that one. I wonder if they will let an “old man” enter?

Another “can’t miss” event will be their suitcase party where one lucky couple will win a trip to New Orleans to party it up on Bourbon Street! I guess the only down side to that will be the fact that you will miss the madness on Mill.

It all leads us up to Tuesday the 16th for the big Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday on Mill Avenue. As you know, light rail is probably your easiest way to join in on the fun. If you don’t live close, just leave your car at one of the free Park and Ride lots and take the light rail to the 3rd Street and Mill Avenue station. From there, it is a short walk south to Fat Tuesday at 680 S Mill Avenue. Check out this video of Chad giving us the scoop…

Here is a recent press release sent out by our friends at the City of Tempe. It has a few more details…

Fat Tuesday celebrates 20 years on Mill with Carnival music, food, and free trips

Fat Tuesday celebrates 20 years on Mill Avenue this year, making it older than any drinking establishment on Mill, other than Monti’s, which is classified as a restaurant.

“I believe in Mill Avenue, said Chad Wilford, an owner and general manager of Fat Tuesday. “No other city in Arizona offers what Mill Avenue has.”

Beyond his involvement with Fat Tuesday, Wilford leads the Mill Avenue Coalition, a group of businesses that have joined hands to make Downtown Tempe better. “I grew up in Tempe, I went to school in Tempe and have lived in Tempe. I have a deep rooted love for the city,” he said.

This year, as part of the anniversary, Fat Tuesday is celebrating not just one day of Mardi Gras but all the days of the season of Carnival. Food is a big part of Cajun celebration.

Fat Tuesday once had a comprehensive menu, but as times changed, the menu was greatly reduced. According to Wilford, many of the dishes being returned to the restaurant are the same recipes used 20 years ago.

“I have rolled out a menu that pays tribute to the city in which we were founded,” he said.

The Fat Tuesday parties are as flashy as the city best known for their celebration. On Friday, Fat Tuesday begins its Carnival celebration with a proclamation from Mayor Hugh Hallman. There’s a crawfish boil every Friday and Saturday through Feb. 16. On Feb. 13, there’s a crawfish eating contest between ASU Fraternities vying for a $500 gift card. On Valentine’s Day, there’s a Suitcase Party, where two people will win an immediate trip for two to New Orleans that includes spot on Bourbon Street balcony to watch the celebration unfold. Bring your packed suitcase – you leave right after the drawing for the airport. And for those still in town on Fat Tuesday, the bar will have a namesake celebration starting at 11 a.m. with zydeco music, crawfish, music and beads.

Fat Tuesday is located on Mill Avenue and Sixth Street. Parking is available throughout the downtown. Best light rail station is Mill Avenue at Third Street.

More details?

Fat Tuesday visit www.mardigrastempe.com

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Fidelity National Title looks at current real estate market

by Nick Bastian on February 4, 2010

In Tempe, the Hayden Ferry Lakeside buildings have to be considered one of the coolest places around. I am fortunate to spend quite a bit of time visiting Fidelity National Title’s corporate offices located on the 11th floor of this amazing facility with top notch office space and views to die for. The Hayden Ferry location on Rio Salado just North of the light rail station at Third Street and Mill is easy to get to if I am driving or taking the train. For me, that’s another win.

A recent article in DSnews titled, Arizona Real Estate Market Shows Signs of Recovery, features my friend Steve de Laveaga from Fidelity National Title and Michael Orr of The Cromford Report discussing market trends and conditions. I always love to see national news focusing on local markets rather than trying to paint one broad picture of the entire real estate industry. Real estate is more local than national and can change dramatically from one area to the next. In the article, Michael mentions that “pending sales in the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service are at a record level for January, signifying an increase in demand. This positive sign of market activity is a critical indication of recovery for Arizona’s real estate market.” Of course, this is not to say we are anywhere near a “boom” in the Tempe real estate market, but it does appear that many feel like the bottom may have been hit and that the road to recovery is near. Michael goes on to mention that “2010 won’t see a dramatic shift, but we can expect to see a shallow, upward trend across the market.”

In the article, Steve gives some good examples of what is happening in the short sale and foreclosure market. I always enjoy talking to Steve about the foreclosure and short sale markets and find him to be a great asset in keeping up on this ever changing topic. The monthly “mastermind meetings” held at the Fidelity offices allow several of us to meet on a regular basis to keep up on what is clearly the biggest part of the real estate market right now and will be for quite some time.

