The Uncanny Market

Tipping Etiquette 101

Americans are notorious over-tippers in foreign markets, which may make us popular with service providers, but may also demonstrate our cultural ignorance to local business partners. In many places, a service charge is already included in the bill, or local customs dictate a percentage below the standard 15%- 20% in the U.S. Be knowledgeable about local tipping customs with Condé Nast Traveler's Tipping Guide.

 

Frozen in Grand Central Station

I thought this was a great short video, too! I'm from New York and have spent a lot of time in Grand Central Station. I'm sure I would've been very suspicious if I had seen this! Click on the link!
Frozen Grand Central Station

El Camino Del Rey

Check out the short video! This scenic walk is not for those who are afraid of heights! Don't forget to strap on your safety harness! Go here: El Camino Del Rey. Enjoy!

The Valley's Coolest Places, Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Magazine wrote an article on the coolest places in the Valley, written by Ashlea Deahl, Adam Klawonn and Stephanie Paterik "Who says Phoenix isn't cool? We've got jazz legends, Havana nights, rebel bikers and saw-wielding bartenders. We've got an ex-circus star, a chop-shop guru, and a high-octane break-dance crew. Hey, we've got Big Pete Pearson. Still not convinced? Here are 41 of the coolest people, places and things in the Valley of the Sun."

