Andaz local media highlights

Andaz Scottsdale

Luxury Retreat

ARTISTIC SOUL

Paradise Valley :: McCormick Ranch

D ecem ber 2016 IMAGE SA Z .C OM

1

ECRWSS Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 3280 DENVER, CO

Contents

PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

EDITOR/CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jenn Korducki Krenn

ART DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT Jennifer Satterlee

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ana Petrovic

STAFF WRITER Grace Hill

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom Scanlon Monica Longenbaker Gregory Granillo Stephanie Maher Palenque Shannon Severson Katherine Braden Lara Piu Rebecca Zaner

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Loralei Lazurek Keri Meyers Michele Celentano Monica Longenbaker Brandon Tigrett

ADVERTISING SALES Loren Sheck

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ 85377 623-341-8221 imagesaz.com Submission of news for Community News section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2016 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.

The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Andaz Scottsdale - Luxury Retreat Artistic Soul Andaz Scottsdale General Manager Scott Mason and artist Mark McDowell pictured Writer Shannon Severson Photographer Brandon Tigrett P. 64

4

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

Local First A R I Z O NA

Andaz Scottsdale

Luxury Retreat

ARTISTIC SOUL

Writer Shannon Severson Photographer Brandon Tigrett and Ramon C Purcell Photography

64

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

A

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa is a new kind of luxury resort that incorporates an immersive local cultural experience with a mix of posh sophistication and a decidedly convivial spirit.

The mid-century vibe is Palm Springs meets Santa Fe simplicity, with low-slung bungalows nestled amidst 23 acres of lush landscape.

Woven into the very fabric of its design are the influences of old and new: the colorful pop art style of Alexander Girard, famous for his work with Charles Eames and Herman Miller; and the ancient spiritual artistry of the Zuni color wheel. The soul of the resort, however, lies in its collaboration with — and desire to celebrate — the work of local artists.

Andaz Scottsdale’s general manager, Scott Mason, is particularly thrilled to have forged a relationship with the Cattle Track Arts Compound. It’s just a few short blocks down the road from the resort, but a world away.

“We are just three-quarters of a mile from Cattle Track, and it’s fortuitous,” says Mason.

“It’s a relationship that was meant to be. Art is about personal interpretation, and relationships are based off of instinct. Our partnership with Cattle Track was natural. It’s not about personal interests, it’s about our mutual interests. We want these artists to have a venue to showcase and to teach, because the relationships we all develop will present opportunities for connection between artists and guests.”

Cattle Track began as a homestead constructed of redwood and found materials by George and Rachael Ellis in the 1920s, and soon became a place for artists to live, create, perform and present. Some very prominent personalities spent time at Cattle Track over the years, including such luminaries as Phoenix Art Museum founder Phillip Curtis and photographer Pedro E. Guerrero, known for his work with Frank Lloyd Wright.

D ecem ber 2016 IMAGE SA Z .C OM

65

The long history of Arizona’s art scene is palpable here — in the sculptures, the studios, the hand-built homes made from salvaged materials, the gallery — and little has changed as the city has grown exponentially just outside its gates. The Ellis’ daughter, Janie, still lives in her childhood home and is central to preserving the creative purpose of the compound.

“This area has always drawn people with talent,” says Ellis.

“Music, art, metalworkers, printmakers — they all congregated here. Part of it was my parents’ ability to help them accomplish projects in their large shop. We could build things, answer questions and get problems solved. We still do that here. We offer living space for artists who come through Phoenix and Scottsdale, and it’s fun because you never know who’s coming. We have six full-time residents and 35 working artists on-site.

“Andaz Scottsdale will introduce our artists to people from around the world. We think they’re going to draw good people.

When you go someplace you’ve never been before, the best way to see it is with someone who lives there. If you have that, you are a huge step ahead. We live here and are looking forward to offering that local perspective.”

At Andaz Scottsdale, artists have been invited to collaborate from the project’s inception and play an integral part in both the birth and life of the resort. Artist Mark McDowell serves as an intermediary between Mason and the many artists

66

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

and performers affiliated with Cattle Track. The talents of painters, sculptors, photographers, fiber artists, ceramicists and printmakers are all richly represented and acknowledged throughout the property.

“Our involvement with Andaz Scottsdale is twofold,” says McDowell. “First, we worked with a design team to outfit the buildings and property with art that fits the design continuum.

Nothing about the resort looks like it was spit out of the corporate machine. Second is the artist residencies — and this is where we really shine and give back. We lend our long history of relationships with artists and performers from Phoenix and all over the world, who have made their way through the gates at Cattle Track. It could be anyone, from a rock ‘n’ roll musician to a Guggenheim fellow. From an artist’s perspective, they have been very generous about crediting the individual artist’s work and letting guests know how to contact the artist. It’s a lovely gesture.”

The artists’ residencies at Andaz Scottsdale Salon are the interactive arm of this collaboration. Events, tours, concerts and classes will center around cultural experiences that inform, inspire and encourage connection between like-minded individuals.

Events may include pottery classes, art instruction, photography demonstrations, musical performances and culinary tours of the local farmers market that conclude with a cooking lesson.

“The Andaz Salon is the experiential component, where we

identify local insiders, work with local curators and add a learning component,” says Mason. “It’s a free landscape where guests can take everything these artists and performers have to offer. For the individual guest or from a meeting standpoint, this is a huge opportunity to do something different.”

Like Cattle Track, the resort is tucked away, with no frontage on Scottsdale Road, so the feel is one of a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet all the attractions of Scottsdale are just minutes away.

“We believe this is the perfect setting,” says Mason. “You’re in the center of it all, but with all of the privacy in the world.”

When you arrive at the doors of Andaz Scottsdale, it’s immediately apparent that this is a different sort of resort — far from cookie-cutter hotel norms. You are greeted by an ever-changing art collection when you enter the Guest House, which isn’t the traditional hotel lobby. There’s no check-in

68

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

desk and the area is flooded with natural light from windows that extend the length of the building, warmly accented with cedar ceilings. The energy of Delawie Architects’ outside-in design changes with the waxing and waning of daylight, evening and deepening night, as quiet mornings give way to lively evenings. It’s this absence of boundaries that embodies the Andaz experience — inclusive, relaxed, stylish, creative.

Hotel guests are greeted with a welcome beverage (with an optional kick) and, adding to the instantly comfortable vibe, can take advantage of the Guest House library, board games and coloring books.

A short distance farther takes you to the Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen. The glass-enclosed exhibition kitchen is an exciting invitation to a culinary arts experience that will attract locals and visitors alike, mimicking friendly gatherings where everyone inevitably ends up hanging out in the kitchen. The open feel (and view of the pool and Camelback Mountain) features a kitchen table, and high countertop tables surround

a plancha where executive chef Adam Sheff offers small and sharable plates that reflect local influences and ingredients in completely new ways. The serving pieces in the restaurant continue the artisanal theme, as many are handmade by Cattle Track ceramic artist Mary Van Dusen.

Sheff looks forward to using honey from an on-site apiary, experimenting with seasonal farmers market finds and creating exceptional bar snacks, including a rotating selection of jerky: ostrich with mescal and green chile, spiced lamb and beef brisket with orange flower honey, among others. It’s a new twist on an old cowboy favorite.

“Finding all these synergies between the artists, the farmers and the producers is part of what defines the food culture of the property,” says Sheff. “Many different cultures have come through this area over the centuries. There are hidden ingredients that people don’t realize are indigenous to this area. It’s not what you’d expect — quail, pistachios, dates, pecans, honey, lettuce, mushrooms and trout from the north. We want to tell that local story.”

Since the resort prefers to let guests create a vacation that reflects their own personal rhythm, Weft & Warp won’t be strictly confined to standard mealtimes. The all-day menu lets guests indulge at whim. Daily, made-to-order brunch is a prime example.

“Breakfast is an event at Andaz Scottsdale,” says Mason. “We intend to cater to the local community with indulgent, satiating favorites like blue corn pancakes with orange-poppy curd and rye whiskey syrup, or dirty hash browns with green chili pork, queso and our house-made hot sauces. We offer breakfast throughout the day, so that even if you’ve had a late night, you don’t have to rush to get a great breakfast. It’s another way we are freeing our visitors to enjoy the experience in their own way and in their own time.”

Another draw for locals and tourists is the spectacular Turquoise Pool. As the color turquoise is at the center of the Zuni color wheel, the pool is at the center of the hotel grounds and is the center of the action. The Turquoise Pool Bar offers seasonal treats like spiked popsicles and punchbowls, and is the Valley’s best new spot for a sunset cocktail (of which there will be a

70

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

Pictured left to right: General Manager Scott Mason and Mark McDowell

D ecem ber 2016 IMAGE SA Z .C OM

71

72

I M AGE SAZ .C O M D ec em b er 2 0 1 6

Pictured left to right: Mark McDowell, Janie Ellis and Brent Bond

multitude of creative iterations) with a view of Camelback Mountain’s north face. Private cabanas can be rented for the ultimate luxury pool experience. Some cabanas are adjacent to the hotels exclusively appointed suites.

The mid-century modern guest room interiors — conceived

by EDG Interior Architecture and Design — are tastefully luxurious, with every design element thoughtfully presented.

Locals and out-of-towners will enjoy taking advantage of the luxurious 12,000-square-foot Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary, which has its own pool and is slated to open in December. Vast event spaces will attract celebrations, conferences and meetings with 10,000 interior square feet (including the 3,900-square-foot Foundry Ballroom) and more than 36,000 exterior square feet of meeting space. Finally, The Retreat at Andaz Scottsdale is a hidden gem at the southern end of the resort property. It’s an

Skylights, beamed ceilings, sliding barn doors and hand troweled walls are the perfect backdrop for the prominently featured

exceptionally private collection of 23 guest rooms that surround a private pool, with event and outdoor dining areas that will

art vignettes that vary widely from room to room. The art includes textile design prints by Janet Towbin; colorful etchings

attract corporate retreats and destination weddings.

by sculptor and painter Larry Passey; and drawings, paintings and prints by Koryn Woodward, Brent Bond and Matt Magee,

The word Andaz means “personal style” in Hindi, and the brand is a boutique arm of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Its 13 locations

among many other artists. Some studios have their own private patios and feature outdoor showers surrounded by stucco walls with Mangaris wood accents.

around the world seek to remove the traditional barriers between travelers and their destinations.

A contemporary teak picnic table graces the front terrace of each studio, and brightly colored Spanish-style banco seating invites guests to enjoy morning coffee or evening cocktails al fresco. To that end, in-room mixers and locally curated snacks are complimentary, and pony-size liquor bottles encourage a little in-room mixology. Fire pits with comfortable seating dot the property, setting the scene for lively conversation or a romantic moment after dark.

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa 6114 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, 85253 480-368-1234 scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com

D ecem ber 2016 IMAGE SA Z .C OM

73

Paradise Valley MARCH 2017

BILTMORE ARCADIA

PVLifestylePubs.com

L

I

F

E

S

T

Y

L

E

â„¢

LUMINOUS LANDSCAPES INSPIRING INTERIOR DESIGNS CREATING AN OUTDOOR OASIS TOP RESOURCES FOR HOME BUILDING

Good Times

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa Grand Opening Soiree

The Andaz Scottsdale celebrated its grand opening in lavish style, complete with cocktails, sumptuous cuisine, an art gallery to benefit Free Arts AZ, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and a generous donation to both Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Free Arts. COURTESY OF ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

13th Annual Childhelp Drive the Dream Gala

Guests dressed in black-tie attire all gathered together at the Arizona Biltmore Resort for this spectacular “Journey to Oz” –themed extravaganza co-chaired by Dr. Stacie and Mr. Richard Stephenson, hosted by Mario Lopez, and featuring a performance by CeeLo Green. PHIL GUDENSCHWAGER & BOB AND DAWN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Dr. Dan Ryklin, Tara Ryklin, Childhelp Founders Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O'Meara, Ivy Ciolli, Joseph Ciolli Event chairs Dr. Stacie and Mr. Richard Stephenson

Allison Dubois, Bea Rocklin, JoAnn Holland, CeeLo Green Debbie Gaby 8

Paradise Valley Lifestyle | March 2017

Senator Jon Kyl and Mrs. Caryll Kyl

Emcee Mario Lopez

JUNE 8–14, 2017 I VOLUME 48 I NUMBER 23 PHOENIXNEWTIMES.COM I FREE

FOLLOW A FATHER’S JOURNEY INTO ARIZONA’S FLAWED JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS HE ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HIS ONLY SON

WARRIOR DAD

BY AMY SILVERMAN

phoenixnewtimes.com

W

Café

Weft & Warp weaves a tapestry of playful Sonoran flavors

BY PATRICIA ESCARCEGA

J

Jackie Mercandetti

rarely feels contrived.

You’ll find, for instance, simple but refined small-plate offerings like Arizonagrown Medjool dates, sliced and served with fresh cream and pistachio crumbles.

Even more intriguing are the Crow’s Dairy goat cheese dumplings. The dumplings are rolled in dark onion ash and served on a rich, buttery tangle of spaghetti squash.

The black onion ash is a subtle twist, imbuing the dumplings with a pleasantly acrid undertone, and lifting a fairly common dish into new and exciting territory.

There is a wonderful braised lamb belly, too. The fall-apart hunks of meat, full of succulent, earthy flavor, are served with a rather flat and watery chimichurri sauce.

But the meat is so beautifully cooked, the dish proves impossible to resist. A watermelon salad served with a dappling of quark and fried chicken skin is less successful. The watermelon and cream are fine and refreshing, but the chunk of chicken skin served on top feels superfluous and clunky.

On the small, well-composed entrée menu, there is more than enough to make up for any disappointing starters. A whole roasted chicken, accented with preserved lemon and complemented with a dark, earthy adobo sauce, is succulent and delightful. A Sonoran “risotto” made with local wheat berries, wild rice, and quinoa is richly textured and surprisingly indulgent, thanks to a generous infusion of Parmesan.

It’s far from a traditional risotto, but its inventiveness is hard not to love, and it also happens to be delicious.

Flank steak is tender and beautifully cooked. But what makes the dish so memorable is the exquisite Kilt Lifter beer and onion puree on the side, a slightly sweet, rich gravy that puddles around the meat, soaking into the steak and amplifying its flavor.

The braised lamb belly at Weft & Warp.

A Kurobuta pork chop is nearly flawless, the tendrils of pink meat exceptionally succulent. The pork is served with a deceptively simple black bean puree, which ripples with earthy flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the pork.

Whole trout is beautifully seared on the kitchen’s plancha grill, the fish delivered with a crisp and golden veneer. But the subtly sweet flavor of the fish is nearly overwhelmed by an overly assertive and indelicately vinegary romesco sauce.

For dessert, it would be mistake to skip a slice of the house olive oil cake, which is made with Queen Creek olive oil and paired with a nicely tart winter citrus salad. The bright citrus works wonderfully with the moist, dense cake. There’s also a very good mesquite chocolate tart, its gritty crust redolent of the aromatic and earthy sweetness that you just can’t get from conventional white flour.

Mesquite flour is nothing new around these parts, of course, but it still feels mildly and pleasantly surprising to come upon it here, a local flavor artfully woven into the menu of a swanky new resort restaurant.

This is something Weft & Warp’s refined yet laid-back menu is doing very well.

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen 6114 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-368-1234 scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/ dining/weft-warp-art-bar-kitchen.html Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday and Monday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Braised lamb belly $14 Grilled flank steak $28 Kurobuta pork chop with black bean puree $32 Mesquite tart $9

JUNE 8TH–JUNE 14TH, 2017

the resort, far enough away from the main entrance to make you forget about the din and clamor of Scottsdale Road. On the way to the restaurant, you might be distracted by the assortment of designer chairs in the lobby, or by the small gift shop stocked with locally made art, watercolor sets, and midcentury coloring books. An indie acoustic playlist emanates softly over the house speakers. If there is an underlying house philosophy at Andaz, it might be summed up as something I saw written on a hotel guest’s T-shirt on a recent visit: “No Bad Vibes.”

The relaxed ambiance is carried over into the restaurant, which is just beyond the lobby. The dining room is open and airy, a cheerful space where natural light pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tables are arranged in various configurations, with an eclectic assortment of seating options, including banquettes, low-slung leather chairs, ornately plush designer numbers, and comfy love seats.

The house designer, I’m fairly certain, must entertain a mild obsession with beautiful chairs.

There is a U-shaped bar in the middle of the room, overlooking a display wall that showcases a colorful assemblage of books and art. The restaurant’s most notable design point, though, is the exhibition kitchen, which features floor-to-ceiling glass walls that leave most of the kitchen action fully visible to anyone passing by.

The executive chef at Weft & Warp is Adam Sheff. “We call him Chef Sheff,” a server told me on a recent visit.

Adam Sheff previously cooked at the Park Hyatt in Washington, D.C., among other properties, and he seems to have taken to the dramatic change in scenery, his menu embracing and playing with desert ingredients and flavors in a way that

PHOENIX NEW TIMES

udging by its somewhat lofty name, you might get the impression that Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen indulges in a fair amount of pretension. Maybe you picture a dining room plastered with Rothko lookalikes and a long-winded cocktail menu featuring drinks that are more complicated than they are delicious. Or maybe, as a friend confessed to me recently, you have found the restaurant’s name downright confusing, and you’ve been left wondering if it’s one of those date night paint-and-wine art studios.

As I found out, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen is not a working art studio, nor is it pretentious. The restaurant’s name, in case your weaving terminology is a little rusty, is a reference to the two basic types of thread that make up a woven fabric. It’s a metaphor for the restaurant’s “modern Sonoran” concept, described on its website as an “artistic tapestry of the Sonoran Desert.”

Though it might sound high-minded, it’s not untrue. The dishes at Weft & Warp do often weave local flavors and inBLACK ONION gredients into the traditional canvas ASH IS A high-end resort SUBTLE TWIST, of cooking. The reIMBUING THE sults are less selfDUMPLINGS conscious, and often more deWITH A lightful, than you PLEASANTLY might imagine.

ACRID This small, artfully UNDERTONE. named hotel restaurant located at the new Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, as it turns out, is one of the most interesting and satisfying new restaurants to open in the Valley thus far this year.

The luxury Hyatt property is situated just north of Old Town in the space that formerly housed the Cottonwood Suites.

After extensive renovation, the Andaz has emerged as a breezy, quietly chic resort, featuring casita-style bungalows, views of Camelback Mountain, and a resolute devotion to Midcentury Modern design.

