The Housechick Blog

Spring training starts this week in Tucson!  This year, there are 30 games in 30 days as the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox and the Colorado Rockies get their spring training on.  Games start February 27th and run through March 27th.

Games are all at 1:05pm (except the very last game which is at 12:05pm) at the Tucson Electric Park, over at 2500 E Ajo, just off of Kino and Ajo, or at Hi Corbett Field in Ried Park, at 3400 E Camino Campestre.

You can download the spring training schedule here.

I must say, spring training is a great way to spend what may otherwise be a dull afternoon.  Our spring weather is typically beautiful.  Not that I’d encourage you to skip out on work or anything, but you know, maybe, it might be fun to play hooky and go catch a game.  I’m just sayin’.

h/t to Jay for reminding me!

Photo via Flickr, courtesy of sin agua

We’ll keep an eye on it as the eclipse progresses… Are you watching? It’s a beautiful night to be out moon-gazing.

If you look closely in this one, you can see two bright stars off to the right - actually, I think one of those might be Saturn…

Go ahead, try and drive in this town over the next couple of days.  Tucson is about to burst at the seams, I kid you not.

Not only is the Tucson Gem and Mineral show in full swing, but the Accenture Match Play golf tournament is about to start soon. Don’t forget the Fiesta de los Vaqueros next week as well! (That’s the Tucson Rodeo, for all you non-locals.)  Add that to our usual bumper crop of winter visitors, and you’ve got nary an inch to spare.

On the plus side, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous the past couple of days, in the mid 70’s.  The next few days look a bit cold, and there’s a chance of rain tonight, but I see the 70s again on the horizion. Me, I’ve got my hammock out of storage, and am ready to log a bit of time out there in the afternoons.

I toured the SAHBA Parade of Homes today, a collection of 7 luxury homes up near Dove Mountain, in the Sonoran Preserve on the Bajada.

Things that appear to be “in” for luxury Tucson homes:

• coffee makers in the master bathroom
• flat panel TVs
• pavers and brick as patio surfaces, instead of scored concrete
• oversized front doors
• roof decks
• outdoor gas fireplaces
• recessed and decorated ceilings in the dining room
• Jack-n-Jill bathrooms for the secondary bedrooms
• forty-plus shower heads in the master shower (that might be an exaggeration)

This is the view from one of the roof decks, by the way.  That’s a gas fire pit on the roof, and I’m sitting on a built in banquette, taking the photo.  I saw another roof deck that had a complete gas fireplace on it!  What a lovely view, we had an absolutely gorgeous day today. 

Highlights, in my humble opinion:

• My favorite house was the one by Lathrem Homebuilders.  There’s a beautiful central courtyard, with multiple sliding doors that open the whole house onto that area, plus a very open living area with yet another lovely patio and pool.  The flooring was brick throughout, which is a personal favorite.  The tile work and finishes were exquisite.
• The patio at the Becklin home felt the most expansive, with a very nice outdoor kitchen and wood burning pizza oven.
• The front doors at the Canatsey house are iron and glass, so you can see through to the lovely backyard as you walk up to the home.  That house also had a sweet master shower with those new Kohler square shower heads all over the place.
• The huge arched wall of the great room in the Casas Bonitas house makes a huge impact as you walk in.  There is also some very nice brickwork in this house, and the Viking appliances are finished in Plum, not stainless, which was a first for me.

The SAHBA Parade of Homes is coming!  It’s been 20 years since SAHBA has had a parade of homes. 

I’m told one home has a shower with a built in tanning system.  Can you imagine?  I’m not sure if that’s cool or just utterly ridiculous.  Or both.

Running February 2nd through the 17th, there are 7 homes in the parade.  Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and kids 12 and under are free.  Hours are 10am-5pm.  I’m heading out there next Thursday to tour the homes with a friend.

The subdivision for the parade is Sonoran Preserve on the Bajada, which is over near Dove Mountain, in Marana, Arizona.  If you drive to Dove Mountain, you’ll see signs for parking, and then participants will be shuttled to the appropriate street.