• The Moving Picture Man: Steve Hood--filmed Crossing the Heart, a 31-minute dramatic short that conjures up a life-changing meeting between Ray, a crusty self-appointed border guard, and Jesus, an illegal immigrant headed north to the promise land.
• Jakes Chop Shop: One man's trash is another man's treasure, and this booty is custom made for booties everywhere by Jake Shelton of Tempe (www.jakeschopshop.com).
• Grande Luxe Rail Journeys: the Colorado-based company manufactures vintage rail cars and sells tours of the countyr, including one that starts in Napa Valley, stops at the Grand Canyon, and ends up in Albuquerque. Another, National Parks of the West, starts at $5,250 per person for 10 days and passes through the Grand Canyon and Sedona, with stops in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Santa Fe, Bryce Canyon and others (www.americanorientexpress.com).
• Magnum's Cigars, Wine & Spirits: The cigar, wine and spirit shop opened in 2005 but underwent a $1 million renovation last fall to add a bar and lounge-a dim, opulent, masculine place that both suits and swingers feel comfortable in (www.magnumcigarwineliquor.com).
• Mom and Pop Restaurateurs: Ed and Christine McHale: They are the wife-and-husband team behind Palatte, the friendliest, tastiest new brunch spot in Downtown Phoenix. Cavness House, the sprawling 1914 shabby chic home that houses Palatte, is located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fillmore Street in the Roosevelt District.
• The Girl Who Can Fly: Oksana Kroshkina: You could say Oksana Kroshkina flew from Moscow to America and you wouldn't be woring. In the interest of accuracy, though, Kroshkina's round-about, 6,000-mile journey to the Valley also inluded flights on the uneven parallel bars, the balance beam, a pogo stick and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus trapeze.
• Bluesman Big Pete Pearson: At 71, Pearson is still burning up the blues circuit. Born in Jamaica and raised in Austin, Texas, he moved to Phoenix 50 years ago. Over the course of his career, Pearson has sat with other musical greats such as B.B. King, Ray Charles and Muddy Waters. These days, he's the Valley's uncrowned King of Blues. The Litchfield Park resident can be seen with his own band or the Rhythm Room All-Stars at the Rythm Room (www.rhythmroom.com).
• The Wine Maven: Kate Portanova: The 30-year-old owner of Arcadia Fine Wines has turned her passion for wine into a unique and profitable matchmaking service. No, not connecting people with one another; instead she connects people with wine. Since buying Arcadia Fine Wines in 2003, Portanova consults with her customers one on one, by appointment only, functioning as a therapist for the palate.
• The Museum Marm: Kathy Eastman: She is the Curator of Education at the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa. Each year, upwards of 120,000 visitors trek past Dinosaur Mountain, the largest dinosaur exhibit west of the Mississippi, and take in the museum's 3-story indoor waterfall, and the newest attraction, "Elvis" the alligator (www.azmnh.org).  
• Hot City Destroyers: The free-wheeling bike-racing club brings an edginess to Phoenix most of us have never seen. Started by Ben Ko, 30, who moved to Phoenix from Washington, D.C., nearly 5 years ago, HCD unites riders who mount fixed-gear bikes (that means no brakes) for periodic races through unmarked courses in the city. (www.myspace.com/hotcitydestroyers).
• Goldwater "Lifestyle" Bank: Billed as Arizona's first "lifestyle bank," this on aims to redefine banking by putting an emphasis back on customer service. For a minimum account balance of $25,000, customers get access to an in-house concierge service, which handles everything from personal shopping to dinner reservations, and can relax any time in the chic lounge area, complete with 12 plasma screen TVs and plenty of refreshments.
• Fund-a-Stache: Growing a moustache for charity is what dozens of men in the Valley will be doing in May. The event is called Fund-a-Stache, and it started two years ago when Phoenix businessman and software developer, Jay Wiggins, wanted to support a philanthropic cause. He also, as it happened, wanted to grow a moustache. Out of it,the inspired idea was born. He created a website where participants could select any charity of their choice and set up an account with FirstGiving.com, a nonprofit website that facilitates online contributions on behalf of charities (www.fundastache.org, www.moustachemay.com).
• Lost Leaf WIne Bar: The bar is a rare bird, open seven days a week and late into the night (5pm to 2 am). It doubles as an art gallery filled with local artists worth perusing before and after you check out the drink menu. The original Lost Leaf opened four years ago above the beloved Emerald Lounge. The new location is a historic Phoenix home built in the early 1920's. (www.thelostleaf.org).
• Bonded Logic, Inc.: It's a massive, nondescript warehouse in Chandler that chews up scraps of denim, bonds them with fie retardent and spits them out into insulation for homes and businesses. The ownders launched their idea several years ago before the green bandwagon got rolling. It was a risk, and now it's paying off (www.bondedlogic.com).
• Cassy's Sassy Jewelry: Cassy Saba, age 17, is a young entrepeneur, and has creared quite a buzz with her handmade jewelry line, which she started after receiving a design kit for her 10th birthday. Saba's funky, whimsical bracelets and necklaces are for sale in 17 stores around the country, including in Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, New York and California, and have been requested by singing celebs Beyonce and Brandy (www.cassysassyjewelry.com).
• Havana Tuesdays: Not that hot, sweaty evenings are a stretch here in the Valley, but there's something cool about evoking a steamy night in Havana, Cuba, which is exactly  what the Mondrian Scottsdale does each week. Live Latin jams from th five-piece band Rakata Project will tempt you to do more mambo'ing than mingling (www.mondrian-scottsdale.com).
• The Voice: Dennis Rowland: Rowland, a Phoenix resident for 2 decades, has a voice made for jazz. He landed in the HerbergerTheater Hall of Fame in 2007. It got him gigs at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House. He has also shared the stage with Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald and "Little Miss Sassy," Sarah Vaughan." "When the music sounds right and the band is playing well - kicking ass - I'm on fire," Rowland Says. "That's when it's all good."
• Fresh Start Women's Foundation: It started out as a day of pampering at Rolf's Salon in 1992-- a day for women in need of a fresh start. Sixteen years later, the Fresh Start Women's Foundation, co-founded by Arizona ntives Pat Petznick and Beverly Stewart, sees more than 500 women each month looking to turn their lives around (www.wehelpwomen.com).
• Geisha A Go Go: This new Scottsdale Asian Restaurant, brought to you by the same guys who dreamed up Drift and Stingray Sushi, takes the best of Asian cooking and blends it with the best of Toko pop culture.
• Mr. Green: Jonathan Fink: Yes, Jonathan Fink has a business card from ASU that says "University Sustainability Office," and yes, he holds the director's slot at the school's Global Institute of Sustainability. Consider reusing styrofoam cups a habit the least he can do, a small gesture in a workday spent pondering and preaching the most a state university and society at-large can do to protect the environment.