The restaurant is situated deep inside

| CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC |

Haute Desert Dining

29

VANESSA RUIZ The 12 News anchor takes on a new role at Arizona State University, with a mission to inspire the next generation of journalists

COOL DOWN! VIP wine cellar experiences Seaside splendor in Coronado 10 tropical drinks

WWW.SOSCOTTSDALE.COM | RICHMAN MEDIA GROUP | JULY 2017

Northern Arizona’s Verde Valley

low-down

BY CHELSEA YOUNG

N EW

&

NO TEWORTH Y

Polar Play

Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary

Kona Grill

Contour You

Travel to an icy world reminiscent of the north and south poles at Polar Play, the latest attraction at the entertainment complex Odysea in the Desert. At just 23 degrees and comprised of 30,000 pounds of ice, Polar Play is Arizona’s first ice bar. Your chilly experience will include a coat (you can even go VIP with a faux fur option), ice sculptures, games like shuffleboard and corn hole, and drinks for those over 21. After your cool escape, thaw out by a warm fire at the venue’s lodge – or just step back into the Valley’s heat! www.polarplay.com.

Following Andaz Scottsdale’s December 2016 debut, its spa is now open. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes a private outdoor pool, eucalyptus steam rooms, an indoor relaxation lounge, outdoor relaxation areas with hydrotherapy pools, a fitness center, and a full-service nail and hair salon. Each service and product takes influence from holistic practices, utilizing indigenous ingredients curated by a Sedona botanist. You can even create a true-to-you essence at its Desert Blending Bar with an assortment of essential oils and botanical boosters. www.andazscottsdale.com.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Kona Grill has fittingly opened its newest Valley venue at Scottsdale Quarter, where it will dish out a menu of American favorites and Asian fare, plus a variety of cocktails and sake. Incorporating modern design elements among an upscale ambiance, the new location features a large indoor/ outdoor space, a sushi bar, a full-service bar, and an exhibition kitchen. Additionally, it will serve as the test kitchen for new menu items. www.konagrill.com.

SO SCOTTSDALE! |

Tomaso’s When in Rome

The latest concept from Executive Chef Tomaso Maggiore – and the first derivative of the original Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant – is a Roman-inspired venue, Tomaso’s When in Rome. The North Scottsdale eatery resembles a Roman trattoria complete with Romanesque architecture and themed walls that pay tribute to historical landmarks in Italy’s capital city. Traditional dishes will be served at lunch and dinner, and, naturally, an extensive collection of wine rounds out the offerings. After all, as the saying goes, when in Rome … www.tomasoswheninrome.com.

North Scottsdale’s first noninvasive body contouring office, Contour You (www.contouryou.com), recently unveiled a new, expanded location at Desert Village Shopping Center, offering services such as CoolSculpting and fat reduction, plus injectables, peels and facials. On July 26 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., check out the newly designed, 2,000-square-foot space at a soiree that will include libations, light bites, specials, demos, gifts and raffles.

RSVP required; call 602.390.2015.

46

| JULY 2017

HELLO, SPRING! Pretty pastels Chic shades Fashionable florals

J A M I E

K R E L L

A glimpse into the beauty, fashion and lifestyle expert’s on-air life and how she got her start in the TV industry – all while giving back and helping inspire women

SHAPING THE VALLEY Motivation, workout wisdom and best practices from six fitness pros WWW.SOSCOTTSDALE.COM | RICHMAN MEDIA GROUP | MARCH 2017

Clothing and shoes provided by Stephanie’s

SO SCOTTSDALE! |

46

| MARCH 2017

The stylish entrepreneur takes her beauty, fashion and lifestyle expertise to national TV – with a message of helping women feel beautiful and inspired

BY ELIZABETH LIBERATORE PHOTOS BY MARK MORGAN SHOT ON LOCATION AT ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

MARCH 2017 |

47

| SO SCOTTSDALE!

T

here are many outlets for creative expression, and Jamie Krell’s creativity illuminates through everything that bears her signature. Krell is a style expert who curates and produces beauty, fashion and lifestyle segments on national television platforms. Krell’s segments have appeared on popular shows like Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, The TODAY Show, The View and E! News.

There is an art to assembling a five- to seven-minute segment that offers viewers both information and entertainment. With her impeccable taste and keen eye, Krell takes a TV spot’s blank canvas and turns it into a masterful, fashionable work of art.

“It takes countless hours preparing for a segment, from coming up with a topic and theme to researching and finding the best brands, products or styles,” Krell says, who describes her role as part editor, part producer and part host.

“Additionally, you have to coordinate details with the marketing teams, write the material, take photographs, pull looks, book models, style outfits, return samples and be well-versed to deliver the proper message for various brands and clients on TV – it’s a lot of work!”

Dress provided by Neiman Marcus

A Natural Creative Krell fostered a creative mind early in life.

Originally from Cleveland, she was raised in the beach city of San Diego with her artistically inclined family.

“I come from a long line of artists in my family, and I have always enjoyed illustration and design,” Krell says.

Growing up, Krell was involved in theater, trained in various styles of dance and took many art classes. Her interest in illustration and design urged her to pursue a degree in interdisciplinary fine arts at the University of Arizona. It wasn’t until she studied and lived in a major fashion capital – London, England – that her true creative outlet made itself known.

“In London, that’s really when I would say ‘it all started.’ I learned pattern-making and computer-aided design; I took photography and design courses and spent hours sketching, drawing and learning how to construct clothing. It was a great way to express myself and another creative outlet,” she says.

Fresh out of school, Krell took her design skills and began her career in the fashion and beauty industry working alongside the costume designer on NBC’s hit sitcom Friends. Krell learned from her supervisor’s management style and her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities at once.

The invaluable lessons Krell gained from her supervisor would later fuel her success as a beauty and style entrepreneur.

Krell was tasked with exploring the Warner Bros. merchandise room, selecting fabric from the LA Fashion Market, and photographing and organizing looks for each cast member on Friends.

“I learned so much from [my supervisor] as she was extremely talented, but also tough,” she says. “Being able to explore this opportunity at such a young age, and at the beginning of my career, was truly a dream come true.”

Krell, a budding stylist with an already impressive resume, decided to stay in Los Angeles upon a referral to E! Entertainment and Style Network. “[The Friends’ costumer designer] said I should start out in entertainment and experience all the facets of TV, film and production and see what I liked and where it took me.”

So, Krell did just that. She began as a production assistant, and for the next SO SCOTTSDALE! |

48

| MARCH 2017

two years she explored the entertainment sphere in casting, producing, writing and editing. During this creative exploration, Krell found her creative outlet in producing beauty, fashion and lifestyle content.

“I was able to meet and build relationships with some of the biggest fashion and beauty brands – including Sephora, NARS, John Frieda and Smashbox – agents, managers, public relations and marketing executives, wardrobe stylists and makeup artists in the business. I have continued to nurture so many of those relationships to this day.”

Krell admits that the industry’s competiveness is taxing, but the relationships with like-minded and inspiring women make the harder days worth it.

“We all bring something different and unique to the table,” she says. “I am all about lifting each other up, and I gravitate toward women in life and work who feel the same. I have been lucky to find such a supportive system of women while growing up in this business.”

After five years in LA’s beauty entertainment industry, Krell moved to New York City to spearhead a broadcast division for a major beauty and fashion public relations firm. At first, Krell found herself intimidated by the cutthroat atmosphere of the city.

Then, recalling that NYC living was always a dream of hers, she shifted her mindset from trepidation to curiosity.

“I decided I would give it my all and explore and enjoy the Big Apple as much as I could,” she says. “My greatest challenge was overcoming those first few months, which were really hard.

Ultimately, the three years I lived in New York City left me with the greatest reward.

As an article in Forbes once said, ‘New York City is the world’s best teacher.’”

As the broadcast director at a major PR firm, Krell wrote, pitched and secured segments on morning, daytime, late night and entertainment shows. One day, Krell’s boss decided to turn the tables and put the broadcast director in the spotlight.

“My boss put me on camera to host one of the segments I had pitched,” she says. I thought she was crazy, but I was surprisingly comfortable and it went well.

The rest is sort of history after that.”

Giving Back Krell continues to write, produce, style and curate a variety of segments for viewers

Dress and shoes provided

by Neiman Marcus

“I have a nice work-life balance now. Living in Scottsdale has contributed to a newfound happiness rooted in a great sense of community. I love that our community is literally the definition of tight-knit. People here genuinely care about each other and are always friendly.”

MARCH 2017 |

49

| SO SCOTTSDALE!

in cities nationwide. But now, she has the luxury to express her creativity within the comforts of her own home. Krell moved to Arizona to be with her husband, and the peaceful desert landscape proved to be exactly what she needed at the time.

“I have a nice work-life balance now.

Living in Scottsdale has contributed to a newfound happiness rooted in a great sense of community,” she says. “I love that our community is literally the definition of tight-knit. People here genuinely care about each other and are always friendly.”

Since moving here, Krell has become involved with the local charity People Acting Now Discovering Answers (PANDA), a group of 70 members who raise money for Steele Children’s Research Center at the University of Arizona. Krell utilizes her expertise in content creation to help build special components, such as live auctions and raffles, at the organization’s signature event, the Children Helping Children Fashion Show. With the help of Krell’s extensive contact list and connections, the live auction and raffle from last year’s event raised $150,000 on its own.

This year’s fashion show takes place this month, on March 25, at The Phoenician. Krell will serve as emcee, as she has for the last two years.

“I always say the single best use of my relationships and contacts is being able to call upon them to help raise money for a charity,” she says. “You realize quickly that giving back, in any small way you can, has the ability to make a significant, positive impact and difference in someone else’s life.

“I am proud to live in this city for so many reasons,” Krell continues. “But I am most proud of the philanthropic efforts happening all around us.”

From Friends and life in NYC’s fast lane to building a style empire in the Valley, it goes without saying that there is no stopping Krell. This beauty industry professional’s unique outlet of expression is found within each of her segments and charitable components, and her message speaks clearly.

“What I love most about what I do is helping women feel beautiful and inspired.”

Learn more about Krell at www.jamiekrell.com and PANDA at www.azpanda.org.

new in town

B

elieve it or not, greater Scottsdale hasn’t seen a completely new resort open its doors since Talking Stick Resort debuted in 2010 – until now.

Debuting in late 2016, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa is located on 23 acres in the heart of Scottsdale, just north of McDonald Drive off of Scottsdale Road, situated among majestic 50-foot pine trees, giant saguaros and desert wildflowers, in sight of Camelback Mountain.

Rooms With a View The resort features 201 casita-style bungalows ranging from 350 to 1,800 square feet, where the decor blends contemporary finishes with Southwestern colors, featuring folk artwork inspired by designs of the Zuni Tribe and Alexander Girard. The spirit of the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound is evident in each room, too, with eclectic works crafted by local artists. Guest rooms feature front terraces with Spanish-style banco seating and dining tables as well as mid-century-inspired furnishings and bathrooms with oversized showers. Nightly room rates are seasonally based, starting at $399 per night during peak season.

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

Mid-century modern meets Scottsdale sophistication at one of the Valley’s newest resorts

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

Public Spaces The aptly title Guest House, located at the center of the resort and boasting floor-to-ceiling glass walls to highlight the indoor restaurant and lounge spaces, serves as a social gathering place for guests and locals. It changes in ambiance throughout the day, reflecting a calming, quiet essence during the morning hours

and a more up-beat, party atmosphere as day moves toward night (and happy hour).

Beyond the Guest House sits the Turquoise Pool, which offers full bar service and an expansive sundeck including chaise lounges and daybeds as well as 13 private cabanas, six of which are SO SCOTTSDALE! |

130

| MARCH 2017

connected to guest rooms and a suite overlooking the pool.

And set to open this month, the resort’s 12,000-square-foot Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary features personalized treatments utilizing indigenous ingredients. There are indoor and outdoor treatment rooms as well as outdoor hydrotherapy pools, a nail and hair salon, eucalyptus steam rooms, outdoor relaxation lounges and a private pool.

Dining Delights The resort’s restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, features plancha cooking, a grilling technique derived from Latin America that uses a flat slab of cast iron to sear delicate foods like asparagus, bay scallops, shrimp, fish fillets and thin steaks. Beyond that, Weft & Warp serves an eclectic mix of shareable plates, and its glass box exhibition kitchen includes a chef’s table, which beckons guests to become a part of the cooking experience.

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, 6114 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480.368.1234; www.andazscottsdale.com.

6D

|| S AT U R D AY , M AY 6 , 2 017

|| T H E A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C

26 Phoenix, Scottsdale summer resort deals DAWN GILBERTSON THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Triple-digit temperatures are easier to handle when you're sleeping on high-thread-count sheets, cranking up someone else's air conditioning and sipping on tropical drinks delivered poolside.

That's the lush life travelers can experience in metro Phoenix in the summer, when hotel rates plunge as temperatures soar. Resorts that charge more than $250 a night in peak season drop their rates by half or more, and resorts with winter rates topping $500 a night charge about $200 a night and up and throw in some perks.

26 Phoenix-area summer resort deals 1. Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Scene: The north Phoenix all-suite hotel is a family favorite for its sprawling River Ranch water park, which includes a water slide, lazy river and poolside activities.

Deal: From $124 per night with the code SUNSP. Details: 602-997-2626, squawpeakhilton.com.

2. Westin Kierland Resort Scene: Family central with non-stop activities at the pool, which has a water slide, lazy river and FlowRider surf simulator. Weekend activities will include an icecream truck, wintery games and the Polar Plunge, where hundreds of pounds of ice are dropped into the pool.

Deal: The Big Chill package starts at $149 a night. It includes a $50 dining credit or two sessions on the FlowRider.

Details: 480-624-1202, kierlandresort.com.

3. Arizona Biltmore Scene: The historic central Phoenix resort offers lush grounds; pool activities including a water slide, margarita cart, DJ and movies; plus golf, nearby hiking, and restaurants and shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park.

Deal: From $125 a night. The best deal is the all-inclusive package, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for two, self-parking and the $28 resort fee.

Prices vary by date. For a weekend stay in mid-July, I found the all-inclusive package for $215 a night.

Details: 602-955-6600, arizonabiltmore.com.

4. Hermosa Inn Scene: Intimate hideaway in Paradise Valley that began as the residence of famed cowboy artist Lon Megargee. The resort restaurant named after him, Lon's at the Hermosa, is a special-occasion and business-dining hot spot that draws locals and visitors.

Deal: The Summer in Paradise package starts at $139 a night. It includes two drinks and a $25 daily food and beverage credit.

Details: 844-423-3981, hermosainn.com.

5. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Scene: The northeast Phoenix resort, one of the state's largest, is a magnet for families given its water playground with a lazy river, water slide and poolside activities. The resort also is popular with golfers, and shoppers like the proximity to Desert Ridge Marketplace.

Deal: From $169 per night. Like to golf? Check out the Come to Life package, which starts at $179 a night and includes a $50 resort credit, unlimited golf for up to four guests in the room, free kids meals and the $29 resort fee.

Details: 480-293-5000, jwdesertridge.com.

6. Arizona Grand Resort Scene: All-suite resort with water activities galore, golf and hiking, all with a South Mountain backdrop.

The big draw is the Oasis Water Park, which features a lazy river, wave pool and the biggest water slides in Arizona.

Deal: From $109 per night but climbing past $200 for some summer weekend dates. On Tuesdays, the resort posts last-minute deals on Facebook.

Details: 602-438-9000, arizonagrandresort.com.

7. Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes Scene: Mountainside resort with poolside activities including live music and free yoga, plus a marquee special-occasion restaurant, Top of The Rock.

Deal: The Summer Splash package starts at $149 a night. It includes a $50 resort credit, parking ($10) and internet ($14.95).

Details: 602-225-9000, marriott.com/phxtm.

8. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Scene: Camelback Mountain retreat with chic rooms, serene pool and spa and destination dining spot in Elements, run by celebrity chef Beau MacMillan.

Deal: From $215 per night with 14-day advance purchase. The room must be prepaid and is nonrefundable.

Details: 855-245-2051, sanctuaryoncamelback.com.

9. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Scene: Families galore enjoying pools, water slides, a fishing pond, nighttime events and a beach. Adults will love the Well & Being Spa, golf courses (home to the PGA's Waste Management Phoenix Open) and restaurants including Bourbon Steak from celebrity chef Michael Mina. The Princess goes all out on holiday weekends, with an unparalleled lineup of activities.

Deal: The Summer Splash Birthday Bash package, which celebrates the resort's 30th year, starts at $169 per night. It includes a $50 resort credit.

Details: 480-585-4848, scottsdaleprincess.com.

10. Found:Re Phoenix Scene: Hip new downtown Phoenix hotel with an artsy vibe and a popular indoor/outdoor bar.

Deal: The Summer Staycation AZ Luv package starts at $129 a night. It's packed with perks: a $50 food and beverage credit, valet parking ($25 a night), a welcome cocktail and late checkout.

Details: 602-875-8000, foundrehotels.com.

11. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North Scene: A laid-back luxury resort adjacent to Pinnacle Peak Park in north Scottsdale, with poolside pampering including complimentary cabanas (first come, first served) and frozen treats and a complimentary kids program. Summer activities include sunrise hikes, Saturday night poolside movies and discounted spa treatments.

Deal: From $189 per night.

Details: 480-513-5039, fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

12. Hotel Valley Ho Scene: Hip mid-century modern hotel with a happening pool, chic rooms and an ideal location near downtown Scottsdale.

Deal: From $149 a night.

Details: 480-376-2600, hotelvalleyho.com.

13. Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Scene: Family central with poolside activities galore, including pedal boats, water bikes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and live music throughout the summer. Special events include a pop-up water park on holiday weekends. Foodies will love Kai restaurant, the only Arizona restaurant to earn five diamonds from AAA and five stars from Forbes Travel Guide.

Deal: The You Stay, We Pay package starts at $149 a night. It includes a $50 resort credit (Kai is excluded).

The rate code is WEPAY. The We Love Teachers package starts at $99 a night. Teachers get a room upgrade, late checkout and $25 gift card to teacherspayteachers.com. A $99 package is also available for military members.

Details: 602-225-0100,

POINTE HILTON SQUAW PEAK RESORT

A view of the pool at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.

WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA

The Westin Kierland offers the Adventure Pool, which includes a lazy river.

wildhorsepassresort.com/summer.

14. Mountain Shadows Scene: Arizona's newest resort, on prime Paradise Valley land that drew Hollywood stars to a prized hotel with the same name in the 1960s, is for those seeking a relaxing spot with awe-inspiring views of Camelback and Mummy mountains, adult pools and golf.

Deal: From $159 a night.

Details: 480-624-5400, mountainshadows.com.

