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Rising country music star opens up about competing in local beauty pageants, appearing on The Voice , and making it big in Nashville
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EAST MESA
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PERFORMING LIVE SERIES 2013-14 TOMMY EMMANUEL Featuring Martin Taylor FEB 4 | 7:30PM
Tickets $29.50/$37.00/$39.50/$45.00 Two-time GRAMMY® nominee Tommy Emmanuel comes to Mesa with his unique style of playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano --using all ten fingers. Rather than using a band for melody, rhythm, bass and drum parts, Tommy plays all that - and more - on one guitar.
NAT GEO : NEW LIGHT ON THE ANCIENT MAYA
FEB 5 | 7:30PM
Tickets Adult: $26/$32/$36/$40 Student: $26 William Saturno has searched for clues to the mysteries of the Classic Maya. Guided by luck and know-how, he and his team have carried out successful excavations in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Since then, experts and amateurs have wrestled with the questions: Who built these cities? Who ruled over them? How did they fall into ruin?
CHRIS MANN
FEB 14 | 8:00PM
Tickets $25/$35/$45/$65 Chris Mann shined as a finalist on The Voice, now see the acclaimed vocalist singing a collection of classical-crossover favorites live in concert. He has the astounding capability to make timeworn standards fresh, while taking a modern pop song and performing it with classical elegance. In partnership with Live Nation.
CL AYTON-HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA MAR 7 | 8:00PM Tickets $20/$35
The magnificent Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra is co-led by John Clayton, his brother, saxophonist, Jeff Clayton, and drummer, Jeff Hamilton. CHJO has recorded with Queen Latifah, John Pizzarelli, Diana Krall, and Gladys Knight, and has been named Best Big Band in past readers polls in both JazzTimes and Downbeat.
MARCH MARK RUSSELL MAR 8 | 8PM CHERISH THE LADIES MAR 11 | 7:30PM PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT: MAR 21: RADIOHEAD MAR 22 : BRUBECK, BACH & BECK, HAWKWIND MAR 23 | 7:30PM NAT GEO LIVE! THE LENS OF ADVENTURE MAR 26 | 7:30PM WILLIAM CLOSE AND THE EARTH HARP COLLECTIVE MAR 28 | 8PM APRIL JOHN LEGEND APR 4 | 8PM SPEECHLESS: ONE MAN’S JOURNEY IN A 3D WORLD APR 5 | 8PM DIANA KRALL APR 8 | 7:30PM CAMERON CARPENTER APR 16 | 7:30PM CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO APR 19 | 7:30PM MARK BAMUTHI-JOSEPH APR 25 | 7:30PM IGUDESMAN & JOO APR 30 | 7:30PM
INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING VENUE
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ARIZONA SNOWBOWL
2 0 S P I C Y V - D AY SURPRISES
Sunshine, slopes, and snowmaking combine to create a quick weekend family adventure.
These hot gifts for him, her, and both of you will turn up the heat—literally!
BUZZ / 16 KONA GRILL
ANNIVERSARY
17 FESTIVE NEW YEAR
FEB/MAR '14
FEATURES
46
DESTINEE QUINN Singer-songwriter Destinee Quinn opens up about competing in local beauty pageants, appearing on NBC’s The Voice singing competition, and making it big in Nashville.
19 CUTEST PET CONTEST
20 EVENTS 22 ENTERTAINMENT
AT DOMINICK’S
65 CROSSWORD 18 AUTO SHOW AND
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
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66 BACKSTORY
Answers on page 57!
We Treat the Root of Your Condition, Not Just the Symptoms
SCNM Medical Center Physicians Can Help You Feel Better Every Day (Naturally) Whether it is treating a recurring illness or preventing future health issues, the team at the SCNM Medical Center is here to treat your unique health needs. From pediatrics to geriatrics, from diabetes to asthma, our 30+ naturopathic doctors have expertise across all specialties. Your optimal health is within reach! Our practitioners are ready to treat: • Allergies and asthma • Childrens illnesses including ADHD and autism • Diabetes and metabolic syndrome • Obesity and nutritional disorders • Cardiovascular disease • Women’s health issues • Pain relief including back pain, migraines and more
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Medical Center www.scnm.edu/medcenter EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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FRESH /
24 TUNES
Liquid Sol Fest 2014 set to rock the Valley
26 PROFILE
Single mom carves out her own path to success
28 CULTURE
Behind the scenes of the Scottsdale Arts Festival
30 READS
New and noteworthy
BETTER / 50 STYLE
Fashionista Jami Lindberg on what to wear for an evening with your sweetie
52 BEAUTY
13 beauty products that really work
54 BODY
Partner up for your fitness routine
31 OPINIONS
56 RELATIONSHIPS
34 ART
58 GOLF
The Dearings chime in
The inventive new textile artist exhibition at the Chandler Center for the Arts
Money matters, right?
Improve your game with these simple tips
59 WHEELS
HOME /
Acura’s New HighTech Flagship, the 2014 RLX
38 TEAM
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt
40 TEAM
Phoenix Suns president Jason Rowley
42 HISTORY
Sunbaked Arizona beckons with a beguiling mix of myths, legends, and truths
44 DESIGN
Interior remodel helps an East Valley mom’s recovery
45 LIFE
Local writer Shay Moser dares you to keep up the first-date spark
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TASTE / 60 COOK
Chef Matthew Grunwald talks television-ready recipes
62 COOK
Erika Monroe-Williams whips up short ribs with ricotta gnocchi
64 EAT
Behind the scenes of Ruffino, an Italian eatery
The BEST independent films from around the world!
Susan Sarandon
Brad Paisley
Shirley Knight
Mariel Hemingway
Morgan Spurlock
Alison Arngrim
February 22 - March 2, 2014 www.SedonaFilmFestival.org
928.282.1177
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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EASTVALLEY Volume 1 / Issue 6 PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Adam Toren adam@eastvalleymagazine.com Matthew Toren matthew@eastvalleymagazine.com
EDITORIAL
Managing Editors Sondra Barr sondra@eastvalleymagazine.com Crystal Huckabay crystal@eastvalleymagazine.com Pavlina Toren pavlina@eastvalleymagazine.com Copy Editor Kate Karp kate@eastvalleymagazine.com INTERN Alexandra Grunwald CONTRIBUTORS Bailin Batz, Scott Bohall, Nadine Bubeck, Kristin Caliendo, Julie Carlson, Lynette Carrington, Marc David, Leeann Dearing, Matthew Dearing, Shannon Dougherty, Matthew Grunwald, Lea Haben, Jami Lindberg, Myles Mellor, Kim Miller, Shay Moser, Erika Monroe-Williams, Nicole Royse, Greg Rubenstein, Scott Sackett, Heather Sanders, Anissa Stringer, M.D. Thalmann, Michael Torres, Marshall Trimble PHOTOGRAPHERS Marci Anne, Barry Gossage, Stephanie Heymann, Patti Jares, Rob K., Tammy Martin, Jordan Megenhardt, Stephen Miller, Dan Raustadt, Gillian Tomimbang, Scott E. Whitney ADVERTISING sales@eastvalleymagazine.com 602.828.0313 Marketing Director Eric Twohey Art Director/Production Vanessa Fryer
CIRCULATION
Distribution Manager Mark Lokeli
Networking
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Eric Twohey East Valley Magazine sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner. Printed by American Web on recycled fibers containing 10% post consumer waste, with inks containing a blend of soy base. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.
EAST VALLEY MAGAZINE is published six times a year for distribution aimed at higher-income households in such areas as Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Queen Creek, Las Sendas, Fulton Ranch, Seville, and Ocotillo. You can also pick up East Valley Magazine at many businesses, including specialty shops, salons, spas, auto dealerships, libraries, children’s and women’s specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, health clubs, hotels, medical offices, and many rack locations. Statements, opinions, and points of view expressed by the writers and advertisers are their own, and do not necessarily represent those of the publishers, editors or East Valley Magazine staff. Although East Valley Magazine has made every effort to authenticate all claims and guarantee offers by advertisers in the magazine, we cannot assume liability for any products or services advertised herein. No part of East Valley Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter at any time. Postmaster: Please return all undeliverable copies to East Valley Magazine, 3120 W. Carefree Hwy., Ste. 1-128, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Yearly subscriptions available; six issues mailed directly to your mailbox for $19.95 per year (within the U.S.). All rights reserved. ®2013 East Valley Magazine. Printed in the USA.
