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He probably thought he was in the clear now and got away with it slipping past unnoticed on the blog…but no such luck. This weekend one of our own turned 50! 50! FIFTY! What?! That’s pretty old, dude!
Happiest of birthdays, Nick Bastian! I’m grateful to call you my business partner…but even more to call you friend. Here’s hoping that your next trip around the sun is amazing! Can’t wait to see what the next 50 years brings you!
Something most people don’t know about me is the fact that I was kind of a car guy in high school. So much so that after high school, before the military and college, I actually worked as a mechanic for 4 years. What I quickly realized was, while I liked working on cars for fun, having to work on them every day was not for me.
One great thing about those years though is I did just about every job you could imagine and have since then always worked on my own cars. I believe in my nearly 30 years of driving (wait, can that be right?) I have paid to have my car worked on maybe 3-4 times.
Over the last few days, the front brakes on my Acura TL have been squeaking. Easy enough, I have changed brakes hundreds of times in my life. Brake systems was kind of my specialty back when I turned wrenches. So this morning I went and jacked up the front of my car, kicked on the compressor and got ready for a job that I believed would take me about 15-20 minutes tops.
Then, I ran into a problem. See, my fancy-dancy TL with nearly 270,000 miles on it has security locks on the wheels. And I could not find the key. <Gulp>
Long story, but after after spending over an hour with myself and my lovely bride Jessica looking like crazy for it, we finally threw up our hands and said, it’s gone.
Enter Periscope
If you know what the video streaming service Periscope is, you are probably wondering what Periscope has to do with any of this. Well, over the last 4-5 months I have got to know a mechanic and shop owner from Chandler on both Periscope and Twitter.
Frank Leutz, know online as @UrMechanic is someone I have been following and talking to online. One thing that I love about Frank is his honestly and compassion for others. This is a guy who you can tell really cares about not only his clients, but the general public.
We all know that mechanics don’t have the best reputation, something they have in common with us real estate agents. Frank, and his Desert Car Care shops are out to change that. Just like Nick, Shar and I are trying to do with real estate. That is probably why I have developed such a fondness for Frank in a short time. I care about my clients and their experience more than anything, and so does Frank.
I worked in the automotive business long enough as a mechanic, and later two years selling tools for Cornwell Tools, that I feel my BS detector is pretty dialed in.
So after I tweeted this picture
Frank said come on down and we can hook you up. About 10 minutes later I was at his shop on the SE corner of Dobson and Chandler Blvd. A few minutes later Frank’s tech had the locks off and I was back on my way home to get the pads changed.
Thanks Frank and to everyone at Desert Car Care. Thanks for helping support the Tempe Healing Field and thanks for looking out for the general public and educating those who are looking for help!
Please join me in wishing Phoenix Real Estate Guy Dean Ouellette a VERY Happy Birthday today.
Dean has removed our ability to post a birthday wish on his Facebook page, so I thought I’d go around his little trick and have a bunch of people inundate him here on the blog. I know he’ll love me for this!
To further celebrate the day, I have found his favorite and very best photo he’s ever taken.
Ok, that was fun but here’s the serious part.
Happy birthday, my friend. I’m so glad to be in business with you, and I’m happy to have the chance to live life with you. Your work ethic is only rivaled by your love for your wife and your family.
I’m truly proud to call you a friend.
Happy Birthday, old man!
On May 10th we celebrate one of the most important people to ever live, Mom. If you are anything like me, you know moms should be celebrated everyday – be it a great-grandmother (Miss you Nana!), your mom, (love you Mom), or the mother of your children (you are my everything Jess). But we sometimes drop the ball and don’t always show them how much they are appreciated. So for that reason, we set aside a Mother’s Day every year.
We want to help you show your appreciation for the mom of your choice. The Phoenix Real Estate Guys ( and gal ) are going to be giving away a set of Mother’s Day gifts for one lucky reader to give to their mother of choice. The winner will receive a free manicure, pedicure and massage along with a $100 gift card for a Mother’s Day Brunch.
How do you enter?
To enter, you just need to tell us why your mother is the best. Just leave the message on any or every social media platform below.
So tell us, why your mom is the best. All entries will be tallied and a winner will be drawn on May 5th.
FREE Easter Egg Hunts
Looking for something great to do with the kiddos for Easter this weekend? We’ve got some great local events for you to check out:
Ahwatukee – Easter Parade & Spring Fling
April 4, 2015 – The 39th Annual Ahwatukee Easter Parade Route will be along 48thStreet between Warner & Elliot with a 10AM kick-off. The Spring Carnival/Craft Fair will be held at the Ahwatukee Community Park (Warner & 48th St.) from 11:00AM to 4:00PM.
Apache Junction ”“ Pancake Breakfast & FREE Egg Hunt
Prospector Park Softball Complex – 3015 N. Idaho Rd., Apache Junction
Saturday, April 4, 2015, Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Egg hunts begin at 9 a.m. More than 8.500 prize filled eggs.
