Cambridge Properties new website!
If you haven’t had a chance too please head over to our new website. We’ve made it easy to search the Arizona MLS. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us right away.
We hope to get your feedback on how we can improve the site.
Is having a Garden really cost effective? It is, but…
One of the more popular websites today is Reddit.com, which is a user generated behemoth. At any time on anyone of it’s many “subreddits” (sections devoted to specific topics) you’ll find someone asking for help and some really great answers.
As we speak there is a discussion in the frugal section where a user asked the question “Does r/frugal think that gardens are actually financially frugal?” The top comment is such great advice we wanted to share it with any of you would be home gardeners. Even if cost isn’t an issue for you it’s still sounds advice:
“It is, if:
- You identify the plants you eat a lot of and are expensive and grow those. Eat a lot of potatoes? Probably not a good idea to grow them, because they’re so dang cheap. Like chives? Well, they are really easy to grow, and cut herbs are expensive in the store, so go ahead. . Raspberries are also super easy, and pretty expensive. My general rule is: grow leafy vegetables, herbs, and berries. Buy root vegetables and squashes, plus anything that doesn’t get enough heat here.
- Find out what crops grow well and easily for you, in your climate. For me, beans are tasty, yes, but we just don’t get a big enough crop to make it worthwhile. However, I grow a lot of kale, because it just does fantastically here- in fact, since some self-seeded, I don’t have to do anything but harvest now.
- Develop your soil’s fertility cheaply or for free. For example, I’m getting a truck load of composted horse manure from a friend for the price of gas. Compost kitchen scraps and lawn clippings, check out coffee stands and see if they’ll give you coffee grounds. All of these are free or nearly free sources of fertility that will make your garden really produce.
- Don’t get carried away and buy a pile of tools. Really, unless you have a big garden, all you need is a shovel, a trowel, and maybe a rake and garden fork. You do not need to buy rototillers or other fancy and expensive doodads.
- Realize that gardening is a skill, and may take some time to develop. Some people are fantastic their first year, but many have entire crops fail before they figure out what they need to do.
TL;DR: Find out what crops you eat a lot of, aren’t cheap, and basically grow themselves for you. Get free and cheap sources of soil fertility. Only grow what you will actually eat. Figure out how to minimize effort and time investment while maximizing yield.”
It’s great to see people who posses specific knowledge and skills share that knowledge with other people.
Micro Kitchen Design makes us want to buy a micro house to put it in.
We’ve mentioned tiny houses on our blog before and one of the big problems with them is that you often have to sacrifice to make it work. With the worlds growing population and emerging markets gaining clout it’s nice to see that design is something we won’t have to comprise on.
This Red dot winning design is a modular mini kitchen that can be configured in different way to meet any need. It’s going to be a while before Arizonan’s begin to run out of space but when we do, we know what the kitchen will look like.
Bloomingrock.com: Champion of the Grand Ave. Rail Project.
From Bloomingrock.com
“Today’s post is by contributing writer Kirby Hoyt:
Historically, cities have been designed around their prevailing modes of transportation. When Phoenix was first conceived, there were two modes of transportation: the train (for long distance and shipping) and the horse-and-buggy (for local and hauling needs). The streets in Phoenix were designed in a grid that emanated from the railroad depot and ancillary buildings, kind of a play on the Law of the Indies. Within six years of the incorporation of Phoenix, the beginnings of an extensive streetcar system was put in place, with the first streetcar operating on six miles of track using horses to pull cars, and by 1893 the system was completely electrified. It then operated for more than fifty years. Unfortunately, in 1948 the streetcar saw its last day due to a “suspicious” fire that destroyed all but six cars, Coincidentally, this was about the time National City Lines, a company with investors from Firestone Tire, Standard Oil, Phillips Petroleum, General Motors, and Mack Trucks together were buying up streetcar lines across the country and decommissioning them, forcing people to either buy automobiles or ride buses.”