• Champu Studio: The studio opened in northwest Phoenix last September, and combines an upscale hair salon with a professional photo studio. Go in for a simple cut and color, or stay to take full advantage of the portrait studio, which offers quality headshots, a modeling runway for runway parties, and music video shoots (www.champustudio.com).
• Downtown's Floating Sculpture: Boston-based sculptor Janet Echelman and her floating sculpture of a saguaro cactus in blossom, was approved by the City Council in December. The $2.4 million project for Civic Space, at Van Buren Street and Central Avenue Downtown, calls for suspending a 100-foot-wide, nearly transparent net on three towers up to 160 feet tall, then letting it float and flex with the breeze. Completion is scheduled for early 2009. (www.phoenix.gov/ARTS/civic_faq.html).
• Foot Klan Dance Troupe: The Glendale-based group was founded 17 years ago by Darryl and Luciana Khalid, a.k.a., Mr. and Mrs. Soul Train. According to hip hop lore, the Foot Klan was formed "to unify communities through street dance and creative arts. It has now moved toward the mainstream, doing commercials for Puma sneakers, Burger King, MTV and the Phoenix Suns, among others (www.footklan.com).
• Blues Brunch: Head over to Blues Brunch at Stinkweeds Music Exchange from noon to 2 pm every Sunday, where the coffee and pastries are free, and so are the guitar riffs and harmonica solos (www.stinkweeds.com).
• Water Wizard Kirk Bianchi: After studying architecture at Arizona University in the late '80s, and after reading about an ex-fisherman who was creating custom water features, Bianchi fell in love wth the idea. So he went to work for him. Now, he makes pool design as a higher form of art - from reflective pools fed by serene fountains to raised, 360-degree vanishing-edge swimming pools with sleek handrails (www.bianchidesign.com).
• The Zizzo Family: Zizzo Tailor and Design Boutique is near 68th Street and Thomas Road in Scottsdale. The family started the business 60 years ago in Italy, transplanted it in New York and then opened on Scottsdale's Main Street in 1973. Under the eye of Phil Zizzo and his father, Carmen, 71, the group makes suis and dresses an does alterations for men and women of all sizes and tastes. That includes some high-profile personalities in the local sports and retail scenes.
• Charmian Private Dining Room: This Fountain Hills gem is a one-table restaurant, and it takes just two reservations a night. The chef will tailor a menu to your wishes, ranging from $235 to $5,000 for a six-course dinne for two (the table seats up to 18). The restaurant is elegantly decorated and sits atop Eagle Mountain with expansive views of the East Valley.
• Pop Art: Eric Torres, a graphic designer, set to work on a project just for himself, in which he created a series of prints using eight geometric shapes. With those shapes, he imagined a world called Rynaga and the characters who populate it.  His work is showing at Two Doors Dwon gallery in Tempe beginning March 31 (www.rynaga.com).
• Matador Coffee: Head over to Mario Martusciello's place near Scottsdale Airpark. This Valley native imports coffee beans from all over the world and roasts them to order for places like Andreoli's Italian Grocer and others. For a fee, Mario is willing to host a private, hour-long session on the secrets of roasting coffee (www.matadorcoffeeroasting.com).
• The Spastress: Lisa Kasanicky: Her website, founded in 2002,specializes in ferreting out the cheapest spa dealsin town, offering comprehensive listings to health and wellness spots, and giving "how to" advice on living a balanced life (www.ArizonaSpaGirls.com).
• The Phoenix Symphony Rocks Led Zeppelin: Last fall, local concert promoters for Live Nation booked the Phoenix Symphony, with the backing of an amplified band, to tear through classic Led Zeppelin hits for two concerts. The last show was January 18 at Dodge Theater Downtown. Later this month, the orchestra will bring classic hits from Elton John and Billy Joel to the stage with their performace, Piano Men (www.phoenixsymphony.org, www.livenation.com).
• TJS Custom Drums: Tom J. Schultz has been playin and fixing drums since the '60s. But in 1992, he decided to go pro with his own line, TJS Maple Passion Custom Drums. Drummers can now find this locally made gem in Valley music stores, including Milano's Music in Mesa (www.tjscustomdrums.com).
• Roka Akor: The barkeeps at Scottsdale's newest Japanese hot spot, Roka Akor, will be doning machete-like ice saws to hack away big blocks of ice kept at the bar, ensuring one-of-a-kind cubes for everyone's glass. Tricks aside, the bar also boasts a unique drink that puts sake to shme. Shochu, a distilled Japanese spirit similar to vodka in taste, is served up in a variety of infusions, including blood orange, raspberry, pear and bois bande, a natural aphrodisiac.(www.rokarestaurant.com)
• Gore Design Co.: The artisans behind Gore Design Co. describe themselves as "purveyors of fine concrete," which sums up their intense love of the raw material as well as their sense of humor. Both shine through every sink, every countertop, every fireplace they build, making them one of the most standout design firms in Arizona today (www.goredesigncore.com).
• Virtual Golf at Cross Woods: A Gilbert-based golf center has combined suds and fun with perfect golf weather and scenery by offering virtual reality golf. Players use 10 simulators - platforms with computerized visuals from real-world courses - to sample courses such as Spyglass and St. Andrews without breaking a sweat (www.crosswoodsgolf.com). 
• Noble Beast Pet Shop: This new venture in central Phoenix, started by locals Marsha Mardock and Alison Chandler, specializes in organic and holistic pet foods made with human-grade meat, organic veggies and no unhealthy fillers, chemicals or pesticides (www.noblebeastpets.com).
• Equation of Time Watch: The expert watchmakers of Switzerland outdid themselves this time. Audemars Piguet has created a mechanical watch specifically for Phoenix's longitude or latitude, and it will only work correctly for this area. The Equation of Time watch retails for $78,000 and is crafted in 18-carat rose gold. But the beauty is engineering underneath. (www.finejeweler.com)
• The Party Priestess: Raven Valdes: Sophisticated, business-casual fun - that's been Valdes' forte since going pro as a social queen bee in 2004. While her competition focuses on 20-something college kids, Valdes, 49, has found a niche with fun-seekers in their '30s, '40s, and up - including a 94-year-old who's been attending her bashes of late.
• Local First Arizona: The merchant group is a fairly new nonprofit organization designed to promote local, independent businesses as the preferred alternative to chains. It's a classic David vs. Goliath battle waged with wine tastings, art walks and festivals for crafts, produce, baked goods, food and even historic homes. Kimber Lanning runs Stinkweeds on Camelback Road near Central Avenue and serves as the group's executive director. Its mission is to creative a "unique atmosphere that sets Arizona apart from ANytown USA," according to the group's website.(www.localfirstaz.com)
• Go Kat Go: Go Kat Go, which specializes in mid-20th century modern decor, gifts, accessories and clothing, is one little hotbed of funk, trumping the kookiest, coolest gear from the '50s, '60s and '70s. As the website states, you'll find everything from "odd to Mod" (www.go-kat-go.com).

