December's Featured Scottsdale Loft: The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons

Southeast-facing and filled with sunshine and mountain views, Loft 437 at The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons lives large with floor-to-ceiling windows, stackable sliding doors and a private courtyard that extends the full length of the home. This contemporary residence stretches 2,090 square feet and features two spacious bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as high-end finishes, fixtures and appliances throughout. This loft’s open floor plan lends perfectly to entertaining – thanks to its indoor/outdoor connections and more than a dozen options for catering within Kierland Commons! Buyer has the option to purchase furnished if desired.

About The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons
Located on the border of Scottsdale and Phoenix, The Plaza Lofts is a community of high-end condo residences designed for people seeking the vibrant, urban-inspired lifestyle found only at Kierland Commons. The Plaza Lofts embodies both luxury and simplicity, ultimately giving homeowners a one-of-a-kind Scottsdale real estate opportunity. To learn more about December's featured Scottsdale loft or to schedule a tour of this community, contact Signature Properties at 480.355.0207.

Resident Party 2010: The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons

Living at The Plaza Lofts may be reason enough to celebrate (and we do celebrate every month with a Third Thursdays happy hour). But come December, the community’s monthly gathering takes a seasonal turn. In its fourth year, the Annual Resident Holiday at The Plaza Lofts was held Dec. 9, bringing together homeowners in loft 437 for eats, treats, drinks, chatter, and merriment. Pictures like these prove that the lifestyle here isn’t just one-of-a-kind, it’s fun.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

'Tis the season at Kierland Commons! For residents of The Plaza Lofts, there’s no doubt the holidays are in full swing. Outside their windows and footsteps from their front doors, lights have been strung from the palm trees with care and a peek at the Central Plaza reveals St. Nicholas is there. This year marks the 10th annual “Miracle on Main Street”, with holiday hoopla happening throughout the month of December. Beyond the roster of planned activities, the setting’s seasonal beauty is plenty enough to lure Lofts residents, shoppers, diners, and denizens from around the Valley to Kierland Commons to stroll through the streets and make seasonal memories with their near and dear.

GIVING THANKS, GIVING BACK

Thanksgiving is around the bend, which brings an attitude of gratitude and giving to the fore. Accordingly, Signature Properties – along with Woodbine Southwest and The Plaza Lofts – is leading the charge to give back to the community by assembling food baskets for 25 of the Valley’s needy families. Get this: Just $25 is enough to fill a basket with the supplies needed to cook up a Thanksgiving feast for one whole family!

If you’d like to contribute some money or food items, please drop off donations at the Signature Properties sales office before Nov. 18. Among the goods needed: 10-lb bags of potatoes, 4-lb. bags of mixed fruit (oranges/apples); canned cranberries; canned corn; canned green beans; canned gravy; boxes of stuffing mix; dinner rolls; turkey; foil pans for turkey; pumpkin pies; cans of whipped cream.

In lieu of a happy hour on Nov. 18, the Signature team - and all who wish to join them - will be gathering in the Tower Club Room to assemble the baskets for delivery. Questions? Please contact Bill, Trudy or Barbara: 480.355.0207.

10th Anniversary Party in Your Backyard

Since its opening in 2000 as "Today's Version of Yesterday," Kierland Commons - your backyard - has become a sought-after destination among Valley locals and visitors thanks to its sense of place and uncommon blend of retail, residential, fine dining, office and events.

The urban-inspired Main Street-style project covers 38 acres, measures 600,000 square feet and features more than 70 upscale specialty retailers and restaurants, office space, as well as your community, The Plaza Lofts. Kierland Commons has also been the recipient of several awards, winning an Environmental Excellence Award from Valley Forward Association on Oct. 2 and earning an Award of Excellence from the Urban Land Institute in 2009.

Next week, Kierland Commons will celebrate a decade of success with a series of events that kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 14 with a VIP breakfast at 9 a.m. The celebration continues through Sunday, Oct. 17 and features a program of fun to-do's and promotions. Click here for details. As proud developers of this project, we at Woodbine Southwest hope you'll join in the fun!

Tour de Lofts

Mad times and happy hours

Our July "Mad Men" Third Thursdays was a success! Thanks to everyone who came down for cocktails, candy cigarettes and cooler-than-cool retro art by Lucretia Torve. Next month, the weather will still be hot - and we'll make things hotter with happy-hour fun partnership with M.B. York of Lip, Lash and Flash Lounge inside Ruby Boutique. Details to come!