Schoolhouse Electric: 1960’s IBM wall clock re-issue
Midcentury is a term thrown around a lot lately. I feel that part of the reason there is such interest in that time period is that it’s seen as the zenith of both modern design and American Manufacturing. That convergence of two emotionally powerful aspects of our society are perfectly combined in the Schoolhouse Electric 1960’s IBM Wall Clock. Learn more about how this clock was brought to life through a collaboration between Schoolhouse Electric and IBM for their 100th anniversary.
1960s IBM Clock from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co on Vimeo.
Friday DIY: 25 things to do with your old denim
We’re thrilled to present this smartWise Bread story here on Savvy!
Recycling fabric is a powerful green living and cost saving strategy. Denim is one of the coolest fabrics to do it with. It’s sturdy, gains character with age and can be acquired very inexpensively at yard sales or in your own “old clothes” closet. Some of the coolest ideas I’ve found?
RELATED: 16 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer
- Pot holders. In my opinion, these look far better out of used denim than the new stuff. And you can incorporate your own style via choice of trim or a patch stitched to the outside. Here’s a link to some tips for making your own.
- Cool quilts. You can do this in many forms. Different shades of denim patchwork options abound and are certainly sturdy and fun. Unfortunately, one of the coolest ideas I’ve ever seen I’ve been unable to find pictures of. It was done with pieced denim, but they had left on all the details like pockets, buttons, belt loops, etc. It made for a really fabulous unique quilt with a lot of attitude. If anyone has a link to a picture of one of these, please post below in the comments section.
For more ideas, read on.
- Hanging sleeves for storing plastic bags and cleaning rags. This is an idea I came up when trying to find a workable solution for giving up paper towels. I needed something convenient to store my cleaning rags in and made several out of the legs of old blue jeans.
- Pocket books and backpacks. These are tons of fun as beach bags and particularly popular with the younger crowd. Easily jazzed up with pins various bits of clip on “flair”. Here are one and two separate links for various sets of project directions.
- Patches. If you happen to have a bunch from different events, great. Otherwise, I’ve seen some really unique custom patches you can make yourself that add tons of style. I personally like the make your own option, because it opens up many more possibilities for self expression and designer style.
- Embellishments. Sometimes bead stores offer classes on “jazzing up jeans” where they will teach you how to add studs, crystals and various beads as well as other items. Lots of room for individuality with this option as well.
- Pimp the heck out of them. Options abound here. Pimp My Jeans is a great site to look for inspiration when jazzing up old jeans. They also have a great idea pictured there for a way hip fabric grocery bag of pieced together old denim. You’ll be strolling to your favorite New York grocery in style with that one. Here is an additional link for airbrushing designs on your denim. My favorite though, is this way cool how to video from Threadbanger that shows you how to get a vintage tint as well as providing some easy fabric distressing techniques. Really, really cool.
- Embrace the frayed edges and go hip with some slamming shoes and a great bag. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen fashion experts give this same advice on TV. What’s funny though is I seem to notice more people with money trying it out than people who are supposedly on a budget. It’s a very cool look to have a faded set of jeans with a few rips and tears paired with a newer sweater and some dressy shoes or boots.
- Help dress a scarecrow. Fairly timely, considering the season.
- Make a 3-pocket electric gadget protector. I found this set of directions on Instructables. Love that site! Looks like a cool addition for a daypack or purse.
- Journal, photo album and school book covers. Say what? I found this neat online project for a jean-covered journal held closed with a funky belt. Really fun. Tried to snag a pic and give them credit, but they preferred to keep everything in house. You can see pictures of the completed project on this site, though.
- Hot or cold rice pack. I’ve always just dumped my rice in an old pillow case and tied a knot in the top. But these rice packs look cute, if you have the extra time. The one pictured got me thinking about all those old floral jeans from the eighties getting a new life, but really, any kind of old denim will do.
- Turn pieces of them into a jacket. Here’s a project I found for a crazy quilt-style jacket. This is very similar to the type of quilt I mentioned above. Lots of room here to do your own thing.