15. Andaz Scottsdale Scene: This new resort, one of 22 new U.S. hotels named to Conde Nast Traveler's 2017 Hot List, is a tucked-away, art-filled hotel aimed at creative types looking for something different. The resort, whose casita-like rooms are arranged in clusters, has a partnership with the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound.

Members of the 81-year-old collective participate in an artist-in-residence program at the resort.

Deal: From $189 in June, $159 in July and $139 in August.

Details: 480-368-1234, scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com.

16. Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch Scene: Family central thanks to a sprawling pool complex with a beach, water slide and activities galore.

An adult pool has its own bar, and there are gondola rides and a spa.

Deal: From $199 in June, $159 in July and $139 in August. Shop for the Splash into Summer package, which includes a $50 resort credit and self-parking ($21).

Details: 480-444-1234, scottsdale.hyatt.com.

17. W Scottsdale Scene: Adult pool-party fun in a downtown Scottsdale location convenient to restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Deal: The Arizona Residents package starts at $169 a night. It includes valet parking ($22), two drinks and internet service ($10.95). On holiday weekends, the package includes tickets to the hotel's weekend pool parties on the WET Deck. Ask for rate plan AZRES. Details: 480-970-2100, wscottsdalehotel.com.

18. Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia Scene: Mediterranean-style resort with two pools and unbeatable views of Camelback Mountain from the pool, rooms and even the cycling classes at the fitness center. Spa lovers will want to book treatments at the tranquil Joya Spa, which is offering daily specials throughout the summer.

Deal: The Slumber & Save package starts at $129 a night with a two-night minimum stay. It includes $50 to spend on food and drinks at the pool, parking ($22), a reduced resort fee ($15 instead of $29) and 4 p.m. checkout.

Details: 480-627-3200, omnimontelucia.com.

19. The Boulders Scene: Recently renovated adults getaway near Carefree with Instagram-worthy views, golf and spa.

Summer activities include complimentary poolside treats, moonlight biking and paddleboard yoga.

Deal: From $129 a night. The Truly Boulders package starts at $179 a night. It includes a $25 dining credit, valet parking ($25) and resort fee ($30).

Details: 480-488-9009, theboulders.com.

20. The Camby Scene: Artsy high-rise with a lively pool scene and prime central Phoenix location in the Biltmore corridor, home to hiking, restaurants and shopping including Biltmore Fashion Park across the street. Summer activities include nightly outdoor movies and a guitar loaner program.

Deal: From $139 a night.

Details: 602-468-0700, thecamby.com.

21. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix Scene: A hip downtown Phoenix hotel with a happening rooftop bar and pool scene. Summer activities include free yoga, DJs and holiday pool parties. The Palo-

mar is part of the CityScape dining and entertainment complex and within walking distance of Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Talking Stick Resort Arena, host to many concerts.

Deal: From $136 per night. The rate code is FFSUM. Details: 602-253-6633, hotelpalomar-phoenix.com.

22. JW Marriott Camelback Inn Scene: Legendary Paradise Valley resort, a favorite of Marriott Chairman Bill Marriott, with casitas, a destination spa, mountain views and more.

Deal: The Experience Your Way package starts at $169 a night and includes a $50 resort credit. Packages that include massages or golf are also offered.

Details: 480-948-1700, camelbackinn.com.

23. Royal Palms Resort & Spa Scene: Intimate adult getaway in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, known for its lush grounds, spa and marquee restaurant, T. Cook's. The pool was recently renovated.

Deal: The Spa and Dine package starts at $189 per night. It includes a $50 spa credit and $25 food and beverage credit. Use special offer code LLXE. Details: 602-283-1234, royalpalmshotel.com 24. The Phoenician Scene: The Phoenician is family central in summer, but this year will be a little different. A multimilliondollar makeover of the luxury resort at the base of Camelback Mountain began in May and will close the resort's stunning pool, lobby, some restaurants and the spa until the fall. The resort has set up a temporary "Pool at the Park'' at its tennis garden. Relish Burger Bistro and J&G Steakhouse remain open and are offering specials. Food and drink service also will be available at the pool.

Deal: Renovation rates start at $119 a night. They include a renovated room, half off the Funician Kids Club and a free in-room movie.

Details: 480-941-8200, thephoenician.com.

25. The Scott Scene: A tropical resort with a one-of-a-kind pool setting and prime location near downtown Scottsdale restaurants, bars, shopping and attractions. (The Scott is the former FireSky Resort, which was part of the Kimpton chain.)

Deal: From $119 a night for a package that includes a $30 resort credit. The Time out for Teachers package starts at $99 a night.

Details: 480-945-7666, thescottresort.com.

26. Talking Stick Resort Scene: Casino resort near Scottsdale known for its adult pool parties on weekends. Talking Stick also offers concerts, golf, a spa and Orange Sky, a 15th-floor special-occasion restaurant with stunning mountain views.

Deal: Packages start at $129 a night with a $25 food and drink credit. That package requires a two-night minimum but other options are available.

Details: 480-850-7777, talkingstickresort.com.

Worship

CHRISTIAN PRAYER HEALINGROOMS.COM

TO PLACE AN AD, PLEASE CALL 602-444-7133

S U B S C R I B E R - E XC L U S I V E 1 2 - PAG E S P E C I A L S E C T I O N S U N DAY, A PR I L 23 , 2 017

COOL

SUMMER GETAWAYS

YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATIONS

PLUS NEW SPOTS TO EXPLORE

2 PHOENIX RESORT DEALS 3 LAKE POWELL 4 PINETOP-LAKESIDE 5 LASSEN 6 SAN DIEGO

SAN FRANCISCO 8 BARGAIN FLIGHTS 9 LAS VEGAS 10 DENVER 11 TAOS 12

GETTY IMAGES

2P

|| S U N D AY , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 017

|| T H E A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C

COOL SUMMER GETAWAYS

PHOENIX RESORT DEALS Triple-digit temperatures are easier to handle when you're sleeping on high-thread-count sheets, cranking up someone else's air conditioning and sipping tropical drinks delivered poolside. That's the lush life travelers can experience in metro Phoenix in summer, when hotel rates plunge as temperatures soar. Resorts that charge more than $250 a night in peak season drop their rates by half or more. h Here are 12 deals to get your vacation planning started. When comparing rates, make sure to factor in resort fees and other nightly charges. BY DAWN GILBERTSON | THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley

Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale

Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley

SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

HOTEL VALLEY HO

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

POINTE HILTON TAPATIO CLIFFS

largest, is a magnet for families given its water playground with a lazy river, water slide and poolside activities. The resort is also popular with golfers, and shoppers like the proximity to Desert Ridge marketplace.

Scene: All-suite resort in north Phoenix has a water slide, poolside activities and stunning mountain views.

Deal: From $89 a night with the code TAPFAM. Resort fee is $26.

Deal: From $169 per night. Resort fee is $29. Parking is extra.

Details: 800-947-9784, tapatiocliffshilton.com.

Details: 480-293-5000, jwdesertridge.com.

THE SAGUARO SCOTTSDALE Scene: Hip, recently renovated hotel in downtown Scottsdale with lively pool scene and prime location for exploring shops and restaurants.

Deal: The Perk Up package starts at $112 a night with the promo code DIRECT and includes a $20 food and beverage credit, upgrade to a pool-view room and late check-out. Resort fee is $26.

Details: 623-935-3811, wigwamarizona.com.

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS

Deal: From $215 per night with 14-day advance purchase. Resort fee is $34. The room must be prepaid and is nonrefundable.

Details: 855-245-2051, sanctuaryoncamelback.com.

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS

Scene: The north Phoenix all-suite hotel is a family favorite for its sprawling River Ranch water park, with water slide, lazy river and poolside activities.

Scene: Families galore enjoying pools, water slides, lots of activities and a beach. Adults will love the Well & Being Spa, golf courses (home to the PGA's Waste Management Phoenix Open) and restaurants including Bourbon Steak from celebrity chef Michael Mina.

Deal: The Birthday Bash package, which celebrates the resort's 30th year, includes a $50 resort credit and starts at $199 per night. Taxes and $30 resort fee are extra.

HERMOSA INN Scene: Intimate hideaway in Paradise Valley that began as the residence of cowboy artist Lon Megargee.

The restaurant named after him, Lon's at the Hermosa, is a special-occasion and business-dining hot spot.

Deal: The Summer in Paradise package starts at $139 a night and includes two drinks, a $25 daily food and beverage credit and the $25 resort fee.

JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE Scene: The northeast Phoenix resort, one of the state's

Scene: Arizona's newest resort, on prime Paradise Valley land that drew Hollywood stars to a prized hotel with the same name in the 1960s, is for those seeking a relaxing spot with awe-inspiring views of Camelback and Mummy mountains, adult pools and golf.

Deal: From $159 a night plus $28 resort fee and $21 for parking.

Details: 480-624-5400, mountainshadows.com.

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA Scene: This new resort is a tucked-away, art-filled hotel aimed at creative types. The resort has a partnership with the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound. Members of the collective participate in an artist-in-residence program at the resort.

Details: 866-540-4495, scottsdaleprincess.com.

Deal: From $189 in June, $159 in July and $139 in August. Resort fee is $39 and includes valet parking.

HOTEL VALLEY HO

Details: 480-368-1234, scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com.

Scene: Hip midcentury modern hotel with a happening pool, chic rooms and an ideal location near downtown Scottsdale.

HYATT REGENCY SCOTTSDALE RESORT AT GAINEY RANCH

Deal: From $149 a night. Parking is $18. The hotel will launch its annual summer sale on May 1 with its lowest rates of the year. Check the website or call when the sale begins.

Details: 844-423-3981, hermosainn.com.

Deal: From $129 on weekdays and $149 on weekends.

Stay two nights for as low as $179 on weekdays and $219 on weekends. Resort fee is $28.

Scene: Camelback Mountain retreat with chic rooms, a serene pool and spa and destination dining spot in Elements, run by celebrity chef Beau MacMillan.

POINTE HILTON SQUAW PEAK

Details: 800-947-9784, squawpeakhilton.com.

Scene: Family fun west of downtown Phoenix with pools, water slides and non-stop activities including poolside movies and water-balloon tosses. Adults will love the spa and golf.

SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

Details: 877-808-2440, thesaguaro.com/scottsdale.

Deal: From $119 per night with the code SUNSP. Resort fee is $26.

THE WIGWAM

Details: 480-376-2600, hotelvalleyho.com.

Scene: Families love the sprawling pool complex with beach, water slide and activities galore. An adult pool has its own bar, and there are gondola rides.

Deal: From $199 in June, $159 in July and $139 in August. Resort fee is $29. Parking is extra.

Details: 480-444-1234, scottsdale.hyatt.com.

Top: Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs, Phoenix HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS

HALL CALL KENT SOMERS AZCENTRAL SPORTS

HOUSTON — Kurt Warner’s storybook football career got a new ending on Saturday.

The former Cardinals quarterback was one of five modern-day candidates voted into

the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the 48member selection committee.

This year’s Hall of Fame class was announced Saturday night at the NFL Honors See WARNER, Page 18A

SUPER BOWL LI: New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons

S U N D AY , F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 017

Today at 4:30 p.m. on FOX

R1

“For 55 days, I have been clean. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I’m learning a lot. I’m learning how to budget money, get a job — the right way.”

A resident at the Maricopa Reentry Center

With a $518,000 budget boost, Ducey aims to give people with broken beginnings

‘A REAL SECOND CHANCE’ John Newburry is open and direct as he talks about a very intimate subject: his drug addiction.

“For 55 days, I have been clean,” Newburry says with a huge smile. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I’m learning a lot. I’m learning how to budget money, get a job — the right way. … They are teaching us how to control our triggers.”

Newburry, 48, a muscular guy with with tattoos up and down his arms, is engaged in a midmorning substance-abuse counseling session with 10 others inside the Maricopa Reentry Center in north Phoenix.

A drug abuser since his teen years, Newburry has pulled four stints in Arizona’s cor-

Is it a calculated strategy, or just a boost to his ego?

DAN NOWICKI THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

JOHN NEWBURRY

CRAIG HARRIS THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Analyzing Trump’s feud with the media

rectional system for assault and drug use.

After Newburry violated terms of his most recent release by taking drugs, his parole officer gave him a choice. He could go back to prison and finish his sentence, or he could receive intensive counseling and drug treatment from the Arizona Department of Corrections’ recently opened re-entry center.

Newburry opted for a 90-day stay at the reentry center. Now more than halfway through, he is clean and believes he is on the road to recovery.

If Gov. Doug Ducey gets his way, the nascent re-entry program will expand with a $518,000 infusion from the state budget. Ducey wants to add six more substance-abuse counSee RE-ENTRY, Page 20A

Online: Watch John Newburry talk about his experience at the center at valley.azcentral.com.

Since at least President Richard Nixon, there has not been any love lost between the White House and the press corps that covers it.

“You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore,” he famously told reporters — prematurely, as it turned out — at a 1962 news conference following an unsuccessful run for California governor.

After Nixon won the presidency in 1968, the unpopular Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal ensured a hostile relationship until the bitter end of his presidency, in 1974.

But even Nixon’s well-documented antagonism toward the press, which included putting journalists Daniel Schorr and Mary McGrory on an internal White House “enemies list,” was never as over-the-top as President Donald Trump’s.

So far in the nascent Trump administration, the news media has served as Trump’s rhetorical punching bag, giving him a foil to constantly hammer, just as he did Hillary Clinton, his vanquished Democratic opponent in last See TRUMP, Page 21A More online: Stay up to date with the latest news at politics.azcentral.com.

Feds appeal after travel ban is halted The latest in a series of legal twists and turns over President Donald Trump’s immigration ban came Saturday night, as the Trump administration filed a notice of appeal after a federal judge in Seattle blocked the executive order on Friday.

In response to the ruling, the State Department on Saturday restored thousands of visas for those in the seven countries that were banned and Homeland Security suspended all enforcement of the order. 1B, 10A

PHOTO BY ROB SCHUMACHER/THE REPUBLIC

Nation & World: Full report in Section B.

AZCENTRAL SPORTS

FORECAST

I am an American

Mostly sunny High 77° | | Low 53°

We are One Nation Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. In this installment, read about Robin Reshard, a former U.S. Navy instructor who has dedicated the last four years to creating community dialogue in Pensacola, Fla. Page 5E

DAVID KADLUBOWSKI/THE REPUBLIC

A record number of fans came out to watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open Saturday, as Byeong Hun An finished with a slim lead going into today’s final round. 1C

Across the border: Mexican cities look for help as they anticipate a surge of deportees. 1E 127th Year | | No. 263 Copyright 2017, The Arizona Republic

Sunday | | $2.00

Gourmet Game Plan ajsfinefoods.com

WWW.AZCENTRAL.COM

|| S U N D AY , F E B R U A RY 5 , 2 017

|| 3 E

E M A I L U S AT N E W S T I P S @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M O R C A L L U S AT 6 0 2 - 4 4 4 - N E W S ( 6 3 9 7 )

HOSPITALITY

Lofty lodging at the Andaz Luxury resort in Scottsdale debuts amid sunnier outlook for tourism DAWN GILBERTSON THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

The last time a new resort opened in greater Phoenix, President Obama was in his second year in office, US Airways was still around and Ken Whisenhunt was coach of the Arizona Cardinals. ¶ It was 2010, and Talking Stick Resort & Casino on the Salt River Reservation debuted as Arizona’s lodging industry was struggling to recover from the recession and facing widespread cancellations because of SB 1070, the state’s controversial immigration law.

See ANDAZ , Page 4E

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa Where: 6114 N. Scottsdale Road.

Features: Three pools, a spa (due to open in February), restaurant and an arts program.

Room rates: From $487 per night for a weekend stay in mid-March. Summer rates start at $182 on a weekend in early July.

Resort fee: $39 plus tax. It includes valet parking.

Details: 480-368-1234, scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com.

Inside: 8 cool things about new Andaz Scottsdale resort.

Guests can enjoy free snacks, local art and a ride in a Tesla.

6 2 8

3

1

7 4

5

Cabanas by the pool at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley.

PHOTOS BY DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

ALEXA HAYES/GANNETT AND GETTY IMAGES

RUSS WILES YOUR MONEY

Investing globally in this era of trade tension Tariffs. Border taxes. Ripped-up trade agreements.

Global commerce could be reshaped

by President Donald Trump, in ways and with consequences that can’t be predicted easily. Given all the uncertainty, does it still make sense for American investors to hold foreign stocks or funds in their portfolios?

Global diversification has been one of the key investment themes of the past several decades. By spreading some of your investment dollars outside the United States, the reasoning goes, you can benefit from economic growth in other countries, gain exposure to strong corporations that happen to be head-

quartered elsewhere and perhaps benefit from favorable trends involving interest rates, currency fluctuations and more. Dozens of nations have become much more prosperous, and hundreds of foreign companies are global leaders — in automobiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, energy, finance and other industries.

Yet there’s also no doubt that foreign investing has been in a relative slump in recent years, with stock-market returns generally lower than here when adjusted for the strong dollar. Now, given new “America first” policies embraced by the Trump administration, global trade is in jeopardy, with possibly lower

growth for foreign corporations and nations.

“The implications of a trade war or the eruption of upwardly cascading tariffs are virtually impossible to predict,” said Michael Bennett, an associate research professor at Arizona State University who has been tracking trade, especially with Mexico.

However, that doesn’t mean international investing is dead or even unwise at the moment, especially since it remains to be seen what policies take final shape.

“The fallout could as easily negatively impact U.S.-heavy equities portfolios as it could those full of foreign investments,” Bennett said.

Tempered rhetoric ahead?

Some observers expect the Trump White House will temper its trade rhetoric if it secures more favorable agreements.

“Our current view is that Trump will be more pragmatic in the priorities and policies he pursues,” wrote Gonzalo Pángaro, portfolio manager of the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Stock Fund, in a 2017 investment outlook. While acSee WILES, Page 4E

4E

|| S U N D AY , F E B R U A RY 5 , 2 017

|| T H E A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C

AZ Economy

Andaz

8 cool things about new Andaz resort in Scottsdale

Continued from Page 3E

Six and a half years later, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa debuts in a much sunnier tourism climate. The 201room artsy hotel for affluent travelers, which opened in December on the sprawling grounds of the former Cottonwoods resort near Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Drive, entered the market as the industry was finishing up a strong year.