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> PUBLISHERS' NOTE
Blue Skies As the rest of the country experienced a series of frigid cold snaps over the past few months, here in the Valley, we’ve been blessed with gorgeous weather, nary a polar vortex in sight, and a bevy of wonderful events and activities that have allowed us to take full advantage of blue skies and balmy temps. With that being said, it was hard for our cover girl, Destinee Quinn, to recently say goodbye to her Arizona hometown and head to the country music capital of the world. When we caught up with the rising singer-songwriter, it was freezing in Nashville and she was pining for the Valley. Read her story (pages 46-49) to learn how this head turner, who’s competed in local beauty pageants and appeared on American Idol and The Voice singing competitions, plans on making her mark on the music charts.
On the cover: Destinee Quinn PHOTO BY TAMMY MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Toren Publisher
Next, we turn our attention to our first (ever!) East Valley Magazine Cutest Pet Contest. Visit our website or Facebook page to submit a photo of your cuddly (or not so cuddly) friend by March 12, to enter your pet. All pets qualify—dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, gerbils, lizards…you name it. If it’s your pet, you can enter it in the contest. We’ll showcase all the entries in our April/ May issue, with directions on how to vote for your favorite. The animal with the most votes will get a professional photo shoot, grace the cover of an upcoming issue, and win valuable prizes. Since a lot of us have cute videos of our pets, we also encourage you to post yours on Facebook and tag East Valley Magazine on the video to get more exposure. We’ll feature the funniest animal videos on our website in addition to the photo entries. Before you get down to the other engaging local content inside, take a quick glance through the magazine. You may notice a couple of changes. We’re looking to expand and bring even more indepth hyper-local coverage. Are we missing anything? If so, we want to know. Feel free to shoot us feedback on this issue. We appreciate all your comments and suggestions and encourage community conversation. Until next month! Cheers, Matthew Toren Publisher
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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Relaxation Elevated. The Spa at Talking Stick, an inspiring open-air spa high on the 14th floor, offers a calming retreat and soul-stirring views of Scottsdale. Your mind, body and toes will thank you. Experience the essence of Valentine’s Day with these exclusive treatments: Candlelight Massage, Warm Stone Skin Renewal Facial, Chocolate Covered U Body Polish and Love Potion #10 Bliss Pedicure
101 & INDIAN BEND | 480.850.4065 | TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM COM *Offers valid February 1-28,2014. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Must be 18 years of age or older. A 20% gratuity is added to all spa services. Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
8008-6_TSR-Spa-NValleyMag.indd 1
JOB #: 8008-6_TSR-Spa-NValleyMag · Client: Talking Stick Resort · Agency: RIESTER Trim: 7.625" x 4.75" · Bleed: none · Color: CMYK Pub: North Valley Magazine · Insertion Date: 02/01/14 · Contact: Bill Robbins · brobbins@riester.com
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EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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Connect with EAST Valley Magazine To get in touch: East Valley Magazine 3120 W. Carefree Hwy., Ste. 1-128, Phoenix, AZ 85086 Telephone: (602) 828-0313 • Fax: (623) 889-9001 Website: eastvalleymagazine.com General E-mail: info@eastvalleymagazine.com. For submissions and suggestions: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters may be e-mailed to letters@eastvalleymagazine.com. They may also be sent via mail or fax to Letters to the Editor at our address. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.
EVENTS CALENDAR: Submit press releases or event descriptions to events@eastvalleymagazine.com. Be sure to include event title, date, time, place, details, cost (if any), and contact number or website. The deadline for April/May 2014 consideration is March 1.
PRESS RELEASES: Submit press releases via e-mail to editor@eastvalleymagazine.com.
STORY QUERIES: Submit one-page queries to us by mail, attention Editorial Department. Accompany any queries with clips and a 50-word biography.
STORY SUGGESTIONS: We welcome editorial suggestions from our readers. Please e-mail story ideas to editor@eastvalleymagazine.com, or mail or fax them to the attention of the editorial department.
To advertise your product or business: Contact the sales department by phone at (602) 828-0313,ext. 1, or by e-mail at sales@eastvalleymagazine.com.
To subscribe or obtain back issues: SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to East Valley Magazine, or to make changes to an existing subscription, call (602) 828-0313 ext. 2, or visit our website.
BACK ISSUES: Back issues from up to two years are currently available for $8.95 each, including postage. You may order past issues on our website. Please allow five to seven days to process. It is East Valley Magazine’s policy not to mail, e-mail, or fax copies of articles that have appeared in the magazine.
Where to find us: East Valley Magazine has racks in prime locations across our distribution area. For the rack location nearest you, e-mail info@eastvalleymagazine.com. We also mail magazines to various neighborhoods. If you would like to ensure that your place of business receives several copies or would like to submit your place of business for a future rack location, please send a request via e-mail or regular mail to Mark Lokeli at mark@eastvalleymagazine.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/EastValleyMag and join our fan page on Facebook! 14
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
Smile With Confidence! Cosmetic and Family Dentistry Creating beautiful smiles since 1988
MARK S. ANTHONY, D.D.S., P.C. TIMOTHY C. SCHMIDT, D.M.D. RICK M. SMITH, D.D.S., M.S. 480-832-4567 1259 North Power Road, Mesa ( NE corner of Brown & Power - next to Sonic )
- Financing Available - Child-Friendly - Seniors Welcome - Emergency Care - Most Insurance Accepted Voted among “Top Dentists” for Phoenix Magazine 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013
www.markanthonydental.com
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> BUZZ /OUTTAKES
WHAT
KONA GRILL’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY WHERE
Fashion Square Mall
THEME
Out with the old, in with the new
FASHION STATEMENT Stylish urban wear
OVER THE TOP
Kona Grill’s facelift, including crystal chandeliers and a custom water wall on the patio
OVERHEARD
“Wow!” “I’m glad they didn’t get rid of their signature macadamia nut chicken!” —Photos by Rob K. Photography
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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
> BUZZ /OUTTAKES WHAT
NEW YEAR’S EVE FETE WHERE
Dominick’s Steakhouse
THEME Festive
FASHION STATEMENT Manhattan chic
OVER THE TOP
Seafood tower of bluepoint oysters, Dungeness crab cocktail
OVERHEARD
“Delish!” “Can you get me another martini?” —Photos by Dan Raustadt/ Bigger Picture Images
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> BUZZ /OUTTAKES WHAT
THE PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW WHERE
Phoenix Convention Center
OVER THE TOP
The red Dodge Viper
OVERHEARD
“I want one—now!” —Photos by Stephen Miller
WHAT
THE CAVE CREEK BALLOON FESTIVAL WHERE
Rancho Manana
OVER THE TOP
The Banana Balloon
ENTERTAINMENT
Local bands from Rock the District
TREATS & DRINKS Trendy food trucks
—Photos by Stephen Miller
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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
> BUZZ /CONTEST
E n t e r E a s t Va l l e y M a g a z i n e ’s
CUTEST PET C O N T E S T !
Visit our website or Facebook page to submit a photo of your cuddly (or not so cuddly) friend by March 12, 2014 to enter your pet into East Valley Magazine’s Cutest Pet Contest. We’ll showcase all the entries in our April/May issue, with directions on how to vote for your favorite. The animal with the most votes will get a professional photo shoot, grace the cover of grace the cover of an upcoming East Valley Magazine and win valuable prizes.