- A little too out there? Try out a waist coat made from recycled denim. I can really see it with a crisp white shirt. Actually, it looks like a big vest to me, but what do I know about waist coats? Either way, it’s pretty cool.
- Sassy, rough edged skirt with urban style. I like this jean skirt because it’s really a bit out of the ordinary and has tons of attitude. A bit of trouble snagging a pic of this one, but you can see it on the link.
- A wheelchair tote. This is too cool. Know someone who could use one to stay organized? Here are instructions on how to make a wheelchair tote.
- Coffee cozies. Love these! As with some of the other projects, you can really put your own spin on them. I found several blog posts on doing your own. This first one is quite similar to the one pictured below. The second? Slightly different with a button closure. Still cute though. If I had my sewing machine out of storage, I’d seriously be looking into making a few of these for Christmas package tuck-ins.
- Custom camera bag. Here’s a set of directions for a denim camera bag. Personal verdict? Pretty neat idea.
- Unusual covered gift box. I thought this one was particularly out of the norm. Should make a fun package for a teen present, don’t you think? Here’s a link.
- Reusable lunch sack. This one was decorated with primary colored embellishments because it was designed for children. But I think you could be as individual here as with some of the jazz-up-your-jeans ideas listed above (patches, airbrushing, crystals). It’s made from a pant leg. How cool!
- Picture frame. Not the most formal project idea ever, but a fun idea that would be great for a teen room bulletin board. It’s a photo frame made from a jeans pocket.
- Blue jean table. Pretty darned unusual, I must say. This is another item that is shown with more of a children’s room look. But I think you could pull this off with leather accents in a wild west art gallery or with silver studs and tears for a more urban feel. A bit quirky, but if you like that sort of thing . . .
- Christmas stockings. Here’s a set of directions for making stockings out of old blue jeans(PDF). Use whatever trim and lining ideas you want. Definitely not for those Victorian style holiday planners.
- Knee pads for gardening. Here’s a set of directions for knee pads. You might need to use an old denim skirt or jumper for this one, but I still think it has merit, if you happen to have the time.
- Beer cozies. Check out this homemade deep pocket cold beverage cozy. There aren’t detailed directions, but there are pictures from several angles. So if you sew, you can probably get the idea.
That’s about it. A few of these ideas I think would be easier with old denim jumpers or skirts than blue jeans, but since they all involved the same basic topic, I opted to include them. If you know of a fabulous recycled denim idea, please post so the rest of us can enjoy.
Want the full story on Curiosity? Here is a definitive guide for the…curious.
The Guardian UK had a great live blog going while the rover touched down. Read along and relive the historic moment here.
We can’t always write about real estate, so here is an amazing interactive representation of every runner who’s ever ran the 100meters.
Click here to see an interactive map of all the people who’ve ever run in the 100 meters:
Interesting Graphic on why some homes sell faster than others
Some of this info is a little dated but for the most part it’s a great information to think about!
Home Solar Power Discounts – One Block Off the Grid
Still searching for properties on Craigslist? At least use this tool to make it easier.
Still using craigslist to search for a home or apartment? Although we don’t recommend using craigslist for a multitude of reasons, if you’re going to use it we at least want to make sure you’re doing it right.
CLMapper is a neat little extension for your chrome web browser that plots the location of Craigslist apartment ads onto an adjoining map. It’s a neat little trick!
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/omonmigaleaafgpkgoammpclbcdepjpi
Satellite view of the growth of Chandler (and other cities) from 1985 to 2011
In this article, The Atlantic has collected some images representing the growth in several cities all over the world from 1985 to 2011. We often hear about how people are moving to cities in droves, but it’s another thing to see it spelled out in pictures.
less than 30 days left to save the Frank Lloyd Wright house.
less than 30 days left to save the Frank Lloyd Wright house.
Do you know someone who loves design and believes in preserving some of Arizona’s history? Let them know about this impending tragedy.
