Annika Mengisen
| Luxe Toys for Demanding Boys | ||
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| Photo: Ferrari Club of Arizona | ||
But that earthy cigar smell lingering on my coat brought the second annual Men's Luxury Toy Expo into focus.
Arizona, or "the new Florida," is like a giant sunroom, my cab driver had explained as he drove me to Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium the previous morning. He pointed out the housing developments popping up like daisies along the road and was apologetic about the overcast sky. This sort of thing (clouds) almost never happens, he explained. Its vast blue sky, lakes and endless stretches of desert road make Arizona the perfect state for joy riding, boating, off-roading and just about any adrenaline tweaking sport you can think of. Close to 200 exhibitors at the toy expo this past weekend created the perfect oasis for these activities, under the guise of Procart Industries' slogan: "The only limitation is your wallet or your wife." Retirees and celebrities "live here for the weather, for the golf ... and of course the basketball," says Gigi Rock, owner of Gigi Rock Productions, an event-coordinating company. "To keep them in this area ... [you have to] bring in toys that men really like, because they're the population." Grinning exhibitors and expo attendees favored the term "up-and-coming" to describe host Maricopa County's demographic. Those in the real-estate business sported the widest grins.
Xanadu Goes Green
The attendees at the expo were nothing short of gentlemen to this (self-proclaimed) babe in boyland. One example was George Bridges, former real estate broker and co-owner of Mobile West, a maker of custom electric golf carts, including Escalades and limos. He bills his golf carts, which go up to 25 miles an hour, as environmentally sound alternatives to second cars. While Americans won't pass up the SUV, he says, they should still balance their karma. Besides, insurance is only $50 a year! The gated communities and golf greens of nearby Scottsdale are a perfect market for Bridges, as is Westgate, a 6,500,000 square foot area near University of Phoenix stadium that Bridges dubbed the Tomorrowland of Arizona. The Ellman Companies, he explains, have been busy planning this urban village which, once completed, will include restaurants, commerce centers and the Glendale Arena. Bridges envisions Westgate residents carting around in eco-conscious cars that aren't difficult to park and are flashy to boot. "[A person] can never [have to] leave the five-square-mile area in his little green enviro-car," says Bridges. Events like this, it's apparent, are vital for anyone wanting a piece of the future-land market.Sold on the Expo
FasTrak Auctions' first venture with the expo drew a crowd. (I was most envious of the bidder that purchased a guitar autographed by the Rolling Stones.)| Choice Chopper | ||
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