To vote, visit eastvalleymagazine.com or facebook.com/eastvalleymagazine All pets qualify—dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, gerbils, lizards…you name it. If it’s your pet, you can enter it into the contest. After entering, post a short video of your pet on Facebook and tag East Valley Magazine on it to get more exposure. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> BUZZ /EVENTS
By Anissa Stringer
14 The Sun Devils start their last season at Packard Stadium with a three-game series against Baylor. Packard Stadium, 201 S. Packard Dr., Tempe. thesundevils.com
February 1–8 Cash on Delivery is a British comedy about a con artist who finds a loophole to keep the cash rolling in. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. haletheatrearizona.com
20 Businesses, artists, and more are showcased at Chandler’s –22 Science Spectacular, a weekend-long event that highlights the science that’s happening all around us. Downtown Chandler on Arizona Ave. between Buffalo and Boston streets, Chandler. chandleraz.gov
2 Visit Mesa Contemporary Arts, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the Arizona Museum for Youth when you Target 3 for Free on the first Sunday of the month, now through May 4th from 1–4 pm. Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa. mesaartscenter.com
The museums are all within walking distance of one another.
22 Feed My Starving Children
is hosting a massive foodpacking event to benefit children in 70 countries who would otherwise go hungry. Phoenix Civic Center, 100 North 3rd St., Phoenix. fmsc.org
4–9 The Wizard of Oz is an adaptation of the classic you know and love, reconfigured for the stage. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave. Tempe. asugammage.com
March 1 The 10th Annual Ostrich
9 The Chandler Symphony Orchestra
invites you to a free performance of musicians from across the Valley. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler. chandlercenter.org
12 Chihuly in the Garden ends May 18, so if you haven’t wandered through the Desert Botanical Garden lately, do it now! Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. dbg.org
For a limited time! 20
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
Festival Fun Run/Walk takes place on the same route (but two hours before) as the Centennial Ostrich Parade. The route is flat and fast, so bring the whole family for this one! Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler. ostrichfestival.com
1 Ready for a beer-tasting
extravaganza? Come to the 26th Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival. Must be 21 or older to enter. Tempe Beach Park, 54 W. No infants, Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. children, azbeer.com/tempe strollers, or pets allowed.
6 Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a great night of music during Gilbert’s Concerts in the Park. Parking is free, and there will be food and beverage vendors. Check the website for the band and playing times. Freestone Park, 1045 E Juniper Ave., Gilbert. gilbertaz.gov/concerts/
Local First Arizona @LocalFirstAZ MT @TucsonNightOut: New #culinary event SAVOR presented by @artsAZ and @LocalFirstAZ to be held @TucsonBotanical 2/1 http://ow.ly/smeC8
7–9 Food, music, vendors, and, of course, ostrich races are all a part of the 26th Annual Ostrich Festival. Don’t forget to visit your local Fry’s Grocery to buy tickets at a discount. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Rd., Chandler. ostrichfestival.com
Joel Makower @makower Planning on coming to @GreenBiz Forum in Feb.? If so, jump on it: Early-bird rate expires 1/15 http://grn.bz/HtgJHo #GrnBz
8–9 If you love chili, head to the 10th
annual Ahwatukee Chili CookOff. Cooks will compete for a spot in the 2014 World Championship Chili Cook-Off, and there will be more than enough rides, vendors, and music to keep you entertained! Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center, 4700 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix. ahwatukeehoa.com
10 Valley favorite Paul McDermand, steel drum and marimba artist, will kick off his nationwide tour in Tempe with music that goes beyond its Caribbean and Central American roots. Tempe Center for the Arts. 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. tempe.gov
19 Discover your creative side at Spark! Mesa’s Festival of –23
Creativity. Celebrate with music, activities, dancing, food, and workshops. Some activities are fee based. Check the website for hours. Mesa Arts Center, One East Main St., Mesa. mesaartscenter.com
Business&Environment @WhartonIGEL We’re heading to GreenBiz Forum Feb 18–20, will we see you there? Get 10% off w/ our code GBF14I #GrnBz http://grn.bz/1ieOxok
29 Celebrate your pooch at
the Ninth Annual Dog Show. There will be canine demos and judging. All dogs must be on a six-inch leash. Ahwatukee Park, 4700 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix. ahwatukeehoa.com
29 Tie on your superhero cape for the KA-POW! Superhero Adventure Run. Hang out in Gotham City after your run for refreshments and more. Freestone Park, 1045 E. Juniper Ave., Gilbert. gilbertaz.gov
Chandler Regional @ChandlerRegiona Spanish Bilingual Assistant Class 2/1-5/17 @ChandlerRegiona Students learn English/Spanish use in Healthcare Setting. RSVP 480.728.5414 ASU Gammage @ASUGammage Play for Peace at ASU Gammage Feb. 15. Do you have your tickets? This is one performance you do not want to miss! http://ow.ly/ssuWD
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> BUZZ /ENTERTAINMENT
By Kristin Caliendo
CONCERTS/ Feb.
7
George Strait and Martina McBride US Airways Center Country music sensation Martina McBride joins George Strait as he takes the stage for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, to take place at US Airways Center. No country music fan’s year is complete without seeing this superstar duo performs smash hits like “Go On” and “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”
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MOVIES/ Feb.
Mar.
Feb.
Feb.
Mar.
Demi Lovato Jobing.com Arena
Cher US Airways Center
The Monuments Men
The Lego Movie
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Demi Lovato will kick off her Neon Lights Tour this February. The pop-rock songstress will embark on a 27-date tour across North America to promote the 21-yearold entertainer’s fourth studio album, Demi , released in May. Lovato’s tour is sure to delight!
Everlasting diva Cher will be dressed to impress her fans for the Dressed to Kill Tour set to begin in Phoenix. The trek is being staged to celebrate her new Closer to the Truth album. Besides being the Goddess of Pop, Cher is an Academy Award Winner for best actress in Moonstruck (1998), an Emmy winner, a Grammy winner, and a threetime Golden Globe winner. See her sing her new collection, it’s a “Woman’s World”— and Cher’s a woman with a capital W.
Based on Robert Edsel’s 2009 book of the same name, George Clooney’s upcoming World War II movie is about the search for and recovery of Nazi-looted art. The film is founded on revelations that more than 1,400 stolen artworks by Picasso, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, and others were found in a Munich, Germany, apartment and are believed to have been removed from German museums. Clooney co-wrote and stars alongside with Matt Damon in this movie shot on location in Germany.
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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
2
7
7
Lego minifigures will be invading the big screen this spring. The first-ever full-length theatrical Lego adventure from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures stars Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, and Will Arnett and features notable Hollywood stars such as Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson. The original 3-D computeranimated story follows an ordinary, rules–following, perfectly average Legos minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person in existence and the key to saving the world.
7
Wes Anderson co-wrote The Grand Budapest Hotel with newcomer Hugo Guinness. The film is set in and around an elite European hotel in the 1920s and follows the journey of Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), the resident’s legendary concierge, and his trusty lobby boy Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori.) This comedy features a roster of such stars as Tom Wilkinson, Bill Murray, and Owen Wilson.
TELEVISION/ STARTING
Feb.
6
The Winter Olympics NBC The XXII Olympic Winter Games—the 22nd Winter Olympics—are scheduled to take place Feb. 6–23 in Sochi, Russia. Ninety-eight events in 15 winter sports will be held. Tune in as athletes such as 18-year-old U.S. Alpine phenom Mikaela Shiffrin thrill the crowds and strive to dominate in their events.
Feb.
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Twisted ABC The original hit series will return on ABC in February, with all new episodes. This one-hour mystery is laden with twists and turns as it follows Danny Desai, a charismatic 16-year-old with a troubled past, who returns home after spending five years in juvenile detention. Suspicion, mystery, and twisted secrets will have you wondering if this young teen is a hopeless victim or in fact truly a murderer.
Mar.
6
Suits USA Network The legal drama starring Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams will return for another 16-episode run. As a leading cable production, this program draws a passionate and loyal young audience by promising to deliver a provocative fourth season. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> FRESH/TUNES
>>
Liquid Sol Fest 2014
Lynette Carrington on the inaugural multiact music festival set to rock the Valley.