6 COOL NEW HAPPENINGS IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX: By Taz Loomans www.bloomingrock.com
Recently, I found myself talking to a few friends on separate occasions about how many cool new things are happening in Downtown Phoenix right now. We talked about how all these things are having a collective impact and gathering momentum for our Downtown. My friend Philip Beere today remarked on how Downtown has changed immensely in 10 years, going from almost no restaurants or places to hang out to all the places we see today. I’ve seen drastic changes even in the past five years, with a lot of mom and pop small businesses and community efforts taking hold. Plus I would say in the past year or so, things are picking up speed and the winds are definitely changing for the better in Downtown Phoenix.
Below are 6 cool new Downtown happenings that have been popping up a lot in conversations around me…
Moving and installing this great public art piece to Mike Davis’s Ro2 Lot was a gynormous community effort in the middle of the summer. But now it’s become a welcome addition to the Roosevelt Art’s District, right next door to the next cool thing people have been buzzing about….
Songbird just opened yesterday, but people have been talking about it for quite a while. APlaces, Spaces and Faces Community Dinner was held there just this weekend. It is a very cute little coffee shop inside monOrchid, a gallery and co-working space in the Roosevelt Arts District – a great example of mixed-use!
Every time I visit another city, I make it a point to go to a bookstore in their Downtown. I’ve visited some great ones in Seattle, Milwaukee, London, and Chicago. I’ve been DYING for a 2nd hand bookstore to come to Downtown Phoenix and now we have one! Enter the Lawn Gnome 2nd hand bookstore. Welcome to the neighborhood friends!
Pedal Craft at the City
Pedal Craft at Kitchen Sink Studios earlier this year was one of the most exciting and successful events Downtown Phoenix has ever seen. It was all about bikes and art. The huge turn out at this event showed the growing presence of a bicycle culture in Phoenix. Now we have Pedal Craft take II at City Hall, very aptly showing the people in power this growing presence – wink, wink, hint, hint. More bicycle lanes please!
Murals All Over the Place!
There are murals everywhere in the Roosevelt Arts District, I mean EVERYWHERE. And it’s wonderful. These murals, more and more popping up all the time, give the place, well, a sense of place. These murals are becoming such a phenomenon that Roosevelt Arts District is quickly becoming a destination for visitors from all over the Valley. By the way, there’s nothing like a mural to make back alleys and parking lots actual places of interest for people to enjoy instead of forgotten, dark places where questionable things occur.
Holy cow what a cute little market! I love cute little markets like this and was remarking on one I saw in Bisbee just recently and on another I saw near Downtown Tempe. But, look, Downtown Phoenix has one too! This market was set up as a compliment to the now defunct Urban Grocery, and has become quite a community hot spot in the area. My friend Bob Diehl tells me the ice-cream here is to die for.
So there you go, Downtown Phoenix is finally getting a personality and becoming an interesting place! And I have a feeling that this is only the beginning…
Reason #593 to live in the valley: We have food trucks too!!
The story is a common one: Average Joe becomes disillusioned with his job as an IT consultant/sales executive/insert-your-job-here, decides he loves his mother’s pizza recipe enough to quit his day job and start his own food truck. Maybe this fantasy explains the sudden growth of food trucks in the Valley, a scene that exploded a year or two after the economy tanked.
But why are people using trucks? The words “food” and “truck” together conjure visions of the “roach coaches” of the past. However, today’s food trucks have gourmet beginnings – typically a chef or foodie who wants a restaurant but simply can’t afford it – like Giancarlo Alarcon of the Aji Mobile Foods truck .
“Being that I just finished culinary school not too long ago, I don’t have $250,000 (to open a restaurant),” he says. So his father used his retirement funds to back Alarcon, and now they’re slinging pan-Latin American sandwiches all over town.
Valley foodies are embracing the movement. Last October’s Phoenix Food Truck Festival attracted thousands of guests. There were more than a few kinks, including long lines and trucks running out of food, but the absence of top-down organization and corporate monotony are part of the appeal of truck eating, even if it makes them a bit difficult to find.