Metropolitan Phoenix hotels and resorts posted year-over-year gains in every key lodging measure in 2016. The increases outpaced the overall U.S. market and top 25 markets in every category but one, according to industry tracker STR. Demand for rooms was up 3.2 percent, nearly double the national gain, according to STR. Revenue per available room jumped 4.1 percent, compared with increases of 3.2 percent nationally and 2.4 percent in 25 top markets STR tracks.

Early signs point to a strong peak season this winter and spring as sun seekers, golfers, hikers and Major League Baseball fans buoyed by a strong economy flock to Arizona.

Andaz Scottsdale, which is the 15th hotel in the Andaz chain created by Hyatt 10 years ago to compete with W Hotels and other trendy “lifestyle” hotels, won’t get to bask in its newness for long.

Two swank resorts are due to open within a few miles in the next two years.

Mountain Shadows Resort, a 185-room hotel on the prized Lincoln Drive grounds of the former Marriott Mountain Shadows, is due to open in midMarch. That will be followed, in late 2018 if everything stays on schedule, by the state’s second Ritz-Carlton resort, the 200-room Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley.

Add in multimillion-dollar makeovers or expansions at several major properties including Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and Canyon Suites at the Phoenician and the $500-a-night Andaz faces a crowded field of star-studded resorts vying for travelers’ vacation and business-travel dollars.

Hyatt executives know well what they’re getting into. The Chicago-based chain has operated the 493-room Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, a family favorite yearround, since 1986. And last year Hyatt purchased the historic, 119-room Royal Palms Resort, a couples’ hideaway in Phoenix. Both resorts are within a few miles of the new Andaz.

“This is a very attractive destination,” Hyatt Hotels Corp. CEO Mark Ho-

Wiles Continued from Page 3E

knowledging that Trump’s policies present headwinds for global investors, Pángaro indicated T. Rowe Price’s managers expect Trump will “ultimately embrace a more practical, business-friendly stance, particularly related to trade.”

Ed Yardeni, chief investment strategist at Yardeni Research, argues that “Trump might actually save globalization from protectionists by replacing multilateral (trade) deals, which are difficult to enforce on fairness issues, with bilateral ones, which should be easier for both sides to manage in a mutually beneficial manner.” Yardeni wrote recently that he’s betting globalization will survive.

“The first test of our thesis is underway now between the U.S. and Mexico,” he added. “A much bigger challenge will be negotiating a better trade deal with China.”

Modest slice of the pie Americans willing to accept risks — always a prerequisite for foreign investing — thus might be justified in holding a modest slice of their portfolios in global stocks and funds. Not that most Americans have been overreaching on this point. Global-stock funds weighed in at 13 percent of total mutual fund assets at the end of 2016, reported the Investment Company Institute. Funds holding U.S. stocks represented a much larger slice at 39 percent of the pie. Bond funds (22 percent), money market funds (17 percent) and hybrid portfolios (9 percent) rounded out the mix.

U.S. stocks weighed in at more than half, 54 percent, of a global stock market index tracked by MSCI at the end of 2016.

British and other European stocks were next at 21 percent, with emerging markets at 11 percent, Japan at 8 percent, Canada at 3 percent and a Pacific region that includes Australia at 4 percent. U.S. price-earnings ratios were higher than pretty much everywhere else.

Though the U.S. has the largest economy and hundreds of world-class companies, some observers expect the country’s stock-market share gradually will

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, a 201-room luxury resort in the Hyatt chain, opened in December on the grounds of the former Cottonwoods resort in Paradise Valley. ¶ Here are eight cool features of the resort, where

PHOTOS BY DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

Rooms at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa are in small individual bungalow buildings.

rooms top $500 a night in peak season and summer prices are expected to be above $200.

1. There is no front desk. Guests check in via iPad while relaxing on a couch in the lobby. Complimentary wine and iced tea are served.

2. Flip-flops, not slippers, are the complimentary footwear placed next to the bathrobes in each room.

Loge furniture at the pool.

Poolside cabanas.

plamazian said in an interview at Andaz Scottsdale. “There are a lot of our core customer base that loves coming here.”

He and Marc Ellin, Hyatt’s senior vice president of field operations, said Andaz will compete for the same travelers as Royal Palms, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort at Troon North and The Boulders.

The calling card for Andaz, which Hyatt says means personal style in Hindi, is a big focus on art. From the start of the hotel’s design and construction, Andaz Scottsdale has had a close relationship with Cattle Track Arts Compound, an 81-year-old artists community less than a mile from the resort.

Cattle Track artists’ imprint is everywhere at the resort: on the room-key holder; the art in the lobby, restaurant and every guest room; the items for sale in the gift shop (which is called Textiles

and Objects, not “gift shop,” of course); even the in-room guides to the resort. An artist in residence is featured weekly.

Hoplamazian said the relationship with Cattle Track is Andaz Scottsdale’s tether to the community, and general manager Scott Mason says the artists have infused soul into the property.

Two Cattle Track artists, Mark McDowell and Brent Bond, have their names etched on bar stools at the resort’s restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar & Kitchen.

Andaz, which has 34 clusters of casitas over 23 acres, wants travelers to feel like they’re visiting a mid-century artists studio.

“This hotel represents something very different than we (Hyatt) have here or, frankly, I would say it’s very different than anything else that’s available,” Hoplamazian said.

decline as other countries continue to develop. The world’s leading emerging or developing stock markets include, in order, China, Taiwan, India, Brazil and South Africa. Russia, Thailand and Mexico are a rung lower.

“The implications of a trade war or the eruption of upwardly cascading tariffs are virtually impossible to predict.”

MICHAEL BENNETT ASSOCIATE RESEARCH PROFESSOR, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

5. Three suites have outdoor showers.

6. The Turquoise pool offers a complimentary daily “delighter” — a spiked frozen treat or drink — at 11:45 a.m.

7. No rental car? No problem. A chauffeured Tesla is available to take guests to Old Town Scottsdale and North Scottsdale. You’re on your own if you want to visit Sedona or the Grand Canyon.

8. Like the resort’s art? Visit the artists at the Cattle Track Arts Compound less than a mile away.

Arizona Republic Institution

Reach Wiles at russ.wiles@arizona republic.com or 602-444-8616.

4. Five poolside rooms are outfitted with their own cabanas.

Check rates daily at http://azcentral.interest.com Int Chking Acct Min

Money Mkt Acct Min

3 mo CD Min

6 mo CD Min

12 mo CD Min

18 mo CD Min

24 mo CD Min

36 mo CD Min

60 mo CD Min

NA

NA

0.79

0.88

1.06

1.06

1.06

1.06

1.06

NA

NA

1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 866-247-1795

NA

0.85

NA

NA

1.25

30

NA

NA

2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 25,000 800-869-3813

Looking at emerging markets Despite the elevated uncertainty, now might be an attractive time to invest, especially given lower valuations for foreign markets. Plus, stocks in various countries go in and out of favor over time, with returns moving back in line with long-term averages.

Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank, considers stocks in developing nations the cheapest of eight stock and bond asset classes he tracks, with international large stocks the second cheapest. Ablin also considers the dollar expensive relative to most other major currencies, noting that Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen have voiced concern about this.

If the current scenario changes, a weaker dollar would produce larger gains from the perspective of Americans with international holdings. Also, foreign-company revenue growth is improving, and so are some economies. The Eurozone grew slightly faster than the U.S. last year, for the first time since 2008.

Rob Arnott and Brandon Kunz of Research Affiliates recently issued a report citing a “unique investing opportunity in emerging markets, given the very rare combination of cheap equity valuations, depressed currencies and positive momentum in equity prices and economic fundamentals.” Even after a multiyear bear market ended about a year ago, stocks in emerging markets sell at low price-earnings ratios around 10.

“Most investors believe the best time to invest is when uncertainty is low and valuations are attractive,” wrote Arnott and Kunz. “But these conditions rarely coincide with each other.”

Now is one of those times where it takes courage and patience to look beyond the headlines at what still might be a favorable long-term picture for global investing.

3. The minibar won’t break you.

Three complimentary snacks are stocked each day, along with complimentary soft drinks and water.

Alcohol is extra.

Beal Bank USA

www.bealbank.com

Call for special rates.

NA

Synchrony Bank

1.25

Phone / Website

1.45

1.60

2.00

www.myoptimizerplus.com

Great Rates + Safety = Peace of Mind. Member FDIC.

VISIBILITY, RESPONSE, RESULTS Call 888-768-4243 for information regarding advertising opportunities

Savings and Loan Rates U.S. RATES

These were the highest yields available among U.S. banks surveyed by Bankrate.com® as of Tuesday: Min. to Yield earn int. (APY)

MMA/Savings account

Phone

Dime Community Bank iGObanking.com Pacific National Bank firstcentral.direct CIT Bank

800-321-3463 888-432-5890 305-539-7500 866-400-3272 855-462-2652

$

1000 25000 100 10000 100

1.10 1.10 1.06 1.06 1.05

855-228-6755 855-462-2652 305-539-7500 877-998-2265 786-552-0524

$

5000 1000 1000 10000 1500

1.38 1.32 1.32 1.31 1.30

855-228-6755 877-734-2265 888-873-3424 800-289-1992 888-662-5500

$

5000 500 1000 0 10000

2.28 2.10 2.07 2.00 2.00

1-year CD EverBank CIT Bank Pacific National Bank VirtualBank Banesco USA

5-year CD EverBank State Farm Bank First Internet Bank of Indiana Capital One 360 Salem Five

NON-TAXABLE MUTUAL FUNDS Money Market yield is the annualized return earned over the past seven days, and may increase or decline with securities in the fund.

Fund/Phone

Ticker

7-day Min. Min. Add’l Min. Exp. eff. yield Invest Invest Check Ratio

Northern Municipal MM NOMXX 0.58 2500 50 250 0.48 800-595-9111 Vanguard Tax-Exempt MMF VMSXX 0.49 3000 100 250 0.17 800-662-7447 DWS Tax-Exempt Money Fund DTBXX 0.44 1000 50 500 0.37 800-621-1048 Fidelity Municipal MMF FTEXX 0.37 5000 0 500 0.43 800-343-3548 American Century Tax-Free MM BNTXX 0.35 2500 50 100 0.50 800-345-2021 AIM Tax-Exempt Cash Fund ACSXX 0.04 1000 50 250 0.93 800-959-4246 PNC Tax Exempt MMF PXAXX 0.00 1000 1 100 0.58 800-622-3863 Touchstone Tax-Free MMF TTFXX 0.00 2500 50 100 0.89 800-543-0407 Alpine Municipal MMF AMUXX 0.00 2500 1 250 0.39 888-785-5578 • 7-day eff yield — The 7-day effective yield is the annualized yield based on the most recent 7 days of interest earnings.

• Min Invest — The smallest investment that can be made to open the account.

• Min Add’l Invest — The smallest amount that can be invested at one time, after the account is open.

• Min check — The smallest amount for which a check can be written.

• Exp Ratio — The ratio of the expenses charged to net assets. Many of the funds are waiving or reducing management fees to continue to provide yield.

Best Loan Rates

Deposit Calculator

ARIZONA RATES

See how earnings on your certificates of deposit are

These were the lowest loan rates available among Arizona-ar- performing against the Bankrate National Index by ea institutions surveyed by Bankrate.com® as of Wednesday: using the chart below.

Home equity loan MidFirst Bank

Phone 602-801-5000

Rate 5.49

New car Bank of America Wells Fargo Chase Bank

800-432-1000 800-869-3557 800-CHA-SE24

3.04 3.17 3.49

800-432-1000 800-869-3557 602-801-5000

3.29 3.42 3.75

Used car Bank of America Wells Fargo MidFirst Bank

Deposit term

Average rate

Interest earned

$1,000 Deposit 6 Mo CD 1 Yr CD 5 Yr CD

0.19% 0.33% 0.86%

$0.95 $3.31 $43.94

0.09% 0.14% 0.21%

$7.50 $35.01 $105.05

$100,000 Deposit 1 Mo Jumbo CD 3 Mo Jumbo CD 6 Mo Jumbo CD

Home equity loan: fixed rate, 5-year term, secured loan based on $30,000 at 80% LTV; New car: $28,000 fixed rate, 48-month term, 10% down payment; Used car (3 years old): $15,000 fixed rate, 36-month term, 20% down payment.

(Credit Unions have membership requirements.)

Deposit & Loan Legend: Rates effective as of 2/1/17 and may change without notice. Rates may change after the account is opened. N/A means rates are not available or not offered at press time. Yields represent annual percentage yield (APY) paid by participating institutions. Fees may reduce the earnings on the account. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Payout of interest is mandatory for certain non-compounding accounts Banks, thrifts, brokers and credit unions pay to advertise in the CD & Deposit Guide which is compiled by Bankrate.com®, a publication of Bankrate, LLC © 2017. To appear in this table, call 888-768-4243. To report any inaccuracies, call 888-509-4636. • http://azcentral.interest.com

WWW.AZCENTRAL.COM

|| S U N D AY , F E B R U A RY 5 , 2 017

|| 1T

E M A I L U S AT N E W S T I P S @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M O R C A L L U S AT 6 0 2 - 4 4 4 - N E W S ( 6 3 9 7 )

SETTING SAIL FOR Ca

nad

QUEBEC

he a to host beauty pageant of t CALVIN WOODWARD

sea

ASSOCIATED PRESS

As the story goes, the training ship Amerigo Vespucci was sailing the Mediterranean in 1962 when the U.S. aircraft carrier Independence spotted it and radioed: “Who are you?”

Came the reply: “School ship Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian Navy.” The Independence answered: “You are the most beautiful ship in the world.” • Tall ships sometimes come with tall tales, and whether that one is true may be lost to history.

See QUEBEC, Page 2T

HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The Amerigo Vespucci, a 331-foot-long full-rigged ship from Italy, has been called “the most beautiful ship in the world.”

DAWN GILBERTSON NOW DEPARTING

What Hyatt’s CEO hates most about hotel rooms DAWN GILBERTSON THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Airline passengers who recline their seats into your lap. Hotels that charge for Wi-Fi. Car rental agents who try to scare you into buying extra coverage.

Travelers have no shortage of pet peeves.

Mark Hoplamazian’s biggest travel annoyance: hard-to-find power outlets in hotel rooms.

The CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corp. visits hotels around the world every year and one of the first things he zeroes in on is

When snowed in at Snowbird, you just have to play indoors MICHAEL KIEFER

the design of the power outlets in guest rooms. Few things irritate him more than outlets hidden in the name of design, such as behind a desk panel you have to lift or reach behind.

“The idiocy is that designers think outlets are ugly so you have to hide them,” he said. “And my answer is, ‘You know when you do that, first of all you make it harder to find to begin with.

Secondly, try getting your hand inside that thing you designed so poorly to try to get the thing plugged in. And now try to do three plugs in that space and you can’t do it.’ I just want to strangle that person.”

When Hoplamazian sees such outlets at a Hyatt, he pulls out a picture he took of the desks at the luxury Park Hyatt Shanghai in China. The fancy desks See GILBERTSON, Page 3T

THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

The sign was not what I expected to see on the way to breakfast: INTER-LODGE TRAVEL CLOSED AVALANCHE DANGER IT IS ILLEGAL TO LEAVE THIS BUILDING I had heard about foul-weather lockdowns at Snowbird, a ski resort in the Wasatch Mountains just outside Salt Lake City, but they had seemed like cautionary tales.

But it had been snowing for most of the week, and the flakes were flying sideways with no sign of slowing down.

Crews had been out all night trying to blast down the loose snow. You could see the flash of the cannon, hear the boom and sometimes hear the rush of a snow slab sliding down the mountain.

MICHAEL KIEFER/THE REPUBLIC

The doors were locked during the blizzard, but the rooftop pool and hot tub at the Cliff Lodge Spa at Snowbird ski resort were open.

The day before, they had closed the main tram due to high winds, but I could still ride a chairlift to near the summit.

Skiing down, at mid-mountain, the spindrift was swirling waist-high and the wind pushed me along, in a scene and See SNOWBIRD, Page 2T

WWW.AZCENTRAL.COM

|| S U N D AY , F E B R U A RY 5 , 2 017

|| 3 T

Tourism transforms Buddhist valley in Himalayas THOMAS CYTRYNOWICZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEMUL VILLAGE, India - For centuries, the sleepy valley nestled in the Indian Himalayas remained a hidden Buddhist enclave forbidden to outsiders.

Enduring the harsh year-round conditions of the high mountain desert, the people of Spiti Valley lived by a simple communal code — share the Earth’s bounty, be hospitable to neighbors, and eschew greed and temptation at all turns.

That’s all starting to change, for better or worse. Since India began allowing its own citizens as well as outsiders to visit the valley in the early 1990s, tourism and trade have boomed. And the marks of modernization, such as solar panels, asphalt roads and concrete buildings, have begun to appear around some of the villages that dot the remote landscape at altitudes above 13,000 feet.

“This year is busier than ever,” said Ishita Khanna, co-founder of the ecotourism agency Ecosphere. By Aug. 29, with at least a month left until the end of the tourism season, there had been 847 foreign visitors to the region in 2016, compared with 726 for all of last year, officials said.

They could not give a figure for how many Indians had traveled to the region in jeeps and buses across treacherous mountain roads, as Indian tourists do not need special permits. But additional district magistrate Jagan Thakur said that 70 percent of the tourists to the region were Indians.

Many of the valley’s 13,000 or so residents — ethnically Tibetan yet long resident in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh — welcome the influx of tourists eager to explore the mountains or simply enjoy the pristine surroundings.

“In years when the climate and roads are good, they flock in together in high numbers,” Thakur said. “Villagers will actually convert their houses into homestays.”

In the hillside village of Demul, with only around 250 residents, people have devised a system whereby half of the residents move in with their neighbors while renting their earthen-hut homes to travelers during the summer, and then share the earnings. That income is helping many invest in better schooling for their kids.

“They have a great system in this village … everybody takes turns,” said British traveler Tom Welton. “They collectively bring all the money together

Rinchen, a 60-year-old farmer, gathers mountain plants that will serve as fodder for cattle in Demul, in the Spiti Valley, India.

For centuries, the sleepy Spiti Valley nestled in the Indian Himalayas remained a hidden Buddhist enclave forbidden to outsiders. Today, however, visitors are welcome.

Solar panels have been installed atop the rooftops of traditional houses and the mountainside in the village of Demul, Spiti Valley, India. Set up six years ago by an eco-tourism foundation, the panels electrify to each household in the village.

Girls play in front of newly constructed hotels in Kaza, headquarters of the Spiti Valley, India.

Tourism is transforming the long-hidden Buddhist enclave.

and at the end of the year they distribute it equally to the whole village.”

