The Arts in Southern Utah: Pianist Brandon Lee

Brandon Lee picture courtesy of The Spectrum

One of the things that I appreciate about living in St. George is how much access we have to the arts despite being a small community. Friday night, we attended an incredible concert by the Southwest Symphony with guest performer, pianist Brandon Lee. The Cox auditorium was packed, and Lee’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor was extraordinary. Even people who normally do not listen to classical music were astounded by the talent of this man.

Brandon has received honors across the country, and we are fortunate that he has chosen Dixie State University as the place to hang his hat. He serves on the faculty in the school of fine arts.

He is not limited to solely the classics. You can find him performing regularly with the Southern Utah Rebel Jazz Band and Mister Royal Jazz Combo. He has many other interests as well.

I don’t have a recording of his performance in the Cox, but I pulled up a couple of links to prior performances off of youtube. Take a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lieG2wIaXQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCSB3RVL6_g

Call us for your real estate needs.

Chris 435-313-3966

www.whystgeorge.com

Gardening in St. George

It has been impossible to stay indoors the last week here in St. George, and with the rain that has fallen, the yards have started to come alive. If you are planning on planting a garden and haven’t started yet, NOW is the time to start moving forward.

Despite all the “fails” I have had trying to generate a productive garden here in the desert, I try each year and learn a little bit more each year. And I continue to be encouraged and inspired by the green thumbs who have success in Utah’s Dixie.

One of the best resources I have found to help me is the Utah State University extension site. They have a wealth of information specifically for our growing region. They also have classes and demonstration gardens to help the hopeful gardener. Also it is not limited just to vegetable gardens but they address all things plant related:

• Desert Gardening
• Flowers
• Irrigation
• Lawn
• Fruits
• Trees & Shrubs
• Vegetables
• Weather
• Xeriscape

February’s Tip of the month (from USU):

It’s springtime in St. George!

Winter doesn’t last long in St. George, and usually by mid-February we can begin planting our gardens.  The weather in February is often ideal for planting early season vegetables such as peas, radishes, onions, turnips and spinach.  With March just around the corner comes warm soil temperatures that are perfect for carrots, beets, potatoes and lettuce. These plants all thrive in cool weather so take advantage of the nice early spring conditions! Hold off on tender vegetables such as tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, and squash. These plants can’t handle any frost so wait until after April 1 (average spring frost date) before you plant them outside.  Click  Spring Planting Guide to find planting date suggestions.

Happy Planting!

We would love to help you find your plot of land to grow your garden.

Call Chris at 435-313-3966

Or Visit www.whystgeorge.com

St. George Parade of Homes—2015

It’s that time of year that we begin anticipating St. George’s Parade of Homes. The event runs February 13 – 22 and tickets are already on sale online. Get a map on-line, down load the mobile or app, or pick up a 2015 guide on opening day.  You will see the signs around town guiding you from house to house.

There are twenty eight homes in this year’s parade and they range in price and size. If you click on the individual homes on the parade home websites, you can get not only a description of the home but also a list of all the subcontractors who added their touch to the home.

Besides going to just admire the work of some of St. George’s great builders, we love to go and get ideas of how to use space better, to decorate or landscaping ideas.  Last year we were looking for ideas on how to make a smaller room into a fun, very livable space. We came away with many ideas. We also particularly watched for ways to make our desert patio more liveable. 

So whether you are in the market for a new home altogether or looking for ways to update your existing home, the Parade of Homes is a great way to get some new ideas and see the actual work of local vendors.

Take time to get acquainted with the various neighborhoods around the area. Notice the views. Perhaps as you are viewing the homes, you can find the perfect area to put down roots.

We are more than happy to help you find that perfect area.

Call Chris at 435-313-3963

Or Visit  www.whystgeorge.com

Local Hikes: Red Cliffs Recreation Area

One of our favorite places to take kids for a quick hike is just 15 minutes north of St. George at Red Cliffs Recreation Area. The hike is more of a walk, but there are plenty of rocks for the kids to scramble up, over and through. The stream that flows out of the little canyon is perfect for kids to play in. We always take the trail that follows the stream up the canyon to the larger pools of water. Our older kids like to use the rope and chiseled foot notches to climb further up stream. The kids often wear swimsuits or clothes to get wet so they can jump in the water (more of a late spring thru mid-fall activity.)

We’ve always used Red Cliffs as a quick get away, but plenty of people use it for camping, as well. There are camp sites with picnic tables; however, the space is limited, and it can be tricky to find a spot in the Spring and Fall. 

To get to Red Cliffs from St. George, take I-15 north to exit 22. At te end of the freeway off-ramp, turn right on Old Highway 91 (frontage road). Travel south 2 miles and turn right after passing the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Continue under two freeway tunnels and follow the paved road for 1.3 miles to the campground. 