Lofts Resident and Chef Andy Broder Cooks Up a Storm on Channel 12's "Valley Dish"

Your friend and fellow Lofts resident Andy Broder of AndyFood was recently featured on Tram Mai's "Valley Dish" not just once or twice - but thrice! Each of the three segments shows Andy in his element, and you can view them by clicking on the following links!

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Four...

The June Third Thursdays happy hour event at The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons was devoted to mingling, margaritas and massages. The evening concluded with a tequila toast to summer. These four loft owners - Roz, Marv, Buzz and Bill (L to R)- depict the various stages and expressions that go along with shooting tequila.

June 17 Third Thursdays: Margaritas + Massages

It's hot, so the theme for this month's Third Thursdays happy hour is keeping calm, staying cool. The lineup? Margaritas and massages!

In addition to margaritas (blended or on the rocks), we'll be serving up some tasty chips, guac and salsa. If a stiff fruity drink and party snacks aren't enough to help you relax, we hope a massage will help.

Masseuse Kelly Llewellyn, whom you may remember meeting at a previous Lofts event, will be on site to add another level of R-n-R to our community gathering. She will be joining us for the duration of our happy hour to offer residents a sampling of her services with complimentary five-minute chair massages. A sign-up sheet will be available upon arrival.

Good-to-know info:
Kelly has established a special relationship with The Plaza Lofts, offering residents exclusive discounts on her in-loft services. Her Lofts rates are $55 for a one-hour massage or $80 for a 90-minute massage. Package rates are also available: four one-hour massages for $200 or four 90-minute massages for $300. If you're interested in setting up a treatment in residence, please contact your concierge Erika Siqueiros or feel free reach out to Kelly directly at 480.473.1905 or kellyllewellyn@yahoo.com.

The details in summary:

What: Third Thursdays
Theme: Margaritas + Massages

When: June 17, 6 to 8 p.m.

Where: Tower Club Room

RSVP: amanda@olsoncomm.com

HauteLiving.com covers haute lifestyle offered at The Plaza Lofts

Some people know a good thing when they see it, which is why Jennifer Graves, editor for HauteLiving.com Phoenix, jumped all over the opportunity to craft an article about The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons. Check out her write-up here.

Going Greek! A May Happy Hour with Opa!

Greece may be broke, but its food remains rich with appeal - which is why we'll be indulging in some Greek fare on the occasion of our May Third Thursdays happy hour. This gathering - sponsored by Woodbine Southwest (not the European Union) - will feature wine and bubbles from Sportsman's as well as tasty treats like pitas, hummus and more. Please join us Thursday, May 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Tower recreation deck for an evening of community and conversation. Opa!

Savoring the season

Warm breezes in the air and bright colorful window displays throughout Kierland Commons are among the many indicators that Arizona's spring is in full swing. The weather really couldn't be any better, lending perfectly to walking along community pathways, sipping coffee outside Chloe's, scheduling tee times at the golf club, and savoring sunsets like this one from your Plaza Lofts balcony.

Spring is here, so get out and eat!

Spring is here, and in addition to good weather, there's a lot of great food to enjoy. But before we look at the season's flavorful lineup, a quick look in the rearview...

Kudos to Terra, Erika and The Plaza Lofts HOA Board of Directors for their hard work in pulling together last night's 2010 annual meeting. The evening kicked off with wine and hors d'oeuvres and transitioned seamlessly to the agenda, followed by Q&A and then more social time for residents. In the event you left the meeting with unanswered questions - be it a case of forgetting to ask or thinking of something else after the fact - Terra's office door is open and she is happy to meet with you.

And now, let's talk food - because tasty eats are as much in season as baseball, flowers and tourists. This weekend, there's much on tap both close to home and around the Valley. Sunday evening's TASTE 2010 tops the lineup of events in your neighborhood, followed by the Tommy Bahama golf tourney on Monday. For those looking to fill their Saturday with fine and meaty fixins, the 1st Annual Arizona BBQ Festival is shakin' out in Old Town at The Scottsdale Waterfront. Learn more here.