BANDS PERFORMING AT LIQUID SOL MUSIC FESTIVAL The All-American Rejects Blind Melon BoDeans Buckcherry Cracker Ed Kowalczyk (of the band, Live) Everclear Fuel Gin Blossoms The White Buffalo Tonic Vertical Horizon
Lynette Carrington is a prolific local freelance writer with a background in marketing and the entertainment industry. 24
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
Liquid Sol Festival 2014 March 15, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sportsman Park
(Outside University of Phoenix Stadium)
1 W. Cardinals Dr., Glendale liquidsolfest.com
Massive multiact music festivals are always an enjoyable event for fans, great exposure for bands, and a way to raise awareness and funds for worthwhile causes. The Liquid Sol Fest 2014 will be a daylong music event that showcases the best in music while also raising funds for several worthwhile causes. Even in its inaugural year, Liquid Sol Fest is going big guns and will turn up the heat at Sportsman’s Park on March 15. Liquid Sol Entertainment Group has partnered with Glendale Firefighters Charities to benefit their local foundations, 100 Club of Arizona and Hope for Hunger, in addition to helping the community of Yarnell and families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The festival is a highly anticipated event that provides a mix of live multigenre music entertainment and an extensive beer garden. The specially designated area will feature dozens of craft brews from more than 35 breweries for concert patrons over the age of 21. For those that have a little too much liquid fun, there will be a Safe Ride Home program. Multiple interactive activities will offer something for everyone, from an adventurous zip line and rock-climbing wall to a firefighter-challenge agility course that shows just how hard our firefighters work each day. There will also be a live simulated extraction that demonstrates how people are rescued from vehicles when there has been an accident. The management team of Liquid Sol Entertainment Group consists of many talented people, and their leaders offer years of experience in the festival industry, including Country Thunder, and deep ties to the entertainment community. These two assets alone help to position Liquid Sol to offer an organized and efficient event that offers top-tier talent. If all goes well, the event may even grow into an annual event over several days. The philosophy of the group is to provide the best talent available to fans, build a memorable experience, expand community integration and cultural development, and provide the best value for the entertainment dollar. Scottsdale-based company GSI Global is helping Liquid Sol Fest revolutionize the festival industry through video integration and custom video on demand. They created the Liquid Sol website and will also offer some unique opportunities for people around the globe to also watch Liquid Sol 2014 as it unfolds. To buy tickets, visit liquidsolfest.com. Also, stay up to date by following Liquid Sol Fest at facebook.com/liquidsolfest, as more artists are expected to be added to the lineup prior to the festival.
2013
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> FRESH/PROFILE
By Alison Bailin Batz
Mother of Re-Invention “I didn’t want to live in the fast lane of event and high-fashion photography anymore— I wanted to learn and inspire others, so teaching my craft seemed a natural fit.” 26
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
Single Mom Carves Out Her Own Path to Success
Crayons? Check! Dolls? Check! Blowtorch? Check! Blowtorch? For busy single mother and sculptor artist Amy Gochoel, juggling 6-yearold daughter Lila’s toys with her own—including not only the blowtorch but glitter, heavy metals, and frosting—is all in a day’s work. “To me, having Lila see her mommy succeed in such a nontraditional way with such a nontraditional education and nontraditional career path is one of the most important lessons I can ever teach her,” says Gochoel, who at 32 just graduated with a degree in sculpture from the School of Art in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Gochoel says her 14-year path to a college degree, which she started as a community college student in 1999, was littered with neither frat parties nor “double secret probations.” She had a definite end in mind. “When I was 18, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up—an art and fashion photographer,” she says. Gochoel enrolled in photography classes at Scottsdale Community College and took on a part-time job with a talent agency, where she quickly found herself promoted from part-time assistant to lead model and event photographer. “At 19, I was working in my desired industry—school was actually getting in the way,” Gochoel says. “So, I left and spent three years as a fashion photographer—it was wild.” Eager to move on to a bigger market, Gochoel relocated to California in 2002, with the goal of establishing residence there and then entering UCLA’s prestigious photography school. “Yep, 22-year-old Amy had it all figured out, or so I thought,” says Gochoel, who also began dating someone before moving. “I moved back to town—albeit 50 miles away from my family and friends—got married, and stopped both learning about and practicing photography professionally. I stopped doing many of my passions,” she says. In 2007, Gochoel became mom to Lila. “Here I was in charge of someone 24/7—and not only in charge of keeping her alive and happy but in charge of turning her into a grown-up one day,” says Gochoel, who says she did some growing up herself at that time. By 2009, Gochoel enrolled herself at ASU, with the goal of being an art and photography teacher. “I didn’t want to live in the fast lane of event and high-fashion photogra-
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phy anymore—I wanted to learn and inspire others, so teaching my craft seemed a natural fit,” she says. But life would again throw her a curveball, in the form of an elective sculpting class. Working in such a hands-on way to conceptualize and create something from the ground up, making beautiful “mistakes” along the way, and eventually putting the project out for the world to see struck an immediate chord with Gochoel, who says one would have to be crazy not to directly compare the art form to motherhood. And like motherhood, sculpture is often mistakenly stereotyped, she says. Gochoel puts concentration, depth of perception, and plenty of sweat into her work, and it all earned her a nomination for a Windgate Fellowship for her work. Her creativity focuses on shining the light on both male and female body image issues related to mass media in often provocative and raunchy detail. Gochoel has been featured in more than 30 local and regional showcases as well as at galleries that include the Ice House, Art One, Water Art Gallery, and Step Gallery. Armed with her degree, which she earned from ASU in December, she plans on having several more showings as well as using her education to work in art administration, which will allow her to continue her own work while spotlighting others in this community. “More than anything, I hope my journey shows Lila that dreams matter, but so does hard work,” Gochoel says. “I want her to work on her dreams no matter what they are and however long it takes, just like her mom.” For more information, visit amygochoel.com.
“At 19, I was working in my desired industry— school was actually getting in the way... So, I left and spent three years as a fashion photographer —it was wild.”
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EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> FRESH/CULTURE
The Scottsdale Arts Festival Writer Julie Carlson goes behind the scenes of a longtime Valley event.
Founded in 1971 by a group of Scottsdale artists and local civic leaders, the Scottsdale Arts Festival now draws thousands of visitors a year. “Back then, it was a monthlong event and took place in a variety of locations, including Scottsdale High School, Kerr Cultural Center, City Hall, and the Safari Hotel,” says Janice Bartczak, the event director. “The festival featured exhibiting artists from the Scottsdale Artists League and performingarts organizations like the Civic Ballet Company and the Chamber Music Society.” After the construction of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, the Scottsdale Arts Festival moved to its present location on the lush open grounds surrounding City Hall, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts. Come rain or shine, almost 200 artists from across the country exhibit a wide variety of media: photography, painting, sculpture, glass and ceramics, jewelry, and much more. The highly recognized and award-winning festival also showcases two dozen musical acts, including many of Arizona’s top bands, on two outdoor stages. This year, the Sugar Thieves from the Phoenix area will perform their high-energy blues music reminiscent of New Orleans, Memphis, and Chicago. Another toe-tapping group performing is Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns. The seven-member band has been performing its rhythm and blues music throughout the Valley for 20 years. But the Scottsdale Arts Festival is not just for adults. Children can have loads of fun at the Imagine Nation family area where they can participate in art-related activities. “New in 2014, in collaboration with Scottsdale Public Art, the festival will present the U.S. debut of the Happy Rainbow exhibition by the Los Angeles-based artist duo FriendsWithYou,” Bartczak says. FriendsWithYou is an art collective founded by Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Since 2011, they have been creating paintings, public playgrounds, live performances, and other art spaces for people young and old by reinforcing the positive theme One of America’s top arts EVENTS, the award”Magic, Luck, Friendship.” winning Scottsdale Arts Festival will showcase nearly 200 artists from coast to coast on March While walking around the festival, 14–16 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Photo credit: Jesse Tallman you might get hungry when the deli28
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
3
smileinducing days of familyfriendly fun
200 awe-inspiring artists from coast to coast
12
mouth-watering gourmet food trucks
The Scottsdale Arts Festival
When: March 14–16 Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale Info: scottsdaleartsfestival.org
Lynda Ladwig, Lafayette, Colo. Prow Oil and Vinegar Set, 2010 Ceramic, 6 x 8 x 3 inches
cious smells waft your way from food trucks from the Phoenix Street Food Coalition. Visitors can select a variety of dishes from up to 15 trucks. Short Leash Hot Dogs, Mama Toledo’s Pie, and Pizza People are among the trucks that will be at this year’s festival. Visitors can buy art at the festival or through an online art action during the event. Proceeds benefit the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the festival can be purchased in advance or at the event. Single day passes are $8, and two-day passes are $12. There’s also special pricing for students and children as well as SMoCA and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts members.