All trucks belong to the Phoenix Street Food Coalition, which works to organize meet-ups and boost awareness. Within the coalition are some unofficial subgroups. For example, it’s almost always the same group of trucks at the Phoenix Public Market’s Food Truck Fridays. That’s a large and thus exclusive event for new trucks to break into, so a group of those newer trucks banded under the name Streat Fleat Regime and founded District Food, a meet-up outside the vintage Phoenix Seed and Feed. The building is fully equipped with free parking, a huge shaded patio, massive fans and a rotation of trucks. All you need to do is travel to “the other side of the tracks” to get, as they call it on Twitter, “#foodtruckwasted.” Who could say no?
So step outside your down-the-street-sandwich-shop comfort zone and find one of these 15 most-prominent food trucks in the Valley. Each truck’s regular locations are listed, but all are subject to frequent change. It’s wisest to follow your favorite truck on Facebook and Twitter for the most up-to-date schedules.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/12/07/smooth-as-water-strong-as-steel-the-undulating-roof-of-londons-olympic-pool/260094/#slide6
RTA approves wildlife linkage crossing | Tucson, Arizona
RTA approves wildlife linkage crossing | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona.
Most amazing underground houses from around the world: Via www.homechunk.com
If the ground wasn’t so hard here in the valley maybe we could build some houses like this. Paulo Soleri probably had something influence over the designers of these places. It’s amazing to think that he first had a vision for sustainable houses back in the seventies.
about 7 hours ago By Naveen Kumar
Living underground might seem a very weird thought to many, but then, there are people who simply admire the whole idea of living underground like the Hobbits from the Tolkien’s fantasy tale. Not only it’s an unconventional and unique housing solution, the underground homes are a great option for the eco conscious homeowners who are looking to reduce their negative impact on the Mother Nature. Underground living isn’t a new-fangled idea, as early humans have been known to use caves as their homes. If the idea of living underneath the earth has always excited you, here are some of the most amazing underground houses from around the world.
- Underground house by SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects
This unusually modern Hobbit hole in the Swiss village of Vals has been designed by studio SeARCH Netherlands in collaboration with Christian Muller Architects. The elliptical opening of the house offers stunning Alpine view and has space for windows that fill the interior with natural light. Moreover, the house doesn’t need any heating or cooling in the summer and winter season.
- Cave house in Festus, Missouri
If the idea of living inside a cave house excites you, better take a look at this amazing cave house from Festus, Missouri, which was done by Curt and Deborah Sleeper. The eco friendlyunderground house features geothermal heating and there is no need for any air conditioning or heating system. There are three chambers inside this huge cave house and some of the walls were kept as they were, in their natural form.
- Malator undeground home, Druidstone
Designed by architects Future Systems for Bob Marshall-Andrews, QC, the Malator earth house in Druidstone is also known as the “Teletubby” house, as it has the turf roof, steel chimney and a peephole doorway. The Malator has just one room, which has been separated by prefab colored pods.
- Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse
This one looks like some theme park design at the first glance. Designed by Peter Vetsch and situated in Dietikon, Switzerland, the Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse is basically a collection of nine amazing earth houses. Vetsch’s houses speak of ecological and progressive architecture. The house uses the ground as an insulating blanket and there is an artificial lake to add to its beauty.
- KWK Promes’ modern underground house
This underground house in Lower Silesia, Poland has been designed by KWK Promes in a very interesting way, as only the inhabitants of the house can access the grass roof via the stairs that run from inside the house. Whether you see this modern house from above or from a distance, it blends seamlessly into the stunning landscape.
- Gary Neville’s Underground House
Magnificent, majestic and magical are some of the words that come to my mind when I see this stunning underground house designed by Make Architects for famous British football star Gary Neville. The 8,000 square foot Teletubbies-style zero-carbon home looks like flower petals from above and is proposed to be built in Bolton, UK
- Underground Stone Desert Home, Greece
Designed by Deca, this awe-inspiring camouflaged stone house dubbed “Aloni” sits between the slopes of two adjacent hillsides. The house has been designed in a way to blend into the surrounding landscape. The half-buried house with greenery on the outside enjoys contemporary interior and takes in enough of natural light.