In case your appetite for food and festivals abides beyond the weekend, there are another half-dozen culinary events happening throughout April and May, all of which are listed on the Arizona Foothills Magazine Web site. Learn more here. ... Bon appetit!

For the love of chocolate

On March 18, residents of The Plaza Lofts met, drank and nibbled on delicious chocolates from Julia Baker Confections during their monthly Third Thursdays happy hour, hosted by Woodbine Southwest. Tasty and stylish truffles and chocolate nuggets were among the goodies served, all of which were paired with complementary wines from Sportsman's.

If you missed the event but would like to taste that decadent French caramel truffle Phoenix Magazine so highly recommends (and the Hollywood set so loves to buy), coupons and flyers are available from your concierge, Erika, in the Tower reception lobby. Or, visit the Web site (http://www.juliabakerconfections.com/) to shop the options and/or call to place an order (480.556.1356).

A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? No, it's The Plaza Lofts.

Rumor has it you'll find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But during springtime in Arizona, you'll find The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons (specifically Phase I). Coincidence? Nah, the lofts lifestyle is a treasure.

January started the year off strong for The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons - thanks in part to cocktails provided by Sportman's for the first Third Thursdays happy hour of 2010. But that's not all - both your community and one of your neighbors have received great media coverage.

To start, Plaza Lofts resident Gary Naumann was featured in the January 2010 edition of Az Business. To learn more about the great work Gary is doing for our state's existing and future entreprenuers through the ASU Spirit of Enterprise Center, visit the publication's online edition here. (Photo by Jerry Portelli.)

On Examiner.com, Kierland Commons received rave reviews for standing the test of time in terms of its offerings and overall appeal. "In my experience," says writer/columnist Carlos J. Meyer, "Kierland is such a well-conceived plan that it is still standing the test of time. It is often imitated, but with mixed results." Read more about why Kierland Commons outdoes other mixed-use destinations here.

Happy hours are here again, put on a happy face...

Red, white & brews.... and cocktails, too!Just a little reminder about tomorrow's first happy hour of the year, to be held in The Plaza Lofts Tower Club Room from 6 to 8 p.m. Here’s a look at the drinks that our partner in Third Thursdays – Nate Mears of Sportsman’s – will have available to whet your whistle. (There will be snacks, too.)

Featured Wines:
Buena Vista Carneros Pinot Noir (red)
Villa Maria Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (white)

Featured Brews:
Heineken Light
Blue Moon White

Featured Cocktails:
Bitter & Twisted (Scotch, lemon, ginger ale & bitters)
Bahamas Rum Punch (coconut rum, rum, pineapple juice, Campari & orange juice)

Prepare to raise a glass, Third Thursdays are back...

The band is getting back together for our monthly happy hours. Here's a look at the lineup for our first gathering of 2010.

January 21 Third Thursdays Happy Hour
Program: Wine, a little beer and “wellness” cocktails (on the lighter side to counterbalance all the holiday hoopla) to be served by Sportsman's. Tasty and healthy snacks will be on hand.
Place: Tower Club Room at The Plaza Lofts
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
RSVP: amanda@olsoncomm.com. Note: Residers are free to bring friends who may be interested in learning more about The Plaza Lofts lifestyle.

News Update to Kick Off 2010

The end of 2009 was celebration-worthy for The Plaza Lofts and its residents, what with a hoopla-packed holiday party on Dec. 3, the release of new discount cards for VIP shopping at Kierland Commons, and the sale of a penthouse loft on Dec. 14. News of the $2.225 million sale turned up in a handful of editions of the Arizona Republic. Get the details here.

Also, rounding out the year with some publicity were fellow residents, including one Loft owner whose identity remains unknown. Westcor's Alison Goodman, marketing manager for Kierland Commons, mentions the anonymous and giving soul here in connection with volunteerism and SAARC.

Next, resident and long-time entrepreneur Willy Theisen stepped up to the plate with a new restaurant concept, Pitch, a pizzeria. Being that Willy is the father of Godfather's Pizza, he's no stranger to pie-making success. Located in the historic Omaha neighborhood of Dundee, Pitch is a Naples-inspired 'za spot that has already received rave reviews on Yelp.com. To learn more about Willy's Pitch, check out this article or visit the restaurant online.

Now, a new year is upon us. Stay tuned, as we look forward to bringing you more news, happy-hour updates and then some throughout 2010.