Tourism has become so important it now makes up at least half of most people’s annual income, Khanna said. The rest of the people’s wealth comes from traditional channels — herding sheep and goats, and growing crops like black beans, barley and, more recently, green peas.

For the crimson-robed Buddhist monks in the valley, the increase in visitors brings a chance to “teach Buddhism to others. More people should learn

about it,” said Lama Tenzin Rizzin, a resident of another hilltop village, Key, a half-hour drive from the valley’s main town of Kaza.

Some villagers and travelers worry that the influx of new funds will bring competition, greed and environmentally taxing change — such as flush toilets that might empty straight into the Spiti River or put a strain on the region’s already limited water sources.

“We cannot go beyond our limits.

Mass tourism is not good for our culture,” said Tenzin Thinley, 35, who runs a

PHOTOS BY THOMAS CYTRYNOWICZ/AP

Gilbertson

A: “I see increased incidents of rediscovery, like doing something off the beaten path and doing something that they haven’t done before, really discovering new opportunities, new destinations. I think a lot of what people have been and will continue to seek is really different kinds of experiences.

“I think that’s why the art program (at Andaz Scottsdale) is so important. It really is unique. You won’t find this elsewhere and it’s a tether to the local community.”

Q: It’s 10 p.m. on a Friday night at a Hyatt resort.

What is the most popular room service item?

A: “Pizza.”

Continued from Page 1T

have frills-free surface-mounted outlets.

“Every time I see a stupid pop-up or a door or something you have to crawl under the desk for, I just show them the picture,” he said. “I say, ‘If we can do this at one of the most significant build-outs in our entire company, we can sure as hell can do it here.’ ” Hoplamazian was happy to find accessible power outlets and good lighting (another pet peeve) at one of the company’s newest hotels, the 201-room Andaz Resort Scottsdale.

Andaz is Hyatt’s 10-year-old lifestyle brand. The Scottsdale location, behind the former Borgata shopping center on Scottsdale Road, is the 15th in the chain and just the second Andaz resort in North America, after the Andaz Wailea on Maui in Hawaii.

Hoplamazian sounded off on travel topics from Airbnb to room service in an interview with the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

Question: Is Airbnb a curse word in your world?

Answer: “No. Airbnb, to me, is a manifestation of changes in consumer attitude and consumer behavior, and I think that’s really the big issue. So being responsive to that is really important.

“One of the things that people really loved initially about the Airbnb experience is that you were being served by a real human being, not by a trained professional who’s following steps. That was a reminder to us that bringing humanity into hospitality was an essential thing that we needed to do.”

homestay in the valley village of Kibber and works as a tourist guide. “Hospitality is important in Spiti’s culture, and we will not let it disappear.”

While increasing trade with cities outside the valley has broadened the dinner table with lentils and grains that can’t be grown in the valley, it has also brought an influx of junk food that the elders are struggling to keep away from the children.

“Too many tourists mean too much money,” Thinley said. “I do not want to be greedy.”

DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

Local artwork, such as these strings of felt balls, adorns the lobby of the new Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa.

(Like other hoteliers, though, Hoplamazian isn’t happy with what he says is an unlevel playing field. While Airbnb touts its hosts around the world as homeowners looking to make extra money by renting out a room or a house, many are professional landlords with multiple properties, much like a hotelier but without the same rules and regulations. Some cities are cracking down but the problem remains. “Airbnb never talks about those hosts, by the way,” he said. “Their whole ethos is about the individual. That’s great if that were truly their supply. It’d be a great business but it’d be a smaller business.”)

Q: Fill in the blank: 2017 is going to be the year of what in the hotel industry?

AR-0008648690-01

TO ADVERTISE CALL

ADVERTISEMENT

ARIZONA

KEVIN MARTINELLI 602-444-8671

kmartinelli@republicmedia.com

Scottsdale Plaza Resort is true oasis Ready to leave the hectic world behind and slip into an oasis? It’s closer than you think.

Scottsdale Plaza Resort is a true urban oasis.

The resort is located on bustling Scottsdale Road, moments from restaurants, shops and art galleries. But guests find refuge with the first step into the elegant Spanish Mediterranean lobby.

From there, they find meticulously landscaped grounds, filled with desert flowers and shrubs, 50-foot palms and eucalyptuses and fragrant seasonal plantings. Stunning views of Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain serve as constant backdrops during the stay. And in the evening, guests relax poolside in one of the fire pit conversation areas and enjoy warm desert breezes.

“Independently owned and operated for 40 years, with some staff members who’ve been with us nearly as long, we understand that a truly memorable travel experience is how you’re made to feel,” said Sheryl Bettencourt, the

resort’s director of marketing.

“We go out of our way to welcome each guest as family.”

That welcome begins with offering a room for every lifestyle. The resort boasts 404 rooms, and guests have their pick of five distinctive room, suite and lodge options.

Rooms are arranged in intimate clusters that allow for quiet and privacy. For the ultimate in privacy, the resort offers 10 exclusive executive lodges surrounding a private pool and boardroom.

Scottsdale Plaza Resort recently completed a renovation of all rooms. New upgrades include new furniture, lighting and artwork; glasswalled showers; granite wet bars and vanity; mounted 50-inch TVs; and enhanced WiFi speed.

Spending lazy days poolside is a must in Arizona. If relaxing or splashing with the kids is on the vacation agenda, Scottsdale Plaza’s five pools will fit the bill. The pools are spread throughout the resort so guests are never far away from a dip in the water or a day of lounging in the sun. The re-

sort’s main freeform pool features a family-friendly vibe with drinks and snacks available at the Café Cabana restaurant, while the Villa pool located near the King Suites has showers and saunas in the restrooms. The resort also boasts the state’s largest hot tub.

The resort’s Salon & Day Spa offers a retreat for the mind, body and soul. Guests can choose from an array of treatments, and can enjoy complimentary use of the infrared sauna. The fitness center offers a range of classes, including plaza barre, cardio stretch, and yoga.

At the resort’s signature restaurant, Remington’s, guests are treated to fireside and patio fine dining along with live jazz most nights.

Other options include JD’s Lounge, with a sports pub atmosphere, and the Garden Court for Sunday brunch.

Advertorial content produced by Republic Media Custom Publishing.

For more information e-mail jlwilliams@republicmedia.com or call (602) 444-8658.

YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM? SLEEPING IN.

Five heated pools and spas Fitness Center, tennis courts and putting green Nearby golf Moments from the restaurants, galleries and shops of Old Town Scottsdale Award-winning dining

Our beautifully appointed rooms, suites and lodge options are designed for the ultimate in comfort and convenience—as befitting a stay in the sun-drenched oasis known as Scottsdale.

For reservations, call 800-306-0059 7200 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale, Arizona 85253 • scottsdaleplaza.com

The Arizona Republic 01/06/2016

14 A

|| W E D N E S D AY , J A N U A RY 6 , 2 016

Copy Reduced to 54% from original to fit letter page

|| T H E A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C

R E A C H U S || K AT H Y T U L U M E L L O , B U S I N E S S E D I T O R , K AT H Y. T U L U M E L L O @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M || B U S I N E S S . A Z C E N T R A L . C O M

Court declines to take Bitter Smith case Arizona justices decide not to accept Brnovich petition RYAN RANDAZZO THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Arizona Supreme Court justices decided Tuesday that they don’t need to determine whether utility regulator Susan Bitter Smith had an actual conflict of interest by working for the cable television industry while overseeing telecommunications companies.

Bitter Smith resigned, effective Monday, after Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office filed a motion seeking her removal from the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Bitter Smith said she resigned because the court action was a distraction to her work, but she wanted the court to address the issue to provide clarity about what constitutes a conflict of interest for Arizona Corporation Commission members.

That won’t happen.

After meeting behind closed doors Tuesday, the justices determined they

don’t need to hear the case.

“The Court declines to accept jurisdiction of the (Attorney General’s Office) Petition for Special Action,” said the minutes released after the meeting.

Brnovich, whose office filed a petition Nov. 30 seeking Bitter Smith’s removal from office, had said that the case was moot given Bitter Smith’s resignation. However, a criminal investigation into her activities remains open, according to his office.

“We wouldn’t have moved forward See BITTER SMITH, Page 15A

DAVID WALLACE/THE REPUBLIC

The Arizona Supreme Court decided on Tuesday not to get involved in the conflictof-interest case against Susan Bitter Smith.

Japanese and Italian restaurants share venue Dual-concept noodle eateries new in Phoenix DOMINIC ARMATO THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

CHELSEA HOSPITALITY PARTNERS

Arizona’s first Andaz hotel, a luxury brand from Hyatt, is expected to open in Paradise Valley this spring.

Andaz luxury hotel will open in Arizona PARKER LEAVITT

Otakumen

THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Arizona’s first Andaz luxury hotel will open this spring in Paradise Valley, joining London, Tokyo, New York City and West Hollywood on the short list of cities home to the boutique Hyatt brand launched in 2007.

San Diego developer Chelsea Hospitality Partners bought the now-closed Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and an adjacent lot in 2014 and poured $55 million into a major redevelopment project that will bring 201 rooms, swimming pools, a spa and meeting space near the northwestern corner of Scottsdale Road and McDonald Drive.

The new Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa will cover 23 acres about a mile from the base of Camelback Mountain and less than 2 miles from Old Town Scottsdale.

Hotel rooms are designed to take advantage of mountain views and the desert landscape, with private terraces and outdoor showers in some rooms. Rooms See ANDAZ, Page 15A

Italian? Japanese? Both?

Marco DiSanto’s pair of fast casualrestaurants, Otakumen and Pat & Waldo’s, have been under construction in downtown Phoenix since summer. On Friday, the 24-year-old Los Angeles chef will finally take the wraps off his dual-concept noodle eatery, offering ramen, pasta and discounts for customers who bring instant ramen to donate to St. Mary’s Food Bank.

Many local chefs have tried to marry Eastern and Western culinary traditions, but DiSanto is content to simply let them cohabit. Though the two restaurants share one space, each has its own kitchen and menu.

It’s an ambitious and well-funded project. DiSanto’s family, which has some history in the restaurant business, said they’ve spent nearly $1 million building out the sleek, modern space on the ground floor of the Orpheum Lofts. If the young DiSanto can pull off both menus, he’ll be bringing an abundance of noodles from East and West not only to the workday crowd, but also to late-night diners on weekends.

The Japanese half of the equation features eight bowls of ramen, built around combinations of three broths, two styles of noodles and assorted seasonings and toppings. The miso togarashi ramen, for example, pairs Tokyostyle noodles with spicy miso and a blend of pork-based tonkotsu broth and chicken-based torigara broth. The yuzu kosho ramen pairs “tonkotsu noodles” with its namesake spicy citrus seasoning and a mix of the tonkotsu and dashi broths.

In addition to ramen, Otakumen offers gyoza, chahan (fried rice) and a style of Japanese fried chicken called karaage. During Friday's grand opening, the first 50 customers can exchange a package of instant ramen for a free bowl of DiSanto's ramen.

Throughout the rest of the day, diners can do the same to receive a half-priced bowl. All ramen packets will be donated to St. Mary's Food Bank.

CHELSEA HOSPITALITY PARTNERS

The new Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa will cover 23 acres.

PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Copyright © 2016 The Arizona Republic 01/06/2016

See DUAL EATERIES, Page 15A

January 6, 2016 10:48 am

(GMT +8:00) / Powered by TECNAVIA

Page : 20160106

The Arizona Republic 01/06/2016

Andaz Continued from Page 14A

will be scattered across the property in bungalow-style clusters.

The property will feature three pools, a spa, restaurant with a bar and lounge, fitness center and 4,000-square-foot terrace overlooking the main pool area.

Andaz hotels also offer unique cultural programming, called Andaz Salon, in collaboration with local artists, musicians and designers. At the Paradise Valley resort, programs and events will have a Sonoran Desert theme, including talks, lectures, exhibitions and live performances, according to the hotel.

Hotel officials said room rates at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa would be be similar to other nearby luxury hotels, such as the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Paradise Valley or Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix.

Andaz could generate about $900,000 a year in tax revenue for Paradise Valley, based on early projections for room,

Page : 2016010

Copy Reduced to 73% from original to fit letter page

food and beverage sales, according to the hotel.

The Andaz project comes at a time of tremendous growth for the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area hospitality industry. The average price for a hotel room increased nearly 30 percent in January 2015 compared with the previous year, in large part due to Super Bowl XLIX played Feb. 1 in Glendale.

In March, room prices were still up 10 percent compared with March 2014, and year-over-year occupancy was up about 2 percent in 2015, according to Smith Travel Report.

Meanwhile, several Scottsdale-area hotels have announced renovations or expansions, including 102 new rooms planned at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which already is the area’s largest resort.

Plans also are moving forward on a redeveloped Mountain Shadows boutique hotel and a new Ritz-Carlton resort in Paradise Valley.

There are 58 hotels and roughly 12,000 rooms included in the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area, according to a Scottsdale report.

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa could generate about $900,000 a year in tax revenue for Paradise Valley.

Dual eateries Continued from Page 14A

Pat & Waldo’s Look for contemporary takes on the recipes of the gentlemen after whom the restaurant is named: DiSanto’s grandfather and great-great-uncle, respectively.

Team Italy can play Team Japan man-to-man, offering eight pastas to match Otakumen’s eight bowls of ramen. Pappardelle can be paired with a beef and veal Bolognese or peppers and sausage, while fettuccine takes on a wild mushroom Alfredo or sage brown butter. All can be paired with sides like meatballs or tomatoes stuffed with Italian tuna salad.

Both eateries will offer a small selection of salads and desserts, along with Japanese and Italian sodas, beer and wine, and will package to-go orders for those who need to eat on the run. In both cases, DiSanto hopes to tap into noodles’ universal, cross-cultural appeal.

Reach Armato at dominic.armato@ arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8533.

AWE COLLECTIVE

Marco DiSanto, of Otakumen and Pat & Waldo's, prepares ramen.

Otakumen and Pat & Waldo's Address: 114 W. Adams St., on the ground floor of the Orpheum Lofts, Phoenix.

Details: Otakumen, 480-454-7905, otakumen.com. Pat & Waldo's, 480-454-7877, patandwaldos.com.

Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays.

!

!

! ! !

!

PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

10

SMALL BUSINESS & RETAIL I STOTTEN@BIZJOURNALS.COM

602-308-6508

@STEVENJTOTTEN

HOTELS

R

Hyatt CEO says Phoenix, Scottsdale will be focal markets Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian came to usher in the opening of the new, $75 million, 23-acre Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa last week.

According to the head of the hotel empire, the Andaz is not comparable to any hotel in the Valley.

“This property is unlike any of our other properties and different than any other resort in Arizona, I would argue,” said Mark Hoplamazian Hoplamazian. “It’s got this creative, energetic vibe, and it’s anchored to the location through the arts, not a tan adobe building.”

Hoplamazian’s thoughts address a changing landscape in the hospitality industry in which the arts, culinary scene and personal growth are replacing the Phoenix metro’s vacation stereotypes of golf, spa days and adobe-style guest rooms.

With Andaz in Scottsdale, it’s connecting to the arts. Andaz partnered with the Cattle Track Arts Compound, the nearby arts commune founded by mid-century engineer George Ellis in the 1930s.

The compound, which is occupied by about 35 artists, have provided artwork to display throughout Andaz, and will be hosting workshops for guests.

The culinary scene has become

R

PROVIDED BY ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

Phoenix and Scottsdale are still major tourism desintations, but in different ways. another big focus for Hyatt’s Scottsdale and Phoenix properties, where bigname chefs, such as Chris Bianco, are attracting visitors to the area.

“There used to be only one or two great restaurants here,” said Hoplamazian. “Now people are coming to Scottsdale for the food scene.”

Arizona’s landscape has taken a greater role for our tourists as well, Hoplamazian noted.

“People want to focus on personal exploration,” he said. “They want to get out into the desert, lace up their shoes,

and see all the beauty out there.”

Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H) currently has 11 properties in the area, including a fairly recent purchase of the Royal Palms Resort.

Hoplamazian said it’s just the beginning.

“We are in a growth industry, and Phoenix and Scottsdale are continuing to grow,” he said. “In the long term it’s becoming more and more attractive to live here and visit. We are absolutely looking for more opportunities here.”

Read more online: bizj.us/1p0kv4

RETAIL

R

TUFT & NEEDLE INVESTS IN GROWING POCKETS OF PHOENIX Late last week, Phoenix-based mattress startup Tuft & Needle announced it would open its third retail location in south Scottsdale.

While Scottsdale is the usual landing place for business, the southern part in the McDowell corridor hasn’t been as privileged as Old Town or North Scottsdale.

The area has had promising growth with Arizona State University’s SkySong and McFate Brewing Co.’s brewery and restaurant. But since Loop 101 was built, the area hasn’t seen as much positive action as its surrounding parts, though the city and several city organizations have been focusing on revitalizing the area.

JT Marino

Daehee Park

T&N may not be responsible for changing that, but by stepping in, the company will definitely help spur some interest.

T&N founders JT Marino and Daehee Park have been aggressive about hyping the advantages of doing business and living in Phoenix, and where

Reporter Steven Totten

they operate reflects that.

The company’s headquarters and one of its retail spaces is along Grand Avenue west of downtown Phoenix, and they recently purchased an historic building there in order to honor the legacy of the area, despite the fact that Park and Marino have no idea what they’ll do with it.

T&N’s third Valley location is slated to open in downtown Gilbert’s Heritage Marketplace as well, which has helped to bolster the popularity of the Southeast Valley town.

Q

Read more online: bizj.us/1p0lyh

BY THE NUMBERS

AIRBNB’S LISTINGS DROPPED, BUT STILL GROWING STRONG Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has hyped business in Arizona and taken steps to ease operation challenges for newer businesses in the sharing economy, such as home-sharing service Airbnb.

In December, Ducey and Airbnb Inc. announced a partnership that helps streamline the service in the state.

The partnership connects Airbnb with the Arizona Department of Revenue, in which the home-sharing company will electronically file and pay the state and local transaction privilege taxes due on behalf of its customers in Arizona. Starting in January, Airbnb now is collecting and remitting the 5.5 percent Short Term Rental Accommodations tax. Guests will be charged the appropriate taxes on their Airbnb bill and they will remit the taxes collected to the city.

According to data from Airdna, which examines Airbnb stats, home-sharing is growing in the Phoenix metro, even though numbers dropped a bit in November.