- Cave houses in Iran
Available for purchase and rent, these cave houses in Iran at the foot of Mount Sahand in Kandovan are more than 700 years old. A part of these homes sits above the ground, so these houses aren’t truly underground.
- Cumbria Underground House
Designed by John Bodger for Phil and Helen Reddy, this environmentally friendlyunderground house in Great Ormside has been dug into the rock. For lighting and power needs, the house makes the most out of natural resources.
- The $10 million Vivos luxury bunker
If you are quite worried about the future catastrophes, California based company Vivos has a $10 million bunker guarantees you survival. The 20,000-square-foot nuclear blast proofunderground shelter can accommodate 200 people for up to one year has its own power generation, filtration systems, security devices and medical equipment. Each kitchen comes filled with food you could eat for one year. If you think that something bad will happen by end of 2012, you could spend around $50,000 to book your space inside this luxury bunker.
Written by Naveen Kumar
A writer at heart, Naveen Kumar finds joy in accepting challenges and believes in setting examples for others to follow. With a bachelor’s degree in E-Commerce and six years of strong experience in online media, he believes that there is no other way to be successful than doing what we do the best, with confidence and dedication.
The History of Paradise Valley, in pictures.
Paradise Valley is one of the most exclusive cities in the southwest. It’s success is due much to it’s founders and the rules which they set forth.
Unfortunately the video can’t be embedded her but we highly encourage you to go learn about Paradise Valley and all it has to offer.
Have you ever heard of BACA? Bikers across the US support abused children.
BACA is probably one of the best organizations ever created to help children. Often times when things happen in our society we want to get out there and do something but few us do. BACA was created to change that, Bikers Against Child Abuse is a Nation wide organization that literally provides support and protection for abused children.
What is BACA? BACA is a sort of perfect answer to a very real problem. When a child is abused and their case goes to a social worker, that social worker can refer a local BACA Chapter to that child. Child abuse is insidious, the physical pain it causes can subside but the fear and other emotional problems can persist for years.
Once a child in need has been identified by a social worker the amazing part begins. The local BACA chapter will ride to that child’s house with upwards of 30 bikers in tow. The two closest memebers of the “gang” will be assigned to that child as their personal protectors and support. There are absolutely no words to describe how beautiful this gesture is, but the pictures do a pretty good job.
Arizona is an amazing place to live and it’s no wonder that with so many bikers, the Arizona Chapter of BACA is alive and strong. Here is an interview with the founder of BACA, we dare you to watch this without tearing up at least a little.
What exactly IS a monsoon? We’re glad you asked.
In Arizona, as in other regions of the world including India and Thailand, we experience a monsoon, a season of high temperatures, high winds, and high moisture, resulting in potentially deadly weather.
The term “monsoon” comes from the Arabic “mausim” meaning “season” or “wind shift.”
When Is Arizona’s Monsoon?
Up until 2008 Arizona’s monsoon varied from year to year in starting date and duration. The Arizona monsoon officially began after the third consecutive day of dew points above 55 degrees. On average this occurred around July 7 with the monsoon continuing for the next two months. In 2008 the National Weather Service decided to take the guesswork out of monsoon start and end dates. From now on June 15 will be the first day of the monsoon, and September 30 will be the last day. They did this simply to take the focus off whether or not a storm was considered a monsoon storm or not, and have people be more concerned with safety.
What Happens During Monsoon?
Monsoon storms range from minor dust storms to violent thunderstorms. They can even spawn tornadoes, though that is very rare. Typically, Arizona monsoon storms start with heavy winds sometimes resulting in a visible wall of dust hundreds of feet high moving across the Valley. These dust storms are normally accompanied by frequent thunder and lightning often leading to heavy downpours. Monsoon rains average about 2-1/2″, about 1/3 of our yearly rainfall.
Is there Damage During Monsoon Storms?