Chandler ”“ FREE Egg Hunt (up to 9yrs old)
Snedigar Sportsplex – 4500 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler
Saturday, April 4, 2015 from 9 a.m. to Noon
UltraStar Entertainment Center @ Ak Chin Circle – 16000 Maricopa Road, Maricopa
Saturday, April 4, 10-1, The Egg Hunt takes place on the “Ak Chin Green” North of the theaters. Hunts take place every 15 minutes. There will be carnival games, inflatables, and of course the Easter Bunny will be on hand for pictures. All of this is free of charge and is open to the entire community of Maricopa.Concessions and drinks will be for sale.
Mesa Arts Center. 1 E Main St., Mesa
Friday, April 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. More than 24,000 eggs will be spread throughout the Mesa Arts Center and Main Street.
Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N 83rd Ave
Saturday, April 4, 2015. This is your chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Don’t forget to bring your camera. Easter egg hunts will be available for eight different age groups and one for individuals with disabilities.
Enchanted Island Amusement Park at Encanto Park, Phoenix
Saturday and Easter Sunday, April 4, and April 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Phone: 602-254-1200. Free for all Ages 1-10.
Easter is the only time of year when it’s safe to put all your eggs in one basket.
Local Easter Brunch Ideas
Forget messing with the big Easter dinner…let someone else make it for you! Whether you prefer the traditional hot cross buns or you’d like to opt for a more southwest flare there’s something here for everyone. Mexican street corn or chilaquiles for Easter? Yes, please!
The Market by Jennifer’s Restaurant + Bar
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Easter brunch offering breakfast breads including hot cross nutmeg buns, horseradish deviled eggs, smoked salmon and fennel with bagel chips, asparagus salad with poached egg, pea and parsley soup, asparagus quiche with leeks and gruyere, cognac and brown-sugar-glazed ham with potato-leek galette and eggs, roasted leg of lamb, seared Australian bass, desserts including raspberry custard tart, coconut-cream cupcake, lemon trifle and chocolate flourless cake ($65 per person). 3603 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-626-5050
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Easter brunch offers a buffet that features an array of salads including roasted fingerling salad, deviled eggs, fresh fruit, breakfast pastries, a cheese and meat station, poached shrimp and other seafood, an omelet station, eggs Benedict with tasso ham and chipotle-cilantro hollandaise sauce, challah French toast, coq au vin, pan-seared house-smoked salmon, roasted fennel-leek stew, leg of lamb, and a dessert station that includes chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-peanut-butter tarts, strawberry-rhubarb panna cotta, chocolate-lavender tea cake, Key lime pie, a pastry action station and an ice-cream sundae bar ($90; $45 children 3-12, 3 & under free). 2401 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-468-0700
8:30-11:15 a.m. Fresh-baked pastries including chocolate and butter croissants, yogurt and granola, pecan French toast with caramelized bananas and maple syrup, eggs with applewood bacon and sausage, salads, grilled chicken breast with lemon jus, grilled salmon with sage-butter rouge, mac and cheese, and desserts including carrot cupcakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, fudge brownies, jelly beans and candy ($49.95; $20.95 children 8-12; $12 children 2-7; younger than 2 eat free). 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix. 602-276-6360
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Buffett at this new French restaurant includes salads, cheese platters, lamb with vegetables, and other entrees and dessert choices ($40; $18 children 6-12; children 5 and younger eat free). 8320 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-203-2075
10 a.m.-2 p.m. with a buffet highlighted by sticky buns, eggs Benedict, breakfast quesadillas, green-chile pork, Mexican street corn, fried chicken, huckleberry-bread French toast and bananas Foster bread pudding ($35; $19 children). 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-947-0795
The Mexican restaurant serves a three-course Easter menu 11 a.m.-4 p.m. It features pork pozole; chilaquiles in roasted tomato sauce with chicken topped by an egg and served with rice and beans; and for dessert, Bailey’s or Kahlua flan ($24.95). 2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-994-1799 & 14795 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-991-1799
In addition to its regular menu, the Landmark will serve two Easter specials 11 a.m.-7 p.m.: roast ham slices in a pineapple glaze served with one side and a Caesar or garden salad ($17.99); and slow-roasted lamb in garlic and herbs with a bordelaise sauce, served with housemade mint jelly, one side and a salad ($18.99). 809 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-962-4652
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Easter brunch features several options for all three courses ($50, includes complimentary mimosa). For something on the lighter side, start with the Greek yogurt and berry parfait; move on to the spinach and Swiss cheese quiche; and end with blood orange sorbet. More ravenous appetites may start with deviled eggs; followed by Doritos chilaquiles or lemon ricotta pancakes; and a finale of cinnamon bread pudding. 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. 480-883-3773
Check back in with us and let us know what fun you had as a family or which yummy place you tried! Whatever you do, Happy Easter!
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