The whole point of the parade is to showcase new home design, construction, and energy saving features from seven of SAHBA’s Certified Custom Builders Council.  Basically, to participate as a Certified Custom Builder, the contractors have to comply with building standards, with the SAHBA Code of Ethics, have at least 3 years of continuous building experience in the area, and can not have any unanswered or unresolved complaints either with SAHBA or the Registrar of Contractors.  These builders are also reviewed on a regular basis by the SAHBA Certification Review Committee.

Builders this year: Bauer Homes, Becklin Construction, Canatsey Building and Development, Casas Bonitas Development, JD Raney Construction, Lathrem Homebuilers, and Washburn Custom Builders.

SAHBA, by the way, is the Southern Arizona Home Builders Assocation, who is an advocate for planning and implementing public policies that promote housing opportunity and choice.  They also do the big home show every year - watch for it this April.

I’m sure you’ve seen something similar online, but this is my buddy Keith’s house, a friend and past client.  The man likes his Holiday Light Show!

This is the second year Keith has gone all-out with his lights.  There’s another video from last year when he made the local news, but I’m having trouble finding it on YouTube. 

Their family was nice enough to host a little party over the weekend to watch the light show, complete with hot chocolate and a snow machine.

The lights at Winterhaven just started - their 57 year old tradition, and the Zoo Lights are on too.  Grab your warm coat and hat, it’s chilly out there!

Finally, a contest I can get behind, and all for a good cause. 

I do love spicy food.  There’s almost nothing that doesn’t taste better if made spicy, IMHO.

Enter the Tucson Salsa Challenge!

Held in Reid Park at the DeMeester Performance Center on Saturday November 10th from 11am to 6pm, the Salsa Challenge is a festival featuring over 70 professional and amateur chefs, preparing fresh salsa on site.  There’s also  Margarita Mix-off from 12:30 to 3:30, and each margarita in the contest will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Besides all of that, there will be live music, cold beer, Mexican food from Macayo’s, and something called a “Fun Zone” which offers “interactive family fun.”

Tickets go for $8 a pop for adults in advance (buy tickets online), kids under 12 are free.  If you wait to buy a ticket at the gate, you’ll pay $10 per adult.

All proceeds go to the Arizona Hemophilia Association, who will use the money raised to continue their educational and emotional support programs for the hemophilia community at large.

It’s barbeque time in the Old Pueblo!  Heading into the Coronado National Forest for a cool afternoon with a fire-cooked meal is a popular pastime.  However, the Coronado National Forest has implemented fire restrictions, effective June 30, 2007.  Open fires, and charcoal grills are prohibited except within developed recreation sites, and smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or while stationary in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

You can read the news release here, and see red flag warnings or fire weather watches from the the National Weather Service Forecast office.

The traditional Tucson fireworks are seen over A Mountain, also called Sentinel Peak.  Also a Tucson tradition - to set it on fire with the fireworks.

Have a fun and safe 4th of July!

Photos via Flickr, courtesy of saulmora.

Yesterday, Reid Park Zoo released Watoto, a 2 year old male giraffe, into the public viewing area, joining the two existing female giraffes on display. 

Watoto was born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on August 11, 2005, and was brought to Tucson to replace Yebo, who died in April at age 17.  Zoo officials hope that Watoto will “contribute to the nationwide giraffe population management plan” as he matures over the next couple of years. 

Described as “very mellow,” zoo employees say Watoto should be ready to participate in the Giraffe Encounter feedings at 10am daily.

Reid Park Zoo is open 9am to 5pm daily.  Admission is $6 for adults, $2 for children under 15, and $4 for seniors.  Giraffes are on exhibit from 9am to 4pm.  Giraffe Encounter feedings are at 10am daily, for $2 per person, and allows participants to hand feed the giraffes.  On weekends, there’s an additional feeding at 2pm.  

I think the giraffes are my favorite animal at the Reid Park Zoo.  It isn’t an enormous zoo, but it’s enough to keep you interested, and a great place to visit for a little walkabout after lunch.  Admission prices are reasonable, and you can buy season subscription tickets if you visit often.  This picture is of the giraffes at the zoo in Melbourne, Australia.