Here’s a look at Airbnb’s active listings in Phoenix: Nov. ’15

1,572

Jan. ’16

1,695

Feb. ’16

1,695

Mar. ’16

1,776

Apr. ’16

1,804

May ’16

1,848

June ’16

1,878

July ’16

1,944

Aug. ’16

1,969

Sept. ’16

2,002

Oct. ’16

2,085

Nov. ’16

2,039 SOURCE: AIRBNB/AIRDNA

AVIATION

CITY OF PHOENIX, RESIDENTS TAKE FAA BATTLE TO U.S. APPEALS COURT Ever since the Federal Aviation Administration rearranged flight paths in a move it said was to improve safety and efficiency, the change has met the ire of Phoenix residents.

Many historic neighborhoods in the central Phoenix corridor have dealt with the FAA’s new flight paths, which residents say cause major noise issues.

As a result, residents as well as the city of Phoenix have sued the FAA. That fight will head to the U.S. Court of Appeals, in which oral arguments are scheduled for March 17.

“Residents of central Phoenix

got good news this week when we learned that the U.S. Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for March 17 for our lawsuit against the FAA over their September 2014 flight path changes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” City Councilman Michael Nowakowski said in a statement. “These changed flight paths – implemented without proper due process, notification and consideration – have been a constant source of suffering for countless residents and business owners in the central Phoenix area.”

PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

10

SMALL BUSINESS & RETAIL I STOTTEN@BIZJOURNALS.COM

602-308-6508

@STEVENJTOTTEN

HOTELS

R

Hyatt CEO says Phoenix, Scottsdale will be focal markets Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian came to usher in the opening of the new, $75 million, 23-acre Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa last week.

According to the head of the hotel empire, the Andaz is not comparable to any hotel in the Valley.

“This property is unlike any of our other properties and different than any other resort in Arizona, I would argue,” said Mark Hoplamazian Hoplamazian. “It’s got this creative, energetic vibe, and it’s anchored to the location through the arts, not a tan adobe building.”

Hoplamazian’s thoughts address a changing landscape in the hospitality industry in which the arts, culinary scene and personal growth are replacing the Phoenix metro’s vacation stereotypes of golf, spa days and adobe-style guest rooms.

With Andaz in Scottsdale, it’s connecting to the arts. Andaz partnered with the Cattle Track Arts Compound, the nearby arts commune founded by mid-century engineer George Ellis in the 1930s.

The compound, which is occupied by about 35 artists, have provided artwork to display throughout Andaz, and will be hosting workshops for guests.

The culinary scene has become

R

PROVIDED BY ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

Phoenix and Scottsdale are still major tourism desintations, but in different ways. another big focus for Hyatt’s Scottsdale and Phoenix properties, where bigname chefs, such as Chris Bianco, are attracting visitors to the area.

“There used to be only one or two great restaurants here,” said Hoplamazian. “Now people are coming to Scottsdale for the food scene.”

Arizona’s landscape has taken a greater role for our tourists as well, Hoplamazian noted.

“People want to focus on personal exploration,” he said. “They want to get out into the desert, lace up their shoes,

and see all the beauty out there.”

Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H) currently has 11 properties in the area, including a fairly recent purchase of the Royal Palms Resort.

Hoplamazian said it’s just the beginning.

“We are in a growth industry, and Phoenix and Scottsdale are continuing to grow,” he said. “In the long term it’s becoming more and more attractive to live here and visit. We are absolutely looking for more opportunities here.”

Read more online: bizj.us/1p0kv4

RETAIL

R

TUFT & NEEDLE INVESTS IN GROWING POCKETS OF PHOENIX Late last week, Phoenix-based mattress startup Tuft & Needle announced it would open its third retail location in south Scottsdale.

While Scottsdale is the usual landing place for business, the southern part in the McDowell corridor hasn’t been as privileged as Old Town or North Scottsdale.

The area has had promising growth with Arizona State University’s SkySong and McFate Brewing Co.’s brewery and restaurant. But since Loop 101 was built, the area hasn’t seen as much positive action as its surrounding parts, though the city and several city organizations have been focusing on revitalizing the area.

JT Marino

Daehee Park

T&N may not be responsible for changing that, but by stepping in, the company will definitely help spur some interest.

T&N founders JT Marino and Daehee Park have been aggressive about hyping the advantages of doing business and living in Phoenix, and where

Reporter Steven Totten

they operate reflects that.

The company’s headquarters and one of its retail spaces is along Grand Avenue west of downtown Phoenix, and they recently purchased an historic building there in order to honor the legacy of the area, despite the fact that Park and Marino have no idea what they’ll do with it.

T&N’s third Valley location is slated to open in downtown Gilbert’s Heritage Marketplace as well, which has helped to bolster the popularity of the Southeast Valley town.

Q

Read more online: bizj.us/1p0lyh

BY THE NUMBERS

AIRBNB’S LISTINGS DROPPED, BUT STILL GROWING STRONG Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has hyped business in Arizona and taken steps to ease operation challenges for newer businesses in the sharing economy, such as home-sharing service Airbnb.

In December, Ducey and Airbnb Inc. announced a partnership that helps streamline the service in the state.

The partnership connects Airbnb with the Arizona Department of Revenue, in which the home-sharing company will electronically file and pay the state and local transaction privilege taxes due on behalf of its customers in Arizona. Starting in January, Airbnb now is collecting and remitting the 5.5 percent Short Term Rental Accommodations tax. Guests will be charged the appropriate taxes on their Airbnb bill and they will remit the taxes collected to the city.

According to data from Airdna, which examines Airbnb stats, home-sharing is growing in the Phoenix metro, even though numbers dropped a bit in November.

Here’s a look at Airbnb’s active listings in Phoenix: Nov. ’15

1,572

Jan. ’16

1,695

Feb. ’16

1,695

Mar. ’16

1,776

Apr. ’16

1,804

May ’16

1,848

June ’16

1,878

July ’16

1,944

Aug. ’16

1,969

Sept. ’16

2,002

Oct. ’16

2,085

Nov. ’16

2,039 SOURCE: AIRBNB/AIRDNA

AVIATION

CITY OF PHOENIX, RESIDENTS TAKE FAA BATTLE TO U.S. APPEALS COURT Ever since the Federal Aviation Administration rearranged flight paths in a move it said was to improve safety and efficiency, the change has met the ire of Phoenix residents.

Many historic neighborhoods in the central Phoenix corridor have dealt with the FAA’s new flight paths, which residents say cause major noise issues.

As a result, residents as well as the city of Phoenix have sued the FAA. That fight will head to the U.S. Court of Appeals, in which oral arguments are scheduled for March 17.

“Residents of central Phoenix

got good news this week when we learned that the U.S. Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for March 17 for our lawsuit against the FAA over their September 2014 flight path changes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” City Councilman Michael Nowakowski said in a statement. “These changed flight paths – implemented without proper due process, notification and consideration – have been a constant source of suffering for countless residents and business owners in the central Phoenix area.”

PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

4

National businesses look to lure in new customers with local appeals

BY STEVEN TOTTEN | stotten@bizjournals.com, 602-308-6508, @PhxBizSteven

Home sweet home, there’s no place like it, and it’s where the heart is.

The idioms that might come from a Hollywood movie or a sappy book now are part of the national discussion on hospitality and restaurants, with CEOs and others believing they need to be part of the local community to make a buck.

Bigger companies and out-of-state businesses — namely in the hospitality, restaurant and retail industries — are taking steps to make local connections in order to generate interest from the community, and marketing to people as a way to earn their trust and their dollars.

Since the Great Recession, national businesses have sought to find their place in local markets. The latest marketing trend hitting Phoenix is one where the out-of-town companies brag about their local ties to a market that sincerely is supporting regional fare.

“The biggest thing I tell out-of-town executives and businesses about Phoenix is that it’s a really small town disguised as a big city,” said Scott Harkey, president of advertising firm OH Partners. “It’s paying off for brands to make local connections.”

COVER STORY

Finding a local niche Back in the day, a big restaurant chain or hotel opening in a town was a sign of growth. Not so anymore.

“People used to be excited about a national brand coming to their neighborhood,” said Ty James Largo, CEO and creative director for Tempe-based advertising and public relations firm Awe Collective. “But now people are fiercely supporting local. I always describe it as an alien ship landing — you can feel when something gets planted in your neighborhood that doesn’t belong.”

Now those big chains with cookiecutter models are feeling the sting of not having that community connection: Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., which owns spots such as Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, or Dallasbased Brinker International Inc., which

owns Chili’s and Maggiano’s Little Italy, are a few of the big restaurant businesses that have seen a constant drop in sales during the past five years or so.

“Phoenix consumers like to be independent, especially the 18-49 (demographic). They don’t want chains with a fake atmosphere,” Harkey said. “It’s one of the reasons Sam Fox has been so successful in the market. It’s fun, cool and a point of pride for Arizona. Local favorites like Windsor, Cartel Coffee and others have also proven this approach. Tapping into local pride can be very powerful.”

It’s in the marketing Out-of-state businesses are adapting some of those practices to bring in local color because consumers have developed CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

“People used to be excited about a national brand coming to their neighborhood, but now people are fiercely supporting local. I always describe it as an alien ship landing — you can feel when something gets planted in your neighborhood that doesn’t belong.”

TY JAMES LARGO,

Awe Collective

FEBRUARY 3, 2017

5

PROVIDED BY SHAKE SHACK

Shake Shack used local artists to highlight its Arizona connections.

THREE WAYS OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES TAP LOCAL MARKETS Out-of-state retail, restaurant and hotel chains are looking to create a connection with the local community with the hope of drawing in more customers. It’s not always an easy task. Here’s how a few out-of-state companies are working to fit in.

R

Found:Re hotel Phoenix cultural curator Mike Oleskow, left, and local artist Cheryle Marine hang one of her paintings inside the main lobby of the hotel.

JIM POULIN | PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

“Phoenix consumers like to be independent, especially the 18-49 (demographic). They don’t want chains with a fake atmosphere.”

SCOTT HARKEY,

OH Partners

PARTNER WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT

Philanthropy has long been a tool for businesses to show they’re invested in the community.

For Denver-based Snooze AM Eatery, which has two Valley locations, that meant partnering with organizations such as St. Mary’s Food Bank, Tempe Community Action Agency, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Gilbert Education Foundation, the George B. Brooks Community School and Free Arts of Arizona, among others.

“Before we move into a new neighborhood, we like to know who our neighbors are. We research what causes are truly R

PARTNER WITH A LOCAL VENDOR

Out-of-state restaurant chains opening in the Valley find a local vendor to highlight and partner with is one option some are using.

New York-based Shake Shack, which now has three Valley locations, partnered with the Bakery Phx and Zak’s Chocolates on their frozen custard concretes, offering the CamelShack, an item only available at Arizona locations, as well as beers from Huss Brewing Co., SanTan Brewing Co. R

moving the needle, what our local managers are passionate about, and identifying what immediate needs are within the community,” said Shelly Landaal, director of community and events for Snooze.

“We are especially interested in causes that support sustainability initiatives, education and those do-gooders that are within 5 miles of our front door. We partner with nonprofits we feel we align with our values for our soft openings, and view that as just the beginning of the relationship and partnership,” Landaal said.

and Phoenix Ale Brewery.

“Shake Shack is committed to becoming a valued member of each community we are fortunate enough to serve,” said Stella Shi, Shake Shack marketing manager.

Utah’s Even Stevens, which has several Valley locations, has taken a similar approach as well: they partner with Chandler’s SanTan Brewing Co. and Phoenixbased Cotton Country Jams.

PARTNER WITH A LOCAL ARTIST

Shake Shack and Even Stevens both used local artists and aesthetics to highlight their local connections. At Shake Shack, it meant using reclaimed wood in their Fashion Square location to resemble Camelback Mountain.

At Even Stevens, it meant partnering with Phoenix artist Yai Vila to paint a mural on their walls.

New hotels such as The Found:Re in downtown Phoenix and Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa have done the same.

When most hotels boast of their art, it doesn’t go too far, according to Vittel Calamur, general manager for the newly opened

Found:Re hotel in downtown Phoenix.

“They’ll put something framed on the wall and call it a day,” Calamur told the Phoenix Business Journal in October. “We want to take it a step further.”

Found:Re partnered with more than 25 local artists to display their work throughout the 105-room hotel.

Andaz partnered with the Cattle Track Arts Compound, a Scottsdale arts commune founded by midcentury engineer George Ellis in the 1930s. Every aspect of the resort has a touch of Cattle Track.

— Steven Totten

PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

6

PROVIDED BY SHAKE SHACK

New York-based Shake Shack dresses up its restaurants in local colors to attract more customers.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

preference for unique and local items.

“There’s always been a backlash against generic and mass-produced goods,” said Sean Slater, principal at Chicago-based Retail Design Collective.

“What we’re seeing right now is because of e-commerce, consolidation and consumer trends, baby boomers and millennials are not acquiring things anymore, they’re not making a lot of purchases. That’s hollowing out the market, so when people shop, they want to buy something that has instant history. They want to know the maker.”

According to a recent study conducted

by Christopher Lee, an assistant professor in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, consumers are more likely to buy something for themselves if it’s labeled as “limited edition” — playing into the idea of individuality and uniqueness.

If a company can spend a few extra dollars to make a consumer feel as though the company cares about what happens to them and their community, then the consumer will not only go back to that business, but he or she will likely post about it on social media.

Going social That post on Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram translates to a free advertisement for a business.

“Social connection is everything,” Harkey said. “People buy emotionally and justify with logic later. If a brand can

produce a positive feeling out of having local food, local art, or local anything, they’ll do it. If that feeling can be shared on social platforms even better. Investing in those types of goodwill items that will keep consumers coming back and talking about it is a much better investment that just buying more TV or radio,” said Harkey.

Because consumers are essentially providing free marketing and big data to businesses through their social media posts, a company can hone in on exactly what a community wants.

“With social media, we’re able to really

JIM POULIN | PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

Getting a bite to eat at Even Stevens are Aviance McBride, left, and James Wallace, visiting from Cincinnati. do a lot of geo-targeting, which is a really unique factor to really dial in to local markets,” Largo said.

At this point, there’s no way a business can open in a community without paying attention to what’s happening there, especially with the aggressive work of Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in the country.

“The Local First campaign is one of the most successful campaigns about educating people, and we’ve also seen a high rise in the quality of local products. Like the farming community, how good that produce is now,” Largo said.

JIM POULIN | PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

Local artist Cheryle Marine in front of one of the 104 hotel room signs she produced for Found:Re hotel Phoenix.

Taking market share The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that between 2004 and 2014, the number of farmers markets in the country more than doubled, while traditional grocers lost 15 percent of the market share.

By partnering with Phoenix-based nonprofits, vendors and artists, out-ofstate restaurants such as Utah’s Even Stevens and New York’s Shake Shack, or Valley hotels owned by massive corporations such as Hyatt, are trying to show they’re making investments in the local community.

“We have been noticing this from national chains and larger institutions.

We welcome this and hope that more institutions that have locations in Arizona or are based here shift their spending to local as well,” said Erica Fetherston, communications director for Local First Arizona.

Ultimately, wherever a business may be headquartered, it has to look like it cares about the community in which it operates — a move that Scottsdalebased Due North Holdings, which owns concepts such as NCounter, Sobas and Scotty’s Brewhouse, has been trying to accomplish when they open new locations.

“I think it goes back to the (fact that the) customer always comes first,” said Berekk Blackwell, vice president of Due North. “And for us, being strategic in our efforts is the key to making sure we are the anti-chain chain.”

PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

8

MAKING THE LOCAL MOVE Consumers are increasingly moving their buying from large national chains to local businesses. A survey by Yodel in 2015 found why they are making that choice.

WHERE LOCAL IS BETTER

96% Consumers who think local businesses offer more personalized service

91% Consumers who think local businesses are more trustworthy or treat customers more fairly

88% Consumers who think local businesses offer better overall customer service

86% Consumers who think local businesses do a better job of delivering quality work

79% Consumers who think local businesses are better at being reliable WHERE LOCAL ISN’T BETTER

30% Consumers who think local business offer more stability

23% Consumers who think local businesses offer more competitive prices The Phoenix Community Alliance put together a survey of how important it is having a “creative culture” to recruit, retain and expand business.

Not surprisingly, many thought it was a good idea. Here’s how it broke down on a scale of 1-10

1-3: 3% 4-6: 3% 7-9: 75% 10: 19%

Yai Vila, a local artist whose work can be seen around town such as this mural near Cobra Arcade Bar and Snoh Ice Shavery in downtown Phoenix.

JIM POULIN | PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

The artist’s perspective If you have spent time in downtown Phoenix, you’ve likely seen Yai Vila’s artwork adorning the walls of several different hotspots, such as Even Stevens sandwich shop, Cobra Arcade Bar or Phoenix Art Museum.

Since Vila came to the Valley from Spain almost a decade ago, her psychedelic cartoons have made a big splash in the downtown scene, and businesses have taken notice.

We sat down with Vila and asked her about her work and how it impacts businesses in the Valley.

Q

&

A

What was the first professional piece of art you did, where you were commissioned to do it? I have a lot of commissions, but the first piece I remember selling, I was painting live at Barsmith and I hadn’t sold anything yet. I was really attached to my art, and this guy was like, I just wanted to let you know I like your art and I’d like to buy it. It looked really weird and I wouldn’t have bought it, but he put $100 in my pocket. So I took it home and finished and he gave me $600 more. So I was super excited and I was like, I’m rich, and I tried to price my pieces afterward

for that amount but it didn’t work. That was a sign from the universe though to keep doing my work and taking myself seriously.

How did Even Stevens find you? I have no idea, but they contacted me on Instagram, and they had seen my art.

They’re from Utah and they have a bunch of cool people working for them, like their graphic designers and their art team are all super-cool and young, so this person who saw my Instagram offered it to me and said would you be interested in this project, and I was like yeah that sounds good. It was like my first corporate commission that I’ve ever had.

Would you do more corporate commissions like that if you were offered them? Oh yeah, absolutely. It was fun, it was a learning thing and of course it pays really well.

How much did they pay you for that?

It was $3,500. We paid about $500 for the materials. I think I could have gotten a better amount of money but I feel weird talking about money. Like… (gasps) ‘How much do you wanna pay me?!’ When it comes to the colors I use, they’re super pricy. A bucket of

neon pink is like $40. It’s ridiculous.

How important would you say it is for businesses to get local art in their space? I think it’s one of the best business strategies to get involved with the community. Like these people at Even Stevens were so smart, because they knew their community, downtown Phoenix, they know how much of a big community we are. And they want a young crowd and they want people to talk about them, so what they do is they hire a local artist that’s kind of well known, and they throw a party the first day and give out a bunch of merchandise made by another artist and they brought out a local DJ, and they’re just smart.