Julie Carlson is a local freelance writer and an aspiring screenwriter.
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> FRESH/READS
3
By Julie Carlson
MORE BOOKS TO TRY Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War By Robert M. Gates
OUT OF THE EASY By Ruta Sepetys Best-selling author Ruta Sepetys gives readers another fantastic novel with all the heroic and villainous characters her work is known for. Out of the Easy is about a young teen named Josie Moraine who has grown up the daughter of a prostitute. The story is set in 1950 in the French Quarter of New Orleans. When a man is mysteriously killed, Josie takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. The main characters and even minor ones are well developed and fleshed out. One of the more interesting of them is the madam Willie Woodley, who has taken care of Josie throughout her childhood. Out of the Easy sparkles with thrilling moments and will have readers quickly turning the pages. It has a Boardwalk Empire -type feel with a dark underworld of gangsters, bordellos, and exciting twists and turns.
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INFERNO By Dan Brown It’s no surprise that Dan Brown’s latest novel, Inferno , was given the distinction of being the top thriller on Goodreads 2013 Best Books of the Year list. Brown created legions of fans with his protagonist, Robert Langdon, a symbology professor from Boston. For his fourth book, Langdon finds himself in Florence, Italy, where he wakes up in a hospital not knowing how or why he’s there. Dr. Sienna Brooks wants to know too, especially when an assassin comes after him. The two flee across Florence, on the run from the government and a secret society. Inferno is at times an exciting thriller similar to James Bond and Jason Bourne’s adventures, but Langdon’s often egoistical nature might also get under some readers’ skin. However, the story is interesting, particularly the backstory of Dante and his Divine Comedy , and the action scenes are cinematic.
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE By Neil Gaiman Fans of Neil Gaiman, rejoice! He’s back with a delightful and intriguing read for both adult and teen readers. In the story, alternately told from the narrator’s viewpoint as a boy and a man, the main character visits his childhood home and recalls the unusual family, especially his friend Lettie Hempstock, who lived down the lane. After a mysterious suicide sets off a series of dark and dangerous events, Lettie protects her friend through her magical ways. Gaiman’s haunting prose makes the story and quirky characters leap off the page. There are some parts that are a little confusing, especially Lettie’s magical world, but Gaiman’s writing makes readers think and dig deeper with them. Ocean was awarded the top fantasy novel of 2013 by Goodreads, and the reason is clear from the first page.
From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A Short Guide to a Long Life By David B. Agus, MD
A practical and concise illustrated handbook for everyday living. Author Dr. David B. Agus offers up simple daily habits that could lead to a vigorous, lengthy life.
Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans By Michelle Tam
Crackling with humor and bursting with flavor, Michelle Tam’s book offers a fun, fresh approach to cooking with whole, unprocessed ingredients free of grains, legumes, and added sugar.
> FRESH/OPINIONS The Dearings chime in on some of their favorite— and not so favorite— things in the Valley.
Johnnie’s Chicago Style Pizza (602) 867-0811 johnnieschicagostylepizza.com
Leeann: I am by nature a pizza person. Any pizza is pretty much good pizza in my mind. And I thought I knew every pizza place in the greater Phoenix area because most of them are on my speed dial. Stop judging me with your eyes, reader! So when we discovered Johnnie’s, I was simultaneously thrilled and horrified— thrilled with the delicious, thin-crust Chicago style goodness and horrified that I had only just now discovered it. Where have you been all my life, Johnnie? Matthew: Unlike my crazy Sicilian wife, pizza is not my thing—it holds very little appeal for me. That being said, Johnnie’s is the best pizza I’ve discovered in Phoenix thus far. Think I’m being hyperbolic? I’m not. It’s actually the only pizza I look forward to in our neighborhood. That should tell you something. The only downside? No delivery option right now.
Beco Baby Carrier
becobabycarrier.com Leeann: As a good millennial hippie, I do three things consistently: I cook with coconut oil, I clean with steam, and I wear my baby/toddler. The Beco baby carrier is what we call a soft-structured carrier, which basically means it’s dummyproof. Lightweight, easy to use, no wrapping involved! It has taken us from Jack’s infancy up until now (22 months), and we’re still going strong! He absolutely loves to be carried on our backs. We find that when we go to the mall or for a family walk, he does so much better in the carrier than he does in the stroller. Matthew: Three words for you, dads. Hands. Free. Parenting. Wearing your kid on your back allows you to do the important things you need to do in your life: changing the channel so you can watch all the games at once, refilling your chips—you get the idea. Here’s another reason: the Beco is worth the price ($120– $150)—it takes up no room in your car. Toss it in the trunk and ditch the stroller. Bam! You’re streamlined! And I have to say, our little man is happy as can be in there. We plan to use the same model for our newborn daughter when she arrives.
After It Training (480) 789-3531 afterittraining.com
Leeann: At seven months pregnant, there’s not a lot of fitness options other than yoga and walking that sound really appealing to me right now. But Nick Murrieta at After It Training changed my mind. I’ll explain: My number-one criterion for a workout is that it has to be fast. I can give you 20 to 30 minutes, but probably not more than that. The good news is, Nick’s whole philosophy is just that! Workouts can be fast and effective once you learn “movement as a skill“ —Nick’s words. I know, he’s like a fitness Buddha. Matthew: New Year’s resolution: six-pack. Laugh it up, but I mean business this time. I’ve been running every day with our dog, but when it comes to weight training, I feel like I’ve got a small bag of tricks to draw from and that’s it. Nick Murrieta is offering a 2014 Get Fit Challenge—with which he promises that you can transform your body in six days. The package includes unlimited access to his GroupFit and yoga classes plus seminars and individual guidance from his staff. The price? Get this: $175! (It’s normally $350.) This is a killer deal for those of you serious about getting fit this year!
Matthew and Leeann Dearing own and operate the local Dearing Acting Studio. Visit their website, dearingstudio.com, or follow them on Twitter @LeeannDearing and @DirectorDearing.
Want the Dearings to review your business or product? Send an e-mail to reviews@eastvalleymagazine.com.