The exit is the Leeds exit. We know several people who love living in Leeds and the Silver Reef area. Give me a call if you are interested in learning more about the homes in this area.

Chris: 435-313-3963

Visit: www.whystgeorge.com

Unique Neighborhoods: Stone Cliff--Life with a View

Looking for a view? Living in Southern Utah, the views are limitless and if having a home with a view is important to you, you are in luck. There are views to be had around the valley. One great neighborhood for finding views, however, is atop the hill at Stone Cliff Neighborhood. 

I’ve never driven in through Stone Cliff without being impressed by the views. I was recently in one home that sat right on top and offered beautiful views in every direction: Pine Valley Mountain to the North, the red cliffs by Warner Valley to the East, the Arizona Strip to the South, and beautiful St. George and western horizon to the West. 

Stone Cliff is a gated community with an active HOA. It is made up of custom homes, many of which have been featured in the annual Southern Utah Parade of Homes show. Although Stone Cliff is well known for some of it’s featured multi-million dollar homes, there are a range of homes in the community that provide options for various life styles and budgets.

Besides the beautiful views, Stone Cliff offers a variety of ammenities that come with being a part of the home owners association. Members of the neighborhood enjoy:

• Community Pools (indoor and outdoor) 
• Security Guard on duty 24/7 
• Spa 
• Fitness Center 
• Clubhouse 
• Pickleball Courts 
• Tennis Courts

The neighborhood is zoned for the Desert Hills School cone site.

Call me for a chance to view some of the beautiful properties in Stone Cliff.

Chris at 435-313-3969

Or visit www.whystgeorge.com

Brian Head: January is New Skiier Month

picture from liftopia.com

Winter is one of the best things about living in St. George. I love that we can drive 1 ½ hours north and be on the ski slopes of Brian Head on Cedar Mountain and then return home and play tennis in the evening, often in shorts and sweat shirt. For those of us who love to ski or have our “snow fix” without shoveling walks or driving in slush, St. George is perfect.

In January, many of the ski resorts in Utah offer incentives to get new skiiers on the slopes. Check out ski utah for deals throughout the state. This year Brian Head is offering three lessons, three days of rentals and three lift tickets for $199, BUT you have to be a beginner to take advantage of the deal.

To get to Brian Head from St. George, drive North on I-15 to exit 75 at Parowan. Once you exit, the eastiest way is to simply follow the signs that lead you through the streets of Parowan and up the mountain. Generally, the roads are plowed and Brian Head is pretty accessible; however, when there has been a recent snowfall I would call ahead for road conditions. There is also a shuttle service from both St. George and Cedar City if you prefer not to drive up the mountain.

If you are new to skiing/snowboarding, you are probably going to be renting some equipment, as well. I have only rented at Brian Head resort, but there are some sports stores in Cedar City who rent equipment. Plan to be early to get your rentals so that it doesn’t eat into your ski time.

Go to Brian Head and have fun. It is a great place to enjoy the white fluffy stuff and then return to the warm, sunny weather of St. George.

Let our team help you with any of your real estate needs.

Call Chris at 435-313-3963

Or Visit www.whystgeorge.com

Virgin River Gorge - Interstate 15

There are plenty of gorges in Southern Utah but locals know if you say “The Gorge” you are referring to the strip of I-15 that cuts through the Virgin River Gorge just south of St. George. The Gorge is a strip of highway that basically follows the Virgin River where it has cut a beautiful canyon. The construction of this segment of highway saved travelers about 1-1.5 hours in their drive to Las Vegas from St. George.

I never cease to be amazed when I drive through the gorge. You can still see striations from the dynamite blasting that  was required to build the road in the early 1970’s. In fact, it was the most expensive stretch of rural interstate built in the United States. Besides the blasting and rock removal that took place in order to squeeze the road through the narrow canyon, the river, itself, had to be re-channeled twelve times during the project.

The canyon is still a popular place for hiking, camping and rock climbing. I always look to see if I can catch a glimpse of the bighorn sheep that make The Gorge their home. (Click here for link to camping info in the gorge.)

Besides the the fascinating construction and the beauty of The Gorge, locals also know that the road has quite a few quick turns and that auto wrecks there are too frequent and often deadly. If there is a place to obey speed limits, The Gorge is most certainly one of those places. Be careful as you travel with the other 23,000 other motorists that cruise through on an average daily basis.

We love Southern Utah (and in this case that part of Arizona that is just 10 miles to the south of us.)

Let us help you find your place in our beautiful country.

Call Chris at 435-313-3966

Or visit www.whystgeorge.com