We’re excited to announce we’re opening the new driveway, Estes Way, this month.

The driveway is named after our owners, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Estes, Jr., and is a tribute to them and their vision for building the resort. The Estes family is well-known in the community for their leadership in both business and philanthropy.

The new driveway will heighten the sense of arrival as you wind up the road and view vistas and saguaros that were unseen until this time.

The hotel’s address, 7000 N. Resort Drive, will not change.

The new drive is a great improvement to the resort and a positive way to kick off 2008.
We thank our owners for their vision of a constantly improving hotel, and we’ll always believe in doing things the Estes way.

Did you see the moon last night?

Earlier in the evening, around 6:30 p.m., the moon looked like an enormous glowing orb sitting on the edge of town. But why does the moon look bigger when it’s full?

It’s a brain effect, when the moon is near the horizon it looks really huge because your brain can see it compared to other objects (trees and buildings) as opposed to when you see it up in the wide open sky, said Adrienne Gauthier, a University of Arizona astronomy student, and the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort’s star concierge.

If you missed the moon around 8:30-9 p.m. last night it was because the moon passed through the Earth’s shadow. Last night was a lunar eclipse.

If you missed the whole experience, don’t fret. Although this is the last total eclipse until 2010, the moon does go into the Earth’s shadow a few times each year. There will be a partial lunar eclipse for you to see in August.

Here’s a list of lunar eclipses from the Nasa Web Site.

Valentine’s Day is the day to wine and dine your sweetheart to show your love and appreciation. If you’re planning on staying in, why not try out the Sweetheart Martini? It’s the perfect dessert drink for lovers on Valentine’s Day.

The Sweetheart Martini From your friendly bartenders in LVCR’s Cascade Lounge
One shot of Xellent Swiss vodka, or your favorite vodka
1/2 a shot of Cointreau
A splash Sweet and sour
A splash Strawberry puree (Put fresh strawberries and a pinch of sugar in your mixer or blender. Voila!)

1. Make a sugar rimmed glass: Dip the rim of the glass in some pomegranate juice, or sweet and sour, and then coat the rim with sugar.
2. Shake all the ingredients together in a bar shaker and pour into a sugar-rimmed glass.
3. Use a little red Dum Dum lollipop in the glass as a stirrer.

“For the Love,” “All For Love” and “In the Moment,” are just a few of Harp’s albums that position him as a romantic.

Harp, who grew up on Gospel and Soul music, was one of the first to incorporate that soulful R&B sound into the classic sound of the jazz greats he admires.

He’s especially romantic about the jazz greats who inspired him to pick up a saxophone.

Hear him speak, in his own words, on his influences and why he likes what he likes.
From EveretteHarp.com

I notice you never talk about any “Smooth Jazz” artist when you talk about the music you listen to.
*clearing throat* Well, The fact that I don’t talk about “Smooth Jazz ” performers doesn’t mean I don’t like them. I think there are a lot really good players in the genre, which by the way I just happen to be a part of. I believe “Smooth Jazz” has it’s place in the music world. It is a valid form of musical expression. I would say it is a lighter form of the contemporary jazz I loved so much in the late 70’s, all of the 80’s, and into the early 90’s. After the early 90’s it became more about the song as opposed to the player and his artistry. Actually it seems the less artistry you had the better off you were. Well that’s not the jazz I knew and loved. Even the contemporary jazz of the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s showed the skills, heart and soul of the artist. Each artist was able to bring his / her own uniqueness to the music. I think this is still true today, but to a much lesser extent. There are some who definitely stand out, but the genre has created a situation where there is less demand on the players to actually play, and I mean really dig in and create. I think sexy, cute, sassy, and melodic all have a place, but I also feel the need to hear someone create something that makes me go Hmmm!!!. The genre seems to be mostly about the song, and clever or cute hooks, than it is about the player. I’ll be the first to admit that a great song / hook is extremely important, but my chief complaint about the genre is that I hear the same songs over and over again, but with different players. There is so much redundancy in the genre that it makes it hard to grow as a player. So much so that I find myself unmotivated at times. I have to look to the forgotten ones (at radio) who got us here, The Herbies, The Dukes, Joe Samples, Jarreau (and the music he did early on), McFerrin, Harvey Mason, Tom Scott, Brecker Brothers, Yellow Jackets, Chuck Mangione, Sanborn, Grover, and many others who seem to have been systematically removed from our ears, for inspiration. I know that in life everything evolves, but how do we get to the point where jazz, which is suppose to be about the players, becomes less and less so. So my desire to listen remains with the guys that are truly speaking through their instruments, and that have shown respect to the lineage which has afforded them their very livelihoods. Being true to the music we love and striving to create and influence the younger audience and players just as we were influenced. When I was growing up we never said “Hey, I want to practice to get just good enough”. We always wanted to be great like the players we heard on the radio. Whether or not it was possible to achieve greatness was never the question. Well I feel we are at a creative “stand still”, and that there will be no greatness without the freedom of expression. And as long as certain factions dictate to artist how to create, without actually having musical knowledge, we are in for more of the musical regurgitation that we often hear.
For me greatness is something I seek, but because of my drive to be perfect it will never be attained. That’s why I keep practicing. I’ll repeat, there are a lot of really good players in the smooth jazz genre, and it definitely has its place, but I’m an old jazz head. I want to hear cats really get off. And as long as what is offered to me out there is more about pretty songs, than players, I will lean towards the old stuff. I love Jazz!

Everette Harp’s spring lineup:Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Feb. 16

Houston, TX
March 1

Jakarta Jazz Fest
March 7

Sovereign Performing Arts Center in Reading, Pennsylvania
March 29