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> FRESH/TRAVEL
By Sondra Barr
SUNNY, WITH 100 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW Sunshine, snowmaking, and a smidgen of nostalgia during a weekend escape to Arizona Snowbowl. It’s been awhile since I considered heading to Flagstaff to ski and even longer since I actually did. A bit odd, considering that back in the day (I’ll spare you— and myself—just how far back), my high school girlfriends and I would hop behind the wheel of my family’s wood-paneled Jeep Cherokee and head to Arizona Snowbowl from the Valley every chance we could get. Unfortunately, “every chance we
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could get” frequently translated into not very many because for all the days Snowbowl actually had snow to ski on, there were just as many days during the ski season that it didn’t. Alas, driving an extra five or six hours to reach Telluride to ski started to make more sense for extended weekends until one day I just up and moved to Colorado to try my hand at being a ski bum—a adventurous idea until the real-
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
ity set in that being continually cold and broke wasn’t any fun for a Valley-bred, heat-loving gal. Snowbowl would probably have remained a distant and forgotten memory if it hadn’t all of a sudden become the thing to go skiing within my circle of influence. Recently, photos of folks on skis and snowboards started popping up on my Facebook and Instagram feeds and my 16-yearold started mentioning how his friends had just gotten back from snowboarding. Peer pressure is a powder—err, powerful thing, but holiday break was winding down and there was no time to plan an extended trip before school started up again. Then it dawned on me: what about Snowbowl? Wait. Did they have snow? Was it still around? A quick Google search conf irmed that Snowbowl was indeed open thanks to recent infrastructure upgrades and the addition of extensive snowmaking capabilities that ensure a con-
sistent snow surface and a regular season. That’s all I needed to hear. The next day, my hubby and I, along with our son and his friend, hopped in the car on a Friday afternoon for the quick two-hour drive to Flagstaff. After checking into the Woodlands Hotel, which is undergoing a sizable remodeling project, we left the boys in their comfortable room and drove to Fat Olives on the recommendation of a local. One of Flagstaff ’s newest restaurants, Fat Olives features Neapolitan-style and artisan pizza cooked in an oven handcrafted in Italy and imported to Flagstaff. Since they went to so much trouble to get the oven to Arizona, we ordered some bruschetta, a couple of pies (delicious ones!), and the requisite (for us adults) vino at this laid-back locals’ hangout before heading back to the Woodlands for some shut-eye. When you live in the Valley, where it rarely dips below 50 de-
grees even on the coldest days, your internal cold-weather gauge is usually broken, so the following morning, I sweetly instructed the teens (both of them relatively new to the experience, with each having a previous trip to a ski area under his belt) to bundle up in layers because it often gets cold on the chair lifts. Surprisingly, they listened, likely because the anticipation of their snowboarding lesson had them wide-eyed and eager to begin the morning without a lot of nagging. After a quick stop for my requisite a.m. drink (a rich and frothy latte) at KickStand Kafé, a quaint little neighborhood coffee joint on the road to Snowbowl that used to be a bike shop, we made our way to the base of the San Francisco Peaks, ready to strap on our gear. In my opinion, it’s always much easier to rent equipment at the ski area rather than lug rentals from the Valley. Plus, if something goes wrong with the gear, you can always get it fixed or changed out onsite. It was a pleasant surprise to get through the Snowbowl rental line quickly, thanks in no small part to the efficient staff that paired us with the proper equipment. After dropping off the boys for their snowboarding lesson and my hubby for his private skiing instruction, I was anxious to experience some of Snowbowl’s out-of-the-gun white stuff and relive a bit of my youthful memories gliding down the blue Southern Belle or black upper Casino runs, but first it was up the Hart Prairie double chairlift to shake the rust off on the beginner run. It’s easy to dismiss Snowbowl when considering the options among the venerated list of great Western ski areas, but you’d be missing out to do so. As one of the longest continually run ski areas in the country, Snowbowl has a lot to offer skiers and snowboarders, and it’s a mere two hours away! Not only does it possess some of the largest beginner terrain in the Southwest but it’s also been listed as a top-40 ski resort with the highest vertical drop in the upper 48 states, which makes it fun for both beginners and the more advanced folks looking for a challenge. Of particular note is the Sunset Terrain Park, which offers a challenging assortment of boxes, rails, hits, spines, and more for boarders and skiers looking to catch some air. I wish they’d had those features back when I was a daring, risklife-and-limb teen, but I must admit it’s fun to be an observer from the relative comfort of the chairlift, watching adventurous souls catch air and wipe out every once in awhile. Speaking of catching air, it just so happened that on the day we were there, Snowbowl was hosting the US Airbag Winter Demo Tour, where every skier from beginner to professional was practicing Olympic-like moves before safely landing on a huge inflated pillow. I was tempted to give it a go—next time. When we regrouped for lunch, the boys’ eyes were alight as they recounted their success on their boards. Meanwhile, my hubby had an equally successful morning learning the basics: stop, go, turn. After lunch on the deck of the Hart Prairie lodge, the boys had a blast demonstrating their prowess getting on and off the chairlifts and using their boards to carve wide and sometimes graceful turns that they’d learned during their lesson. Yes, there was a tumble or two, but nothing detracted from their satisfaction at spending an afternoon tackling intermediate runs serviced by the Agassiz chairlift. As I watched them, it made me recall all the fun times I’d had at Snowbowl, and it made me eager to create more memories—something that’s now virtually guaranteed thanks to the snow makers in this Arizona ski area.
IF YOU GO STAY Woodlands Hotel 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff (15 miles from Arizona Snowbowl) (928) 773-8888 flagstaffwoodlandshotel.com DINE Fat Olives 2308 E. Route 66, Flagstaff (928) 853-0056 fatolivesflagstaff.com KickStand Kafé 719 N. Humphreys St., Flagstaff (928) 779-5393 kickstandkafe.com GETTING THERE Once you reach Flagstaff, I-17 becomes Milton Road. Continue driving north for 3 miles. Milton Road will go under the railroad tracks, and the road will bear to the right. Take a left at the first stoplight (Humphreys Street). At the third stoplight (Hwy 180), turn left. Continue 7 miles to Snowbowl Road, and then turn right. The resort is 7 miles up Snowbowl Road. arizonasnowbowl.com
HELPFUL TIPS FOR THE FIRST DAYS ON THE SNOW WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR Keep it warm and dry: • Keep boots, gloves, helmets, and any other gear you wear in an area in the car or bus where it’s heated, not in the trunk. • Take an extra pair of dry socks to put on when you arrive. It is a good idea to have dry socks just before you hit the slopes to be sure you have warm feet. Do not wear two pairs of socks; it will make your feet colder. • Wool is good; cotton is bad. This includes all clothing items. Dress in layers: • It’s worth investing in a pair of waterproof ski pants, as jeans get wet and will allow you to get cold. It is best to dress in layers, as temperatures can vary throughout the day. Sunscreen protection and lip balm: • Bring sunscreen! Between 9,000 and 11,500 feet, the atmosphere is far thinner and sunburns happen quickly, even in cloudy conditions. Forgot your sunscreen or a lip balm? The town’s Sports Shops carries them for your convenience. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> FRESH/ART
ARTrageous
Nicole Royse on the inventive new textile artist exhibition at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Downtown Chandler has embraced the arts over the years with continued support from local businesses and city government. This charming community has a great selection of restaurants, local shopping, and entertainment featured at the Chandler Center of the Arts (CCA). CCA is an impressive venue that shares its facility with the city of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District. The space attracts big-name entertainers, musicians, and comedians to the Valley to grace our three theaters. Additionally, CCA also includes an attractive gallery space with vaulted ceilings and brilliant natural lighting to showcase the Valley’s talent. Currently on view in the gallery is ARTrageous: ARTQUILTS Year XVIII, guest curated by local fiber and jewelry artist Laurie Fagen. Fagen asked textile artists to push their boundaries and "move beyond any traditional style, context, or subject that they had relied on in the past, or [take] their traditional context and mix it up in a way that is beyond being bold.” When people think of quilts, they don’t immediately think art or modern, and this exhibition will broaden your perspective on textile art. Accompanying each artwork is a story and the artist’s biography, giving the viewer a better sense of creator and creation. Textile art is gaining in popularity within the contemporaryart community, moving beyond the basic idea of craft. There’s an intriguing selection of textile artwork displayed along the walls. Some of the highlights of the exhibition include Temple Steps, created by Linda McCurry, which is suggestive of stairs. It includes warm color palettes dissected by bold, black lines and is accompanied by a haiku poem. A strikingly bold and graphic quilt titled Breaking News by Eileen Lauterborn is reminiscent of static on a television and catches your eye from across the room. An equally captivating mixed-media piece by Loraine K. Sample is titled Nature’s Beauty in 9 Stages. It’s inspired by gardening and nature—the artist has actually incorporated bark and leaves into the quilt. ARTrageous: ARTQUILTS Year XVIII is a fascinating exhibition with an interesting selection of quilts that go beyond simple crafting and comfort. The upcoming exhibition will be Emblems, Nameplates, & Ornaments: The Fine Art Photography of Brenda Priddy. Chandler Center for the Arts is within a short walking distance from Downtown Chandler. Be sure to plan a trip and enjoy everything it has to offer!