Do you think, with some of these businesses gentrifying downtown, when they get artists to do pieces, do they actually care or is it just a trick to make people think they’re part of the community? It’s probably a little bit of both. It just depends. It’s totally a trick on many occasions. It’s probably just a strategy for one, making money, and two, not looking so bad.

— Steven Totten

! ! ! !

!

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa has officially opened.

! ! ! ! ! !

The $75 million renovation of the former Cottonwood Suiteswas initially set to open in November, but as with many businesses in the hospitality industry, the official opening took a bit longer than expected. According to representatives, the resort's pool was not finished until this week. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

But the delay will pay off: The opening came just in time before the explosion of tourists that come to the Scottsdale area for events such as Barrett-Jackson and spring training games.

The 23-acre Andaz was purchased by PV Scottsdale Hotel Owner SPE LLC and Hyatt Hotels Corp.(NYSE: H), the former of which bought the hotel in August 2014 for $13 million.

The Andaz is a signature line from Hyatt, and the Scottsdale location will be the 15th Andaz in the world — soon to be 16th — but only the third resort.

Andaz Scottsdale includes 201 guest rooms and suites, ranging in size from 350 to 500 square feet configured in bungalow-style clusters of six units each; private terraces, including some with outdoor showers; a large pool and sundeck with a 12,000-square-foot spa facility and a fitness center; and more than 46,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities.

Andaz recently recruited Adam Sheff, a longtime chef for Hyatt, as executive chef for Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, which has 100 indoor seats and 40 on the patio.

The resort is heavily inspired by midcentury modern design, heavily focusing on the natural light and beauty of the surrounding landscape. That includes a clear view of Camelback Mountain as well as $1 million spent on landscaping.

The artists and architects of the midcentury modern period were heavy influencers as well, including some who spent a good amount of their time in the Valley, such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Solari.

Each of the three suites offered are named after other artists of the period: architect Alexander Girard, artist Josef Albers and designer Charlie Harper.

Andaz has partnered with the Cattle Track Arts Compound, the nearby arts commune founded by midcentury engineer George Ellis in the 1930s.

The compound, which is occupied by about 35 artists, have provided artwork to display throughout Andaz, and will be hosting workshops for guests.

Every aspect of the resort has a touch of Cattle Track, whether it's the water bottles or the bracelets that hang on every employees' wrist, including Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian.

"This property is unlike any of our other properties and different than any other resort in Arizona, I would argue," said Hoplamazian. "It's got this creative, energetic vibe, and it's anchored to the location through the arts, not a tan adobe building."

Rather than play into the stereotype of the tan adobe building that's been the staple of so many residential and commercial properties of the Phoenix metro, the Andaz has made community connections through the arts compound, as well as other aesthetic aspects, such as the Zuni color wheel, which is represented through the layout of the resort.

! !

!

!

!

! ! !

! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

!

GREATER PHOENIX

SUMMER GETAWAYS VALUES 2017

SPLASH own!

DYour guide to hot

summer deals

HYATT REGENCY SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA AT GAINEY RANCH A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT CREATED BY REPUBLIC MEDIA CUSTOM PUBLISHING

Family Fun Pgs 6-9

Stay and Play Pgs 11-17

Romantic Nights Pgs 18-20

Spa Retreat Pgs 21-22

Romantic Nights

Boulders Resort & Spa

GET OUT AND EXPLORE ARIZONA with your special someone this summer. Spend a romantic night under the moonlight with top-notch dining, special entertainment events and lights-out pool parties.

THE PHOENICIAN Discover the romance of The Phoenician this summer in newly refreshed, contemporary accommodations that honor the guest, as well as the destination.

Gaze upon the beauty of a signature Arizona sunset immersed in the comfort of your private patio or terrace, exclusively located across from majestic Camelback Mountain. As the sun’s last rays slip beyond the horizon, feed the soul with an artisan dinner in the privacy of your luxurious room.

Or, step out to savor the “$40-$30-$20 Culinary Countdown.”

Whether pampering the mind, body and spirit with incredible spa treatments starting at just $79* or experiencing a stay anew within exquisitely redesigned AAA Five Diamond accommodations, your romantic summer resort getaway begins here.

Enjoy rates starting at just $119* per night by calling or going online. *Please mention rate plan: RENOVATE. For spa reservations, please visit thephoenician.com/spa or call 480-423-2452.

480-941-8200 ThePhoenician.com 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale

Unforgettable Moments.

Challenge yourself at The Boulders Golf Club, pamper yourself at Spa at the Boulders, or indulge in a delightful dining experience in one of our exceptional restaurants. With our amazing summer rates, we make planning your next getaway hassle-free.

Named “2017 Best Hotel in Arizona” – Travel + Leisure magazine

480.488.9009 | theboulders.com

FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS Couples looking for a summer getaway in paradise will find beauty, adventure and pure relaxation at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. This AAA Five Diamond resort offers the perfect setting for a romantic rendezvous with posh pools, lush lagoons, worldclass dining and enchanting spots to steal a kiss.

By day, couples can explore, discover and indulge their passions with a sunrise stroll through the grounds, a private cabana near the white sand of Sunset Beach, golf at the TPC Scottsdale or a pampering couple’s massage and a dip under the waterfall grotto at Well & Being Spa. Then for date night, it’s an intimate table for two at any

of the resort’s award-winning restaurants. Suggestions include lobster tacos and a tequila flight at La Hacienda or a butter-poached steak at Bourbon Steak. This spectacular evening ends with a toast under the stars at The Plaza Bar as fireworks light up the sky every Saturday night this summer.

The Sip, Savor & Celebrate Package starts from $169 per night with a $50 dining credit, May 25 through Sept.

4, 2017. For an extra-special indulgence,the Princess offers a variety of spacious suites which couples can upgrade to for only $30 per room category.

480-585-4848 ScottsdalePrincess.com 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA In the shadow of Camelback Mountain, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, with its meandering pathways, olive groves, and lush lawns, feels miles away from civilization. And yet, you are just a few miles from all the action, culture, and history that Scottsdale has to offer.

Featuring bungalow-style guest rooms and suites that draw inspiration from the 1950s- desert art movement, the mid-century vibe continues at the Turquoise Pool and in the dining experiences at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen.

During your stay, schedule a treatment at Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary and experience a personal journey, blending the purist elements of the desert and creating a custom blend of massage oils. Sunset views and desert nights on your private terrace will provide a perfect ending to the day – away from it all, yet at the center of everything.

480-368-1234 AndazScottsdale.com 6114 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale

THE BOULDERS RESORT Rediscover a blissful romantic getaway at the

! ! !

!

Get$a$room!$ $ No,$seriously.$An$elegant$dinner$is$great,$but$having$a$cozy$room$just$steps$away$can$be$the$difference$ between$a$romantic$meal$and$an$escapist$fantasy.$ $ Resort$rooms$aren’t$within$my$area$of$expertise$(and$what$you$choose$to$do$in$them$is$certainly$none$of$my$ business),$but$the$restaurants$that$accompany$them$are,$and$Phoenix$has$more$than$a$few$that$can$make$for$a$ special$evening.$ $ “Hotel$food”$is$a$pejorative$used$to$describe$the$kind$of$unimaginative$proteinIplusIvegetable$plates$that$won’t$ intimidate$anybody$and$are$easy$to$produce$on$a$large$scale$for$banquets$and$receptions.$These$hotel$and$ resort$restaurants,$however,$rise$above$to$offer$an$experience$that’s$worthy$of$a$special$occasion.! !

Here$are$some$of$the$Valley’s$most$delicious,$most$interesting$and$most$romantic$resort$restaurants,$in$ alphabetical$order:!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Named$for$the$intersecting$threads$in$a$piece$of$woven$cloth,$Weft$&$Warp$is$quietly$making$some$rather$ compelling$food$under$chef$Adam$Sheff.$To$clarify,$the$food$is$brash.$The$room$is$quiet$because$nobody$ seems$to$know$it$exists$yet,$but$that’ll$change$soon$enough.$At$the$Andaz$Scottsdale$Resort,$where$the$paint$is$ barely$dry,$this$stylish$and$modern$new$joint$is$aypically$bold$for$a$resort$restaurant.$Pleasantly$gamey$braised$ lamb$belly$($14)$joins$a$bright$citrusIolive$salad,$whole$trout$($24)$with$pecan$romesco$is$served$crisp$off$the$ plancha,$and$a$flavorful$flank$steak$($28)$with$some$bite$is$rounded$out$with$a$sturdy,$peppery$onion$soubise,$ saturated$with$Kilt$Lifter$beer.$Don’t$you$dare$skip$dessert.$The$mesquite$tart$($9)$with$chocolate$coffee$custard$ and$cajeta$caramel$is$a$gem.$ !

Details:$Andaz$Scottsdale,$6114$N.$Scottsdale$Road.$480I368I1234,$scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com.!

! ! !

!

! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! !

!

!

! ! ! !

! ! ! ! !

Phoenix,)Scottsdale)resorts)charge)as)much)as)$50)nightly)for)internet,)parking,)pool)access)and)more) Airlines(get(nonstop(grief(for(nickel0and0diming(passengers(but(they(hardly(have(a( monopoly(on(the(travel0fee(frenzy.( It's(rare(to(check(out(of(a(hotel(with(no(extra(fees(on(the(bill(—(nightly(resort(fees,( parking(fees,(internet(fees(and(more(—(and(those(charges(are(on(the(rise.( Nowhere(is(that(more(evident(than(in(vacation(destinations(like(Phoenix(and( Scottsdale.(Several(resorts,(including(The(Scottsdale(Resort(at(McCormick( Ranch,(Pointe(Hilton(Tapatio(Cliffs,(Pointe(Hilton(Squaw(Peak,(Omni(Montelucia( and(Wigwam,(have(raised(their(resort(fees(in(the(past(year.( Talking(Stick(Resort,(a(casino(resort(on(the(Salt(River(Reservation(near(Scottsdale,(used(to(brag(about(not(having(a( resort(fee.(It(added(a($25(fee(in(February.( Resort(fees,(which(are(mandatory(nightly(charges(in(addition(to(the(room(rate,(debuted(several(years(ago.(Hotels( say(they(are(bundling(popular(services(that(previously(carried(separate(charges,(such(as(Wi0Fi,(fitness0center( access(and(parking,(and(the(fees(are(a(good(deal(for(travelers.( But(a(close(look(at(resort0fee("perks''(reveals(many(amenities(central(to(a(resort(getaway,(such(as(use(of(the(pool.( The(swank(new(Andaz(Scottsdale(Resort(&(Spa(tries(to(make(the(lineup(of(items(covered(by(its($39( nightly(resort(fee(sexy(with(this(intro:("At(Andaz(Scottsdale,(enjoy(the(amenities(and(indulgences(that(accompany(a( classic(resort(stay.(We(offer(all(of(the(comforts(of(home,(along(with(additional(benefits(that(infuse(much(more(into( your(vacation(experience.''( The(items(include(pool(activities,(a(golf(concierge(and(outdoor(gatherings,(including(fire(pits(and(telescope(sharing.( Most(hotels(don't(make(it(easy(to(find(the(fees(and(what(they(cover(on(their(websites.(I've(been(covering(resort(fees( for(years(and(still(had(to(reach(out(to(some(hotels'(representatives(to(find(out(the(fee(and/or(what(it(includes.( Complicating(things:(Parking(charges,(if(not(covered(by(the(resort(fee,(are(listed(separately.( JW(Marriott(Desert(Ridge(prominently(displays(its($29(resort(fee(when(you(search(for(a(room(online,(but(all(it(says(is( this:("includes(bicycles,(driving(range(and(more."(Turns(out(it(also(includes(internet,(parking,(two(hours(of(tennis( court(usage(and(access(to(the(fitness(center(at(its(spa..( Hotel(Valley(Ho(in(Scottsdale(doesn't(have(a(resort(fee(but(has(a(new(self0parking(charge(of($18(per(day.(The( Boulders'(resort(fee(includes(self0parking(but(valet(parking(is($25(a(night,(up(from($15.( Bottom(line:(Travelers(need(to(do(some(math(when(comparing(resort(deals.(This(is(especially(true(in(summer,(when( bargain(rates(beckon(locals.(That($129(rate(can(quickly(balloon(past($200(a(night(when(you(factor(in(resort(fee,( parking(and(taxes.(Some(summer(packages(include(a(reduced(or(waived(resort(fee,(which(can(mean(big(savings.(

Phoenix-area nightly resort fees and what they cover Andaz&Scottsdale:&$39.(Internet,(valet(or(self0parking,(GoPro(video0camera(use,(access(to(Cattle(Track(Arts( Compound(and(preferred(access(to(artists’(studios,(sweet(and(savory(treats(on(roving(carts,(automobile0charging( stations,(artist0in0residence(presentations.(

Arizona&Biltmore:&$28.(Internet,(spa(access,(putting(green,(local(shuttle.(Extra(charges:($12(for(self0parking,($28( for(valet(parking.( Arizona&Grand:&$50.&Internet,(valet(or(self0parking,(four(passes(to(the(on0site(Oasis(Water(Park,(athletic0club( admission,(shuttle(to(Arizona(Mills(mall.( Boulders&Resort:&$30.(Interneta(self0parkinga(shuttlea(tips(for(bell(service,(shuttle(drivers(and(conciergea(spa(and( fitness0center(access.(Extra(charge:($25(for(valet(parking.( The&Camby:&None.(Valet(parking,(the(only(option,(is($33.( Clarendon&Hotel&&&Spa:&$20.(Internet,(breakfast(for(two,(wine(reception,(soft(drinks(and(snacks.(Extra(charge:($10( for(self0parking.(There(is(no(valet(service.( Embassy&Suites&Scottsdale&Resort&(formerly&Chaparral&Suites):(None.(Parking(is(free.(Internet(is($6.95(per(day.( Fairmont&Scottsdale&Princess:&$30.(Internet,(self0parking,(half0day(admission(to(the(Trailblazers(Kids(Club(for(up( to(three(children,(access(to(240hour(fitness(center((not(the(spa(fitness(center),(50(percent(off(the(spa(daily0access( fee.(Extra(charge:($20(for(valet(parking.( Found:Re&Phoenix:&None.(Valet(parking,(the(only(option,(is($25.( Four&Seasons&Resort&Scottsdale&at&Troon&North:&$30.(Internet,(self0parking,(welcome(beverage,(driving(range,( coffee(and(tea(in(the(lobby,(tennis(court(and(racket(use.(Extra(charge:($35(for(valet(parking.( Graduate&Tempe:&None.&Self0parking(is($6.(There(is(no(valet(parking( Hotel&Palomar&Phoenix:&None.(Extra(charges:(Self0parking(is($23,(valet(parking(is($30.( Hotel&Valley&Ho:&None.(Extra(charge:($18(for(self0parking(or(valet(parking.( Hyatt&Regency&Scottsdale&at&Gainey&Ranch:&$29.(Internet,(shopping(shuttle,(health0club(admission,(bike(use,( chipping(and(putting(at(Gainey(Ranch(Golf(Course.(Extra(charges:($21(for(self0parking,($33(for(valet(parking.( JW&Marriott&Camelback&Inn:&$29.(Internet,(self(parking,(access(to(fitness(center(at(the(spa,(two(hours(of(tennis( court(use,(bicycle(rentals,(driving(range.(Extra(charge:($10(for(valet(parking.( JW&Marriott&Desert&Ridge:&$29.(Internet,(self(parking,(bicycle(use,(driving(range,($10(discount(on(valet(parking.( Extra(charges:($29(valet(parking(before(the(discount.( Marriott&Tempe&Phoenix&at&The&Buttes:(None.(Extra(charges:($10(for(parking,($14.95(for(internet.( The&McCormick&Scottsdale:&$19.(Interneta(shuttle(servicea(kayak,(bike(and(canoe(usea(valet(and(self0parking.( Mountain&Shadows&Resort:&$28.(Internet,(in0room(coffee(and(bottled(water,(putting(green,(fitness0center(access,( local(shuttle(including(stops(at(Camelback(Mountain(and(sister(resort(Sanctuary.(Extra(charge:($21(for(valet(parking.( There(is(no(self0parking.( Omni&Scottsdale&Resort&&&Spa&at&Montelucia:&$29.(Internet,(fitness(center,(in0room(coffee,(bocce(ball(equipment.( Extra(charge:($22(for(self0parking(or(valet(parking.( Phoenician:&$29.(Internet,(spa(access,(tennis0court(and(bike(use,(discounts(on(fitness(classes(and(driving0range( fees.(Extra(charges:($12(for(self0parking,($29(for(valet(parking.( Pointe&Hilton&Squaw&Peak:&$26.(Internet,(self0parking,(four(passes(to(the(on0site(River(Ranch(water(park,(health0 club(access,(miniature(golf,(tennis,(driving(range,(20(percent(off(spa(treatments.(Extra(charge:($10(for(valet(parking.( Pointe&Hilton&Tapatio&Cliffs:&$26.(Internet,(self0(or(valet(parking,(admission(for(four(to(the(on0site(Falls(Water( Village,(driving(range,(tennis,(20(percent(off(select(spa(services.( Royal&Palms&Resort&&&Spa:&$30.(Interneta(spa(and(fitness0center(usea(tips(for(bell(staff,(housekeeping(staff(and( valet.(Extra(charge:($25(for(parking.( Saguaro:&$26.(Internet,(valet(or(self0parking.(

Sanctuary&on&Camelback&Mountain:&$34.(Internet,(valet(or(self0parking,(spa(and(fitness(center,(fitness(classes,( candlelight(turndown(service.( Scottsdale&Plaza&Resort:&$22.(Internet,(valet(or(self0parking,(fitness(center,(tennis.( Sheraton&Grand&at&Wild&Horse&Pass:&$25.(Internet,(self0parking,(fitness(center,(shuttle(to(Phoenix(Premium( Outlets,(tennis(court(and(equipment(use.(Extra(charge:($22(for(valet(parking.( Talking&Stick&Resort:&$25.(Internet,(in0room(bottled(water(and(coffee,(fitness0center(use(at(spa.(Valet(and(self0 parking(are(free.( The&Scottsdale&Resort&at&McCormick&Ranch:&$29.(Internet,(valet(and(self0parking,(bike(use,(fitness(center.( The&Scott&(formerly&FireSky&Resort&&&Spa):&$29.(Internet,(self0(and(valet(parking,(bicycles,(fitness(center,(area( shuttle(service,(morning(tea(and(coffee(in(the(lobby.( W&Scottsdale:&None.(Extra(charges:($9.95(for(internet,($15(for(self0parking,($32(for(valet(parking.( Wild&Horse&Pass&Hotel&&&Casino:&None.( We\Ko\Pa&Resort&&&Conference&Center:&$25.(Internet,(bottled(water,(in0room(coffee,(parking,(fitness( center,(business(center,(shuttle(service(within(a(50mile(radius.( Westin&Kierland:&$29.(Internet,(self0parking,(spa(access,(yoga(classes,(shuttle(to(Kierland(Commons(and( Scottsdale(Quarter,(s'mores(on(the(weekends.(Extra(charge:($29(for(valet(parking.( The&Wigwam:&$28.(Internet,(self0parking,(fitness0center(access(and(classes,(housekeeping(and(bellman(gratuities.&(

!

