SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- I left off yesterday right before I was set to take a Segway demonstration at the Westin Kierland. I can now report that I survived, and neither the Segway nor I are any worse for the wear.
The Segway lesson was just the last in a lot of nice touches the Westin provided to us, and again, this property has set the gold standard for service. They have a handful of these specially-modified Segways for golfers to use instead of carts, and the Westin is only one of two courses in the world that offers them.
For an additional $35 and about an hour of training, you can zip around the course on these bad boys. I, however, mostly did laps around the parking lot. The physics behind the Segway aren't immediately intuitive, and I spent the first few minutes accidentally creeping backwards and to my right. But I quickly figured it out and was circling around the parking more or less effortlessly in no time.
We checked out of the Westin at noon, but not before taking some time to talk to the staff that hosted us this year. I'm not a golfer, but if I was, I could easily see this place becoming my favorite hotel in the world. Even as a non-golfer, I have to appreciate all the little amenities, from the resident Cuban painter, who creates his art to be displayed on site, to the Scottish influence throughout (apparently, you can rent a kilt and golf using old-fashioned clubs, if you're into that kind of stuff). And one more plug for Deseo, where we had dinner on Wednesday. I'm coming back there every year, period.
Bill and Jerry wrapped up their golf early and we left for Maryvale Baseball Park, which is on the other side of the valley. Everything in the Phoenix metro area is so incredibly spread out, and it takes a good half hour to go anywhere. But from northern Scottsdale to western Phoenix took closer to an hour. We showed up in the top of the first inning, since we had to stop for some authentic, wonderful Mexican food from a tiny, roadside shop along the way. More on that in another blog.
Even though it was overcast and only about 70 (figures when I leave, Milwaukee warms up), it felt so great to be back at Maryvale again. I stopped by the press box to say hi to the Brewers' John Steinmiller and MLB.com's Adam McCalvey, then I plopped myself on my rightful place on the right field berm.
The Brewers didn't look sharp early against the Australian national team in this exhibition game. Seth McClung gave up some runs early against a squad the Brewers should've dominated. But in the fourth, J.J. Hardy cranked a long home run, and backup infielder Casey McGehee went yard with a grand slam. The Brewers didn't look back and won 10-5.
I always feel a little scattered at the first Spring Training game I attend each year, spending more time soaking in the sights, scoping out the T-shirts and saying hello to people I haven't seen in six months, than focusing on the baseball. I'm sure I'll watch the action a little more closely at the Brewers game this afternoon, but I did notice that Prince Fielder looked visibly slimmer. That can only be a good thing.
We left the game a little early to check in at our next hotel, the Xona Resort Suites, all the way back in northern Scottsdale at 7677 E. Princess Blvd. This is a very different sort of hotel from the Kierland, but intriguing in its own way. The property is a bit older, but the rooms are tastefully renovated. Though when I say rooms, I should say suites, since I've lived in apartments smaller than this. I'm currently blogging from a king-size bed next to the kitchen and the living room.
The hotel's style is also more cozy, with colorful casitas surrounding several pools and hot tubs. I took a quick swim last night before dinner, and approximately 30 seconds after I post this blog, I'm heading straight for the hot tub.
We didn't have much time to savor the Xona last night, however, because we had to hustle to meet our Scottsdale CVB contact for drinks at 5:30 in old-town Scottsdale. Of course, given the area's wacky traffic, we showed up late, but had enough time to hang out and meet in person at a great bar called Mickey's Hangover.
From there, we stayed local, grabbing dinner at Dos Gringos and stopping at the hilarious biker bar, the Dirty Dogg Saloon, before heading home. We were all pooped, and I was asleep by midnight.
It was another fun but hectic day in Arizona, and I expect today will be the same. Today's Brewers game is against the Indians in Goodyear, which is very far west. We have to drop off Paul at the airport by 5 p.m, and have a dinner reservation back at the hotel at Xona.
It's a lot of running around, but I'm hardly complaining. This is a life I could get used to.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