Chandler Center for the Arts: chandlercenter.org/visual-arts/exhibition-hall.html
Downtown Chandler: downtownchandler.org/ 34
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
Nicole is an artist and the associate curator at the MonOrchid gallery. To see her work, visit nicoleroyse.com.
“Nature’s Beauty in 9 Stages” Is inspired by gardening and nature. the artist has actually incorporated bark and leaves into the quilt!
“Tempe Steps” Features warm color palettes dissected by bold, black lines and is accompanied by a Haiku poem.
Nicole checks out the textile artist exhibition.
EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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SHUNGA Edible Strawberry Body Paint, $14.99, @loveandpride.com
Spicy Subscription Gift Box, from $29.95/month @spicysubscriptions.com
Lacoste Men’s Spicy Cologne—Rouge Energetic Red, $41 @shop.lacoste.com
Kusmi Sweet Love Tea, $19.50 @us.kusmitea.com
Hidden-Message Collar Stays, $39.95 @redenvelope.com
Hot Getaway Personalized Branding Iron, $40 @tbonebrands.com
Love Bets: 300 Wagers to Spice Up Your Love Life, $12.15 @amazon.com
Box Full of Kisses, $36 @boxfullofkisses.com
Hot Chipotle-Infused Olive Oil with a Custom Romantic Label, from $10, @boutique.oliveoilsource.com
Las Posadas of Sedona, an enchanting spot where you can heat up your romance A luxury boutique inn, Las Posadas is a magical destination nestled in Sedona’s picturesque Red Rock Country. This charming inn boasts professionally decorated villas and spacious two-room suites perfect for romantic tête-à-têtes. Embraced by the enchanting beauty of the surrounding area, the inn exudes romance and features warm colors and plush furnishings in every well-appointed 650-square-foot suite, while their three luxurious 1,500-square-foot villas take the experience even further. Perfect for couples seeking an intimate getaway with the ideal combination of privacy and service to assure your stay meets all your expectations. Because Las Posadas is a smaller and more intimate setting, you’ll receive all the personal attention you desire. At checkin, you’ll be escorted to your suite. Each morning, you’ll be treated with a complimentary Southwestern gourmet breakfast. Las Posadas and its staff take care of all those things that make your trip memorable: concierge services, wireless Internet, afternoon snacks, restaurant recommendations and reservations, tour bookings, hiking, bicycling information, and more. Book your suite or villa at lasposadasofsedona.com.
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> HOME/TEAM
Photos by Jordan Megenhardt
Goldschmidt batted .302 and led the NL with 36 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .551 slugging percentage while also snagging a Gold Glove as best-fielding first baseman.
Top Hitter
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is coming out swinging. Sportswriter Marc David catches up with “Goldy” to get the inside scoop on the new season. Arizona Diamondback fans look back at Paul Goldschmidt’s 2013 season and say, “Wow!” There was plenty to boast about for the D-Back first baseman who led the National League in five offensive categories and finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting to Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen. But don’t count Goldschmidt among the gloaters—he’s too busy preparing for his third major-league baseball season as the big man in the middle of the Arizona batting order. 38
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“Last year is over,” he says. “You move forward. Everyone is looking for ways to improve. I can be more consistent.” It’s hard to imagine the 26-year-old Goldschmidt being any more consistent than he is. He batted .302 and led the NL with 36 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .551 slugging percentage, while also snagging a Gold Glove as the best-fielding first baseman. And yet Goldschmidt looks ahead to being even better in 2014 and expects better things from the team
Marc David is a Valley-based veteran journalist, an author, and an avid runner. that drafted him in the eighth round of the 2009 draft. “I can improve on everything,” insists Goldschmidt, who has called the Valley home since his August 2011 call-up. “There are little adjustments and different ways to improve. You gain more experience and get more familiar with pitchers. Of course, they get more familiar with you as well, so you need to keep doing what it takes to stay ahead.” Goldschmidt doesn’t like to get caught up
in Most Valuable Player talk or that Arizona Sen. John McCain publicly added his two cents about Goldy being last year’s best player. He is more concerned with the year ahead. He took six weeks off after the 2013 baseball season ended before beginning workouts at Salt River Fields three or four times a week. Goldschmidt spent time in the weight room,
Last year, Goldschmidt was the recipient of the
Hank Aaron Award as the top hitter in the NL.
running and doing agility drills. And now, with the spring baseball season nearly upon us, he is raring to go. “Each year is a different year,” he says. “Last year is done. You move forward. Every [team] is looking for ways to improve. We have a different coaching staff and some different players. Everyone starts over.” The D-Backs have even more to look forward to as they open the season early with games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Australia. Goldschmidt went “down under” twice during the off-season to promote baseball. “The guys are excited [about the trip],” he says. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, playing the first games that count in the Southern Hemisphere.” Arizona Diamondback fans are excited about prospects of another stellar season from Goldy, the humble, soft-spoken superstar who makes time for fans and charitable causes in the area. Just don’t expect him to rest on his laurels. The 2013 season is so last year.
STATS Paul Goldschmidt Position: First Baseman Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6’3” Weight: 245 Born: Sept. 10, 1987 School: Texas State University Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2009 amateur draft Debut: Aug. 1, 2011
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> HOME/TEAM
Photo by Barry Gossage
Phoenix Suns President Jason Rowley (right) at a community event.
Initiative
Phoenix Suns President Jason Rowley lends a fresh perspective to the team’s involvement in the community, as writer Michael Torres quickly finds out. Phoenix Suns president Jason Rowley has traveled an interesting path that led to his current position, having interrupted his education at University of Arizona where he obtained a bachelor’s and a law degree, with a stint in the United States Navy. The military experience helped shape him into the resilient, determined Suns president he 40
is today. Rowley considers his challenging time in the armed forces one of the most formative in his life. He takes his education from the Navy and turns it into strength that serves him in his current position and gets him through stressful and difficult situations. “There has to be a toughness
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and resilience because it’s not an easy life to be in the military,” Rowley says. “It gives you a perspective on life that’s hard to get anywhere else, and when you get back out into the civilian world, it really serves individuals well. You look back and realize you were able to endure difficult times and situations in the military—it gives you
toughness and perspective.” One of the challenges was finding a way to give back to the community in an enjoyable and helpful way. Rowley is proud of the Suns’ Commitment to Community tickets program, which recognizes military officers, teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters and offers them season tickets to Suns
games for $149. This averages to less than $4 a game for each spectator. The organization benefits from having as many people as possible support the Suns and allows Rowley to show commitment to those who give so much to the Phoenix area. “We feel those groups give so much back, and it’s a great way for us to give back to them,” Rowley says. When the local service employees watch the Suns live, they get to see the Suns’ new look in an arena with many upgrades. They include more than 50 new dining options at US Airways center, an expanded team shop, increased WiFi connectivity, improved seating, and enhancements to the digital signage. US Airways Center is the fifth-oldest arena in the NBA, but fans wouldn’t know it with all the improvements, especially the $2 million digital-signage project. The Suns are the first NBA team with large-format boards on all four sides of the arena. This allows for vibrant videos as well as clearer replays and statistics, resulting in a better experience for fans. Rowley is also pleased with the stronger emphasis on customer service. “Overall, from a customer-service standpoint, our goal is to ensure every customer, from the time they get here from the time they leave, has the best experience possible,” Rowley says. “We want people to know they’re welcome here and appreciated.” The Suns organization continues to improve with Rowley as team president. The upgrades to the arena and a team that is consistently competitive has led to a positive employee atmosphere. Everyone is working hard as a team to create the best experience for those attending Suns games. With Rowley taking initiative to provide a first-class experience, Suns fans can expect just that. “In terms of how we face the fans, I’m proud of and want to continue to have dedication to it,” Rowley says.