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!! ! !

Gwen!Ashley!Walters,!Special!for!The!Republic!9:41%a.m.%MT%Jan.%13,%2017!

If%you're%keeping%tabs%on%what's%new%and%interesting%in%the%Scottsdale%dining%scene,%here's%a%look%at% two%recent%additions:%an%Italian%restaurant%from%a%veteran%Valley%chefI%and%a%resort%restaurant% featuring%"contemporary%SonoranKinfluenced%cuisine."%

La Locanda returns in new location after long hiatus A%long%time%ago,%in%a%restaurant%world%far,%far%away,%there%was%an%oldKschool%Italian%restaurant%in%north% Scottsdale,%headed%by%chef%Andrea%Volpi.%La%Locanda%was%founded%by%Volpi%in%Chicago%in%1989.%He% moved%the%restaurant%to%Scottsdale%in%1994.%After%a%successful%14Kyear%run,%he%closed%La%Locanda% and%went%on%to%develop%menus%and%cook%at%Local%Bistro%in%Scottsdale%and%Central%Bistro%(now%Stella)% in%Phoenix.

Those%discerning%diners%who%fondly%remember%La%Locanda%will%be%thrilled%to%know%that%Volpi,%along% with%partners%Gugliermo%Alcala%and%Carlos%Ochoa,%have%relaunched%La%Locanda%in%Old%Town% Scottsdale.%Alcala%was%Volpi's%opening%chef%in%1994I%Ocho%was%general%manager%for%Morton’s% steakhouse%the%past%two%decades.%%“The%menu%is%70%percent%the%same,”%Volpi%said,%“with%new%and% exciting%additions.”% ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! % %

Previous%fans%will%remember%Volpi’s%signature!black!linguine%with%seafood%and%spicy%Calabrian% salami%($22)I%pappardelle!Bolognese%($16)I%and%osso!bucco!with!saffron!risotto%($38).% The%dinner%menu%offers%antipasti%and%salads,%including%grilled!calamari!with!Borlotti!beans!and! limoncello!vinaigrette%($13)I%and%an%anchovy@dressed!salad!of!romaine,!lardons!and!a7@minute! egg%($12).%There's%also%a%lengthy%list%of%classic%pastas,%risottos%and%main%courses.% Lunch%offers%a%selection%of%salads,%a%burger,%sandwich%and%wrap,%as%well%as%risotto%and%pastas,% including%penne!Bolognese!($14).%Look%for%weekend%brunch%as%well,%with%traditional%omelets,%French% toast%and%more.%

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen opens at new Andaz Scottsdale Resort ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! % % The%name%of%the%restaurant%tucked%into%the%new%luxury%Andaz%Scottsdale%Resort%and%Spa%from%Hyatt% is%anything%but%ordinary.%Before%you%scratch%your%head,%know%this:%There%is%meaning%behind%the% mouthful%Weft%&%Warp%Art%Bar%+%Kitchen.% “Weft%and%warp”%is%a%term%for%an%artistic%weaving%technique.%Woven%textures%—%literally%and%figuratively% —%feature%prominently%in%the%Midcentury%Modern%decor%of%the%resort’s%signature%restaurant.%Its%cuisine% is%a%tapestry%of%local%ingredients%and%modern%American%resort%fare.% Open%since%Dec.%15,%the%restaurant%is%the%centerpiece%of%the%new%23Kacre%resort,%overlooking%a% showcase%pool%with%views%of%Camelback%Mountain.%Weft%&%Warp%serves%three%meals%a%day,%every% day.% Executive%chef%Adam%Sheff%said%the%menus%are%designed%to%echo%the%resort’s%theme%of%art%and% community.%“Lots%of%cultures%passed%through%the%Valley,%and%each%one%left%something%behind.%We% want%to%honor%that%in%our%contemporary%SonoranKinfluenced%cuisine,”%he%said.%

The!Andaz!Scottsdale!Resort!is!tapping!into!the!arts!to!connect!with!locals.!

!

!

Hotels!get!artsy!to!keep!local!vibes! !

Having!a!sense!of!place!is!one!of!the!most!important!aspects!for!those!in!the!hospitality! industry!right!now,!so!it’s!especially!important!tourists!get!a!sense!of!the!local!vibe.! !

“When!people!are!traveling,!they!want!to!experience!the!local!community!and!not!a!typical!bigD box!experience,”!said!Kim!Sabow,!president!and!CEO!of!the!Arizona!Tourism!&!Lodging!

Association.! !

Hotels!across!the!Valley!have!done!that!lately!with!their!restaurants!and!design,!but!two!hotels! are!taking!it!a!step!further!by!integrating!the!local!art!community.! !

The!upcoming!Found:Re!Phoenix!hotel!in!downtown,!near!Portland!Street!and!Central!Avenue,! partnered!with!Michael!Oleskow!as!its!cultural!curator.! !

Oleskow!formerly!was!president!of!Artlink!Phoenix,!which!helped!grow!Roosevelt!Row’s!First!!

Fridays!Art!Walk!to!the!prominence!it!is!known!for!today.! !

!

The!hotel!will!feature!local!artists’!work!in!each!guest!room.!Artists!such!as!Cheryl!Marine,!

Kathy!Taylor,!Linda!Ingraham!and!Diane!Silver!have!developed!customized!room!numbers.! !

“We!really!wanted!to!go!down!to!every!sensory!detail,”!said!V!Calamur,!general!manager!for! the!hotel.! !

Meanwhile,!the!upcoming!Andaz!Scottsdale!Resort,!6142!N.!Scottsdale!Road!near!Rose!Lane,! partnered!with!the!Cattle!Track!Arts!Compound,!the!nearby!arts!commune!founded!by! engineer!George!Ellis!in!the!1930s.! !

The!compound,!which!is!occupied!by!about!35!artists,!provided!artwork!to!display!throughout!

Andaz,!and!will!be!hosting!workshops!for!guests.! !

“Our!motto!is,!‘Arrive!as!a!guest,!leave!as!a!local,’”!said!Andaz!Area!Director!of!Sales!and!

Marketing!Teri!Benich.! !

Both!hotels!have!constructed!spaces!in!the!front!of!the!property!to!showcase!local!artwork!as! well.! !

The!Found:Re!will!open!Oct.!25,!and!Andaz!is!set!to!open!in!November.!

! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The$resort$and$its$restaurant,$tucked$away$off$Scottsdale$Road$north$of$downtown,$eschew$the$usual$“look$at$me”$ writ$large$in$favor$of$a$vibe$that’s$calm,$confident$and$downright$classy.$ Bless%your%heart,%Scottsdale,%you%try%so%hard%sometimes.% It’s% understandable,% perhaps.% A% combination% of% fierce% competition% and% fickle% clientele% have% turned% downtown% Scottsdale% and% the% surrounding% area% into% a% dining% environment% that% isn’t% much% for% subtlety.% So% many% restaurants% seem%locked%in%a%pitched%battle%to%lure%the%well?heeled%with%ostentatious%design,%cacophonous%buzz%and%maybe,%if% we’re%lucky,%a%good%meal.%The%prevailing%strategy?%Preen%or%perish,%it%would%seem.% Which%makes%Weft%&%Warp%Art%Bar%+%Kitchen%that%much%more%of%a%delight.% This%isn’t%to%say%that%Hyatt’s%new%Andaz%Scottsdale%hasn’t%landed%without%the%usual%anticipatory%brouhaha.%But%the% resort%and%its%restaurant,%tucked%away%off%Scottsdale%Road%a%mile%north%of%downtown,%eschew%the%usual%“look%at%me”% writ%large%in%favor%of%a%vibe%that’s%calm,%confident%and%—%egads!%—%downright%classy.% Culturally%speaking,%this%is%the%kind%of%desert%oasis%I%can%get%behind.%

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Weft%&%Warp%Art%Bar%+%Kitchen,%in%the%spirit%of%the%artistically%inspired%Andaz,%is%named%for%the%perpendicular%sets%of% intersecting%threads%that%comprise%woven%cloth.%I’m%not%sure%why%so%many%restaurants%nowadays%feel%compelled%to% clarify%so%prominently%that%they%do,%indeed,%serve%both%food%and%drinks.%(This%isn’t%a%given?)%But%the%needlessly% cumbersome%nature%of%its%lengthier%title%aside,%Weft%&%Warp%is%equal%parts%stylish,%comfy%and%delicious%in%a% disarmingly%understated%way.% To%be%clear,%Weft%&%Warp%isn’t%the%least%bit%timid,%but%it’s%a%uniquely%tasteful%reprieve%from%some%of%its%over?the?top% contemporaries.%Midcentury%Modern%meets%local%artistry%is%the%motif,%minimal%shapes%and%clean%lines%splashed%with% enough%bold,%vibrant%colors%to%look%like%a%Pantone%book.%

The scene An%aquarium%kitchen%—%surrounded%on%three%sides%by%floor?to?ceiling%glass%—%sits%in%the%center%of%an%airy,%open? format%room%that%mixes%all%styles%of%seating%(not%to%mention%an%oddly%compelling%collection%of%chairs)%across%both% indoor%and%outdoor%space,%maintaining%a%comfortable%volume%even%when%full.% Furnishings,%fixtures%and%flatware%alike%are%an%eclectic%but%complementary%mix,%modern%without%being%austere,% fashionable%but%approachable.%The%staff%fits,%too.%Gently%dressed%down%in%casually%crisp%attire%with%paint?splattered% aprons,%they%deliver%solid%service%with%a%wink%of%laid?back%charm%and%a%firm%command%of%the%menu.% That%menu%comes%courtesy%of%executive%chef%Adam%Sheff,%whose%choice%of%profession%is%either%fortuitous%or%tragic,% depending%on%your%tolerance%for%obvious%jokes.%Chef%Sheff%spent%the%past%eight%years%at%Park%Hyatt%properties%in% New%York%and%Washington,%D.C.,%before%coming%to%Andaz.%Here,%he%offers%a%slate%of%seasonal,%locally%inspired% dishes%that%sits%squarely%in%the%Goldilocks%Zone.%Neither%too%wild%nor%too%traditional,%too%large%nor%too%small,%too% simple%nor%too%complex,%this%menu%is%just%right.

Starters “Bits%and%Bites”%are%precisely%that,%ranging%from%single%bites%to%smaller?size%starters.%Some,%though%exceedingly% minimal,%are%plain,%direct%and%delightfully%flavorful.%Arizona%Medjool%dates%($1.50%apiece)%receive%nothing%more%than%a% dollop%of%fresh%cream%and%crumbled%pistachios.%Juicy%slabs%of%compressed%watermelon%($8)%lazily%lounge%alongside% fried%chicken%skins%in%a%pool%of%gently%tart%Crow’s%Dairy%goat%milk%quark%(think:%soft%cheese/yogurt%hybrid)%with%a%whiff% of%fresh%basil.% Crow’s%Dairy%goats%also%make%their%mark%on%a%pile%of%tender%little%cheese%dumplings%($10),%rolled%in%onion%that’s%been% reduced%to%black%ash%for%the%faintest%bitter%contrast.%Served%in%a%swirling%nest%of%tender%spaghetti%squash%and%tented% with%shards%of%squash%crisps,%they’re%one%of%the%most%unusual%and%most%delectable%bites%on%the%menu.%

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

% Not%to%be%outdone,%tender%pieces%of%lamb%belly%($14),%unafraid%to%be%their%sweetly%gamy%selves,%get%a%gentle%punch% on%the%chin%from%a%briny%salad%of%orange%and%olive%and%a%fresh,%enlivening%lift%(and%a%brilliant%hue)%from%a%sauce%of% butter%lettuce,%emulsified%with%egg%and%olive%oil%and%brightened%with%lemon%zest%and%champagne%vinegar.%

Indeed,%Sheff%isn’t%afraid%to%let%lettuce%be%lettuce.%Though%the%spring%salad%($12)%feels%obligatory,%like%an%excuse%to% give%people%a%vehicle%for%a%protein%topping,%the%“buttercrunch”%salad%($9)%is%a%minimal%delight,%tossed%with%nothing% more%than%a%light%citrus%dressing,%shaved%radish%and%the%tiny,%saline%pop%of%trout%roe.%Some%might%scoff%at%the% stripped?down%simplicity,%but%what%more%does%perfect%butter%lettuce%need?%

!

Similarly,%other%starters%are%less%notable%for%what%they%are%and%more%for%what%they%are%not.%A%tiny%baseball?size%skillet% holds%a%diminutive%helping%of%blue%corn%bread%($6)%and%a%dollop%of%tomato?jalapeño%jam%that%works%because,%unlike% so%many%others,%it%isn’t%painfully%sweet.%Sheff%demonstrates%that%a%simple%bowl%of%mushroom%soup%($10)%can%get% downright%sultry%when%it%embraces%their%earthy%essence%and%isn’t%creamed%into%oblivion.

!

Main courses Offered%“for%the%table,”%mains%are%substantial%affairs.%Whether%you%choose%to%share%them%or%hoard%them%for%yourself%is% your%own%business.%A%Sonoran%“risotto”%($19)%will%annoy%pedants%and%please%just%about%everybody%else.%Combining% wheat%berries,%wild%rice%and%quinoa%(none%of%them,%technically,%rice),%it’s%a%nutty,%chaotically%textured%porridge%of%sorts% laced%with%Parmesan%and%topped%with%crisp%fried%shallots%that’s%compelling%no%matter%what%you%call%it.% Steaks%are%composed%plates,%perhaps%not%intended%for%the%steakhouse%crowd.%Both%the%flank%($28)%and%the%strip% ($34)%are%flavorful%affairs,%if%awfully%saucy.%But%their%savory%sauces%—%a%soubise%(onion%bechamel)%that’s%drunk%on%kilt% lifter%and%a%sweet%and%complex%glaze%made%with%dates%and%black%garlic,%respectively%—%make%it%hard%to% complain%they’re%so%abundant.%

!

!

A%Kurobuta%pork%chop%($32)%is%similarly%saucy,%but%here%I’m%surprised%to%find%how%little%I%mind.%Sheff%runs% perpendicular%to%convention,%avoiding%piles%of%fruit%or%sweet%glazes%in%favor%of%an%earthy%black%bean%puree%and% melted%bell%peppers%(OK,%those%are%technically%fruits)%to%complement%a%pleasantly%pink%and%dangerously%succulent% cut%of%pork,%so%replete%with%natural%sweetness%it%doesn’t%need%a%sugary%crutch.% Tender%chicken%($26)%set%atop%a%trove%of%avocado%with%a%spiced%adobo%mop,%while%a%solid%dish,%feels%a%little%tame% amid%this%crowd.%The%fish,%however,%are%fabulous.%Sweet%and%tender%trout%($24),%seared%golden%on%the%plancha,% needs%nothing%more%than%some%cauliflower,%lemon%and%a%smear%of%nutty%romesco.%And%the%roasted%swordfish%loin% ($36)%splashes%in%a%bath%of%citrus%vinaigrette%along%with%beets%and%melted%leeks.%

Sides Blistered%shishito%peppers%($7),%for%many,%is%a%reflexive%order,%but%if%there’s%only%one%vegetable%side%in%the%cards,% resist%the%habit%and%order%the%roasted%baby%yams%($9)%instead.%

! !

! ! ! % % % % % % % % % % I’m%a%stalwart%supporter%of%seasonal%cuisine,%but%I’ll%cop%to%dreading%the%moment%these%little%orange%beauties%come%off% the%menu.%Sheff%claims%to%have%built%the%dish%around%the%charred%i’itoi%onions%that%top%it,%but%that’s%underselling%the% yams,%slathered%with%a%mix%of%brown%butter,%ancho%chiles%and%sherry%vinegar%that%pops%and%sizzles%on%the%tongue.% Forget%the%rest.%I’ll%have%two%more%of%these.%

Desserts % ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

You'll%find%a%short%list%of%artfully%composed%sweets%made%with%atypical%care.% % Those%whose%tastes%skew%light%will%gravitate%to%an%airy%horchata%mousse%with%apricot%curd%($9),%while%decadence% junkies%can%sink%into%a%superlative%chocolate%sticky%toffee%cake%($9)%replete%with%dates.% % The%sharpest%finish,%however,%may%be%a%debonair%mesquite%tart%($9),%light%chocolate%and%coffee%custard%in%a%mesquite% flour%shell%with%goat’s%milk%caramel%and%white%chocolate%whipped%cream.%

The lowdown Weft%&%Warp%is%not%so%easily%crammed%into%a%category%of%restaurant%that%would%ordinarily%garner%a%lot%of%attention.%It’s% too%subdued%to%pass%for%a%posh%hot%spot.%It’s%too%polished%to%appeal%to%the%indie?obsessed.%It’s%too%approachable%to% build%a%reputation%as%a%laboratory%for%food%geeksl%too%refined%to%make%a%play%for%mass%market%success.% Thankfully,%it%appears%Weft%&%Warp%is%largely%unconcerned%with%all%of%the%above%and%content%to%confidently%go%about% its%business.%Listening%to%a%litany%of%well?financed%but%subpar%restaurants%bray%about%how%delicious%and%stylish%they% are%can%get%awfully%tiring.% % Best%to%take%refuge%in%a%place%that%actually%is.% $ Reach$Armato$at$dominic.armato@arizonarepublic.com$or$602F444F8533.$Interact$with$him$ on$Facebook,$Twitter$and$Instagram.%

Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen Where:!Andaz%Scottsdale%Resort%and%Spa,%6114%N.%Scottsdale%Road.% Hours:!6:30%a.m.?10%p.m.%daily.% Details:!480?214?4622,%scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com.% Price:!$40?$60%per%person,%excluding%beverage,%tax%and%tip.% Stars:!4%(out%of%5)%

Restaurant review rating scale 5%—%excellent% 4!—%very%good% 3!—%good% 2!—%fair% 1!—%poor%

!