Los Angeles ranks as least affordable major housing market

Many Michigan metro areas rank among most affordable in U.S.

Indianapolis continued its reign as the most affordable major U.S. housing market, while the Los Angeles area ranked as the least affordable major housing market, the National Association of Home Builders reported today in a fourth-quarter report.

The Housing Opportunity Index ranks metro areas based on the share of homes that are affordable based on the median sales price of homes and median family income for those areas.

An estimated 89.5 percent of homes in the Indianapolis metro area were affordable for median-income families in that market area in the fourth quarter, NAHB reported, and Indianapolis has ranked as the most affordable major metro area for the past 10 quarters. The median sales price of homes in Indianapolis was $113,000 in the fourth quarter, while the median family income was $63,800.

In the Los Angeles metro area, an estimated 6.2 percent of homes were available to median-income families in the fourth quarter. The fourth-quarter median sales price of Los Angeles-area homes was $456,000 in the fourth quarter, while the median family income was $61,700.

The Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa., metro area ranked second in housing affordability among those metro areas with a population of 500,000 or more in 2006, followed by Detroit, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Troy, Mich.; Scranton, Pa.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Akron, Ohio metro areas.

Kokomo, Ind., ranked as the most affordable metro area among those areas with a population under 500,000 in 2006. Springfield, Ohio, was next on the list, followed by Saginaw, Mich.; Monroe Mich.; Canton-Massillon, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; Bay City, Mich.; Lansing, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; and Battle Creek, Mich.

Job loss and associated economic problems in Michigan have contributed to house-price declines and affordability. The state had a nation-leading unemployment rate of 7.6 percent in December compared to a national average of 5 percent. Ohio, which also has several metro areas that rank high in affordability, had an unemployment rate of 6 percent in December.

San Francisco ranked as the second least affordable U.S. metro area with a population above 500,000 in the fourth-quarter. Santa Ana, Calif., was third, followed by New York City; Ventura, Calif.; Nassau, N.Y.; Miami, Fla.; Riverside, Calif.; San Diego; and Modesto, Calif.

All 10 of the least affordable metro areas with a population under 500 are in California: Napa ranked as the least affordable, followed by Salinas, Merced, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Madera, El Centro and Yuba City.

About 115 of 220, or 52.2 percent of metro areas tracked in the report had index scores indicating that more than half of homes were affordable to median-income families in the fourth quarter.

Four markets shared the lowest median sales price of homes in the fourth quarter. Springfield, Ohio; Saginaw, Mich.; Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; and Elmira, N.Y., had a median sales price of $80,000 for the quarter, according to the report. The San Francisco metro area topped the list for the most expensive median sales prices in the fourth quarter, at $749,000.

The Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, metro area had the lowest reported median family income in the fourth quarter, at $30,000, compared to a high of $101,100 for the Bethesda, Md., metro area.

In a separate report today, NAHB reported that builder confidence improved slightly in its latest survey.