“The last three months of 2009 saw a 60 percent increase in short sale closings,” – Steve de Laveaga, SVP at Fidelity National Title in Tempe.

As the market turns and as people find prices to be at more affordable levels than they have seen in years past, I believe we are getting back to a location based real estate market where people are looking to make much better decisions than they made in the past. Obviously, I feel that homes near the light rail make a lot of sense for many people. The location, convenience, and now the pricing is getting a lot of interest from many types of people.

Congrats to my friends at Fidelity for the mention in the article and thanks for always being wiling to help and share some very interesting and valuable information. Let’s keep on “rockin’ the Rail life.

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Tempe is Bike – Friendly

by Rail Life on February 2, 2010

There is often talk about the fact that Tempe is bike friendly. As one that doesn’t ride a bike nearly as much as I should or would like to, I can’t exactly talk as much about being bike friendly as some of my friends can.

In Tempe, we have bikes AND we have friendly people: I was reminded of this on a recent visit to Corleone’s Philly Steaks on Mill Avenue. After taking the kids to Tempe Beach Park, we were hungry and walked just a bit south of the light rail station at 3rd Street and mill to grab a bite to eat.

Once we decided on Corleone’s, it took us a few minutes to figure out what we wanted. Have you ever tried to order lunch with two 4 year olds and a 5 year old in tow? It ain’t always easy. As my kids tried to test our patience and raid his tip jar, I was watching the owner talk to them like he was their long lost buddy. Actually, our new friend Keith at Corleone’s was more than friendly and helpful. We ordered their signature steak sandwich “whiz wit” and fries. It was an easy choice because a few people eating lunch at the same time told us how good they were. The sandwich was great and the kids LOVED the fries. I remember my son saying… “Daddy, can we come back here again?”

If you find yourself hanging out on Mill Avenue and lookin’ for a taste of Philly, you should stop by and say “Hi” to Keith at Corleone’s. Ask him the story behind the bike in this picture, it’s kind of funny. Oh, and tell him Rail Life says “hi.”

Corleone’s Philly Steaks is located at 411 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281

Valley Metro asking people to leave the car at home.

February 1, 2010

Phoenix, AZ (Feb. 1, 2010) — Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority is making it easier to conquer the commute this February, as it visits workplaces to help workers find alternatives to commuting alone.
Valley Metro and Governor Jan Brewer have declared February as “Try 1 in 5 Month” and challenge commuters to leave the car [...]

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Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – On Your Mark

January 31, 2010

Well, about 95% of the people that read this blog won’t have a clue about what I am talking about, but that’s ok.
This weeks pic of the week shows a personal friend of mine doing something he does very well. No, it has nothing to do with the mug in his hand, it has everything [...]

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Rail Life is Cleanin’ Up!

January 30, 2010

Ever feel like you want to do something good for your community? Yeah, well… Here’s your chance. If you really feel like helping out a portion of the light rail line, come hang out with us and spruce up the place a little bit for an hour, or two. Basically, we will be picking up [...]

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CitySolve Urban Race coming to Phoenix

January 29, 2010

CitySolve Urban Race is coming to Phoenix! Check out this cool event that involves athletics, brains, local attractions, social media and a lot of fun.
CitySolve Urban Race is a unique urban adventure game where teams of 2 – 6 participants solve clever clues and face fun challenges while discovering their city a fun new way! [...]

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The Embassy Condominiums. A Mid-Century Diamond in the Heart of the Roosevelt District.

January 25, 2010

If you have spent any time in, or passing through, the Roosevelt District of Phoenix, you’ll have noticed that it is mainly a neighborhood of ranches and bungalows. However, there is one tall building that stands proud right in the middle of the neighborhood. That building is the Embassy Condominiums. Built in 1964 by Del [...]

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Rail Life “Flickr Pic” of the week – That Lovin’ Feelin’

January 24, 2010

Unfortunately, my ‘pic of the week” isn’t a very good shot of the Tyler Hurst, Yuri Artibise, Katie Charland rendition of You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ from this past weekends CenPhoCamp. The quality of the picture doesn’t have nearly as much meaning as the song did to the opening of a GREAT “un-conference” where people [...]

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Metro first year milestones

January 22, 2010

PHOENIX — METRO light rail provided service to more than 11.3 million riders in 2009. Ridership has far exceeded first-year projections by 34 percent on weekdays, 33 percent on Saturdays and 61 percent on Sundays and holidays.
Other notable figures achieved in 2009:
The highest daily ridership occurred Dec. 31 with 53,216 riders.
The highest monthly ridership [...]

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