Serious damage can occur from high winds, or from debris being tossed by those high winds. It is not unusual for trees to be downed, power lines to be damaged, and roof damage to occur. As you might imagine, homes that are not as sturdy, like some manufactured homes, are more susceptible to wind damage. Power outages for short periods of time are not uncommon.
What About the Roads?
When such high volume rain descends upon the Valley of the Sun, the ground and most especially the surface streets flood. Most roads in the area are not built to drain water quickly since such rain is too rare to justify the extra costs involved in constructing an elaborate drainage system. Quite often the rain pools on streets during and for a few hours after monsoon storms causing dangerous driving conditions.
The worst areas for flooding are the many washes in the area, small gullies where heavy rains drained off the land long before roads were built through them. That’s where drivers will normally encounter signs cautioning against crossing the road when flooded.
It may seem strange to have signs like like the one on the right posted in the middle of the desert, but they do serve a practical purpose. Those signs should be heeded carefully. Even if the water rushing across the road looks only an inch or two deep, it may very well be so deep that vehicles, including high clearance trucks, stall and get stuck in the wash. Firefighters and other rescue workers generally have to be called in to rescue motorists stuck in washes before their vehicles are covered by the unexpected deep runoff. Those rescuers are usually accompanied by television news helicopters capturing the rescue on videotape to be broadcast, sometimes live, as a warning to others.
That’s only the beginning of the humiliation trapped drivers face. In Arizona, under the so-called “Stupid Motorist Law”, municipalities and rescue agencies can charge people for the cost of being rescued if they fail to observe posted warnings.
Monsoon Grammar
The word “monsoon” refers to a season by definition, and should not really be used with the word “season.” In addition, meteorologists don’t use the plural of the word monsoon. Although there are dictionaries that indicate that the plural of “monsoon” is “monsoons” the following is the proper rule.
Arizona Originals: Steve Vizzerra, The Blue Jean Buyer
In the late 1980’s when Levi’s were still made here in the USA, some young Arizonan entrepreneurs saw a business opportunity. like most twenty year olds Steve Vizzerra was just working a regular job when he heard about an opportunity that would change his life.
“Some friends of mine started a company buying vintage jeans and selling them overseas”, Vizzerra said from behind the counter of his Tempe shop. “We would buy jeans from all the old ranchers in Avondale, fill our backpacks, and travel across Europe all summer selling jeans.”
This is not a terrible way to spend your life right out of college and so in 1987 Steve joined the business full time. They had a strong buyer in Switzerland and before they knew it they had two storefronts there selling old Levi’s. In 1994 Vizzerra bought the business and ran with it. At its height, The Blue Jean Buyer had 13 locations across the world and Vizzerra was regularly scheduling buying trips across the southwest United States.
“We would advertise in an old mining town for weeks before we would show up. We’d rent a motel room on the ground floor, and in the morning we’d just setup a table right infront of our room. After spending all day buying we would have enough inventory for the next couple months. The best part was hearing the stories behind some of those old jeans, it was a lot of fun!”
Vizzerra was flying high, he’d taken the business from a fun hobby to being a real player in the industry. His industry though, was about to be shaken to it’s core. Levi’s jeanswere so desirable outside the U.S. because they were American made. “The second Levi’s moved their manufacturing overseas, our orders dried up.” Vizzerra recalls with an obvious tone of sadness. “We went from shipping thousands of pairs a month to 500 pairs every couple of months.
Today, Vizzerra’s shop in south Tempe is sustained through repeat business, word of mouth, and the almost constant stream of repair and custom business. Vizzerra has earned the title “Denim Doctor of Arizona” and should you ever decide to own a pair of his custom jeans you’ll understand why.
The Blue Jean Buyer has made a quiet but strong impact on the world’s fashion in a very real way. What’s just as significant is the impact Steve’s outlook should have on young entrepreneurs across Arizona. When I walked in to talk to Steve I thought I was going to get a cool story about a vintage store that loves it’s Levi’s. What I got was an insight into how to be more like an Arizona original “It’s like I say to my kids, if you’re going to do something make sure you love it otherwise you’re wasting you’re time.”
Cambridge Properties 