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose from 19 in January to 20 this month -- an index score below 50 indicates that more builders view market conditions and the market outlook as poor than good. The index is based on a survey of builders that asks about current sales, sales expectations for the next six months, and traffic of prospective buyers. Builders issue ratings of "good," "fair" or "poor" in the survey.

The index gauging sales expectations for the next six months fell from 28 in January to 27 in February, while the index gauging traffic of prospective buyers rose five points to 19 and the index gauging current sales conditions rose one point to 20, according to the index report.

Regionally, the index improved in the Northeast, South and West from January to February while remaining flat in the Midwest.

Source: Inman News

Los Angeles ranks as least affordable major housing market

Many Michigan metro areas rank among most affordable in U.S.

Indianapolis continued its reign as the most affordable major U.S. housing market, while the Los Angeles area ranked as the least affordable major housing market, the National Association of Home Builders reported today in a fourth-quarter report.

The Housing Opportunity Index ranks metro areas based on the share of homes that are affordable based on the median sales price of homes and median family income for those areas.

An estimated 89.5 percent of homes in the Indianapolis metro area were affordable for median-income families in that market area in the fourth quarter, NAHB reported, and Indianapolis has ranked as the most affordable major metro area for the past 10 quarters. The median sales price of homes in Indianapolis was $113,000 in the fourth quarter, while the median family income was $63,800.

In the Los Angeles metro area, an estimated 6.2 percent of homes were available to median-income families in the fourth quarter. The fourth-quarter median sales price of Los Angeles-area homes was $456,000 in the fourth quarter, while the median family income was $61,700.

The Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa., metro area ranked second in housing affordability among those metro areas with a population of 500,000 or more in 2006, followed by Detroit, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Troy, Mich.; Scranton, Pa.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Akron, Ohio metro areas.

Kokomo, Ind., ranked as the most affordable metro area among those areas with a population under 500,000 in 2006. Springfield, Ohio, was next on the list, followed by Saginaw, Mich.; Monroe Mich.; Canton-Massillon, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; Bay City, Mich.; Lansing, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; and Battle Creek, Mich.

Job loss and associated economic problems in Michigan have contributed to house-price declines and affordability. The state had a nation-leading unemployment rate of 7.6 percent in December compared to a national average of 5 percent. Ohio, which also has several metro areas that rank high in affordability, had an unemployment rate of 6 percent in December.

San Francisco ranked as the second least affordable U.S. metro area with a population above 500,000 in the fourth-quarter. Santa Ana, Calif., was third, followed by New York City; Ventura, Calif.; Nassau, N.Y.; Miami, Fla.; Riverside, Calif.; San Diego; and Modesto, Calif.

All 10 of the least affordable metro areas with a population under 500 are in California: Napa ranked as the least affordable, followed by Salinas, Merced, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Madera, El Centro and Yuba City.

About 115 of 220, or 52.2 percent of metro areas tracked in the report had index scores indicating that more than half of homes were affordable to median-income families in the fourth quarter.

Four markets shared the lowest median sales price of homes in the fourth quarter. Springfield, Ohio; Saginaw, Mich.; Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; and Elmira, N.Y., had a median sales price of $80,000 for the quarter, according to the report. The San Francisco metro area topped the list for the most expensive median sales prices in the fourth quarter, at $749,000.

The Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, metro area had the lowest reported median family income in the fourth quarter, at $30,000, compared to a high of $101,100 for the Bethesda, Md., metro area.

In a separate report today, NAHB reported that builder confidence improved slightly in its latest survey.

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rose from 19 in January to 20 this month -- an index score below 50 indicates that more builders view market conditions and the market outlook as poor than good. The index is based on a survey of builders that asks about current sales, sales expectations for the next six months, and traffic of prospective buyers. Builders issue ratings of "good," "fair" or "poor" in the survey.

The index gauging sales expectations for the next six months fell from 28 in January to 27 in February, while the index gauging traffic of prospective buyers rose five points to 19 and the index gauging current sales conditions rose one point to 20, according to the index report.

Regionally, the index improved in the Northeast, South and West from January to February while remaining flat in the Midwest.

Source: Inman News

4th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

To liven up this somewhat overcast Monday, I thought you'd enjoy looking at the photographs from the Smithsonian Magazine photo contest. The photos are taken by amazingly talented photographers. The one I am showing is the winner. It's called, "A winter dawn in a New Zealand pasture," taken by Joelle Linhoff of Minnetonka, MN. I wanted to be a photographer when I was in college. Maybe someday when my kids are grown I can build my own darkroom and do it as a hobby. It would be a dream come true for me to travel the world and take great pictures, like the ones on entered into the contest. Check them out!

http://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/v4/