<<
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH JASON ROWLEY > As Phoenix Suns president, Rowley is responsible for supervising all business operations of the Suns and oversees the club’s interests in the management of US Airways Center, the Legends Entertainment District, and affiliated entities
> Rowley earned his bachelor’s degree in 1994 from the University of Arizona
>
> He worked as an intelligence analyst with the Commander 3rd Fleet Intelligence Division
> In 2011, Rowley was named Phoenix Father of the Year by the Phoenix Father’s Day Council
> Rowley and wife Kristi met while working in the sales department for The Arizona Daily Wildcat, the University of Arizona’s student newspaper
Rowley’s Favorites
Movie: The Right Stuff Music: George Strait and ACDC
Author: Ayn Rand Meal in town: Carne adovada at Richardson’s Local Landmark: Camelback Mountain Pet Peeve: Being petty, sweating small things Advice: Be flexible and learn to work well with others. Everyone has his or her own viewpoint in the world.
Michael Torres is a freelance writer and a sports enthusiast.
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> HOME/HISTORY
90 More than
percent of the people live on only 2 percent of the land, and
85
percent live in either the greater Phoenix area or Tucson. DID YOU KNOW 42
By Marshall Trimble
Arizona’s official state historian, Marshall Trimble, is a cowboy singer, a humorist, and a storyteller.
Land of Superlatives
Sunbaked Arizona beckons with a beguiling mix of myths, legends, and truths. Arizona is a place that lives by its myths and legends. Located in the wild, untamed country between New Mexico and California, it was a wild, desolate, sunbaked land of jagged mountains and barren deserts. Travelers passing through the stark pinnacles rising from the desert floor dappled with low, scrubby vegetation claimed the wind was hot as dragon’s breath, so dry that the lizards carried canteens and so hot that cowboys could heat their branding irons just by aiming ’em at the sun. But those mountains held a king’s ransom in gold and silver, and that’s what attracted the wide gamut of boisterous, devil-may-care reprobates to stampede to the area in search of the elusive mother lode. Rumors ran amuck, and each one sent thousands of would-be millionaires tramping up nameless canyons. In one of my writings—I can’t remember which—I imagined one of these rounders yipping, “If ya stumble on a rock, don’t cuss it, cash it. Window curtains assay out to $10 a ton after a dust storm, and if ya wash yer face in the Hassayampa River, ya can pan four ounces of gold dust from yer whiskers.” Wherever there was a rumor and a hole in the ground, they built a town around it, gracing them with picturesquely whimsical names like Tombstone, Total Wreck, Bagdad, and Timbuktu. Each one claimed its streets would soon be cobbled with golden nuggets.
Wherever there was a rumor and a hole in the ground, they built a town around it, gracing them with picturesquely whimsical names like Tombstone shown above.
In 1911, the Theodore Roosevelt Dam became the first of a series of dams to harness the capricious Salt River.
Maricopa County is larger than the state of Massachusetts.
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Arizona is the nation’s sixth-largest state, with nearly 114,000 square miles. Only 17 percent is privately owned. Following on the bootheels of the miners and prospectors in hopes of “mining the miners” were the tin-horn card sharks and other such obstreperous riffraff as Jake the Dude, Jimmy the Harp, and Coal Oil Georgie. They were joyously joined by “soiled doves” like Crazy Horse Lil, Frenchy Mustache, and The Roaring Gimlet. Arizona was also the last of the refuge of the rapscallion desperadoes of the Old West. Its rugged mountains, lack of roads, and proximity to the Mexican border made it ideally suited to men riding the “Owl Hoot Trail.” Stagecoaches and railroads carrying express boxes loaded with gold and silver coin along with large herds of cattle made for easy pickings in the remote regions where outlaws were still operating well into the 20th century. The Apache wars began prior to the creation of the Territory of Arizona in 1863 and continued until the surrender of Geronimo’s tiny band in 1886. All of this added to Arizona’s wild and wooly image. Arizonans began lobbying, to no avail, for statehood in the 1890s. Opponents declared Arizona was cursed with cactus, heat, rattlesnakes, scorpions, gila monsters, marauding Indians, and outlaws and wasn’t civilized enough to become a state. After years of trying, statehood finally came in 1912. A year earlier, Theodore
Roosevelt Dam became the first of a series of dams to harness the capricious Salt River. The 13,000-square-mile watershed in the mountains to the north provided the Salt River Valley with enough water to guarantee a bright future in the forthcoming years. World War II and the postwar years brought new industries that would bring great changes. That, along with the advent of affordable air conditioning, made the Salt River Valley a desirable place to live year around. The geography and biotic life are more diverse than anyplace else in the nation. Elevation varies from over 12,600 feet in the San Francisco Mountains to sea level in the southwestern corner of the state. The disparate climate can yield both the highest temperature across the nation and the lowest temperature across the nation on the same day. All this leads to the question of what people love the most about Arizona. In a word, it’s lifestyle. Our state is a great place to work and play. It has a moderate climate, beautiful scenery, and the four seasons of the desert: 1) almost summer 2) summer 3) still summer and 4) Christmas Day.
In 1950, Phoenix was the 95th-largest city in the U.S. Fifty years later, it was the fifth largest.
26
The state has peaks that are more than feet in elevation.
10,000
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> HOME/DESIGN
Meaningful Makeover Interior designer Heather Sanders takes on a remodel of a different sort and helps an East Valley mom’s recovery in the process. I love a makeover of any kind and for any reason. But once in a while, I am moved by the personal story that inspires the makeover. Andrea, an East Valley mother of two, suffered a near fatal brain aneurysm, a postoperative stroke, and significant memory loss in the fall of 2012. In addition to not recognizing her husband, she had lost the sense of who she was. What followed was a roller coaster of recovery aided by the strong support of her husband, Greg, and her circle of friends. Many stepped in to make
Andrea, an East Valley mother of two, suffered a near fatal brain aneurysm, a postoperative stroke, and significant memory loss in 2012. 44
meals, chauffeur, and help with her young children. Friends even planned a birthday party for her daughter. Now healed and with the ordeal behind her, Andrea is determined to live life to the fullest and reclaim that which mattered most to her—love of family, healthy living, dinnertime ritual, and fun with friends. In order to focus on her renewed priorities, Andrea chose to step off the hamster wheel of life (what we know as crazy busy). This gave her mental space to create the physical setting and routines for her desired lifestyle. Their home wasn’t a reflection of what she wanted to embrace most. Then a light bulb went off. Shortly after her recovery, her husband found her in the kitchen, kids laughing, music playing, the aroma of a prepared meal wafting through the home, and a smile on her face. It was pure bliss for them both and a symbol of the new normal. After months of others doing for them, they decided then and there to always enjoy the pleasures of cooking, a glass
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of wine, and opening their home to friends. Andrea has belonged to the Hot Chix running club for some time and considers the sport her church. The women in the group have been instrumental to her family and the exercise itself key to her mental and spiritual health. She desired simplification and constant reminders of her true passions. Sometimes, it’s best to step away, simplify, and re-create your life. The family decided on a move to a house that had two key things: stunning views of the mountains and running trails Andrea so loves, and a floor plan that is conducive to entertaining. The home was in need of some TLC. The main thing Andrea requested of her makeover was an environment that was warm and inviting for her children. They opted for a comfy wine lounge just off the kitchen in lieu of formal dining. They also chose to display specific photographs that symbolize their priorities and values. One of the pictures is a selfie taken on their first date night after recovery, another is her
stepdaughter in Rome embracing adventure, and there’s a special shot of her and a dear friend hiking the Grand Canyon, a longtime goal. Andrea now opens her home frequently, cooks healthily almost every night, and enjoys the serene views that remind her of the fragility and beauty of life.
Heather Sanders is a local homestyle expert with an affinity for livable spaces and budgetfriendly designs. See more of her work at restylegroup.com.
> HOME/LIFE Relationship Resources Arizona Family Institute Articles, seminars, workshops, and classes for parents, families, couples, and individuals. 3048 E. Baseline Rd. Suite 108, Mesa (480) 570-2087 arizonafamilyinstitute.com
Sustained Romance
Local writer Shay Moser dares you to keep up the first-date spark. My husband and I have had our share of ups and downs. Dating Brandon 17 years ago started with anticipating his call, daydreaming about his touch, and finding his quirks cute. However, after 15 years of marriage—and the responsibilities of work and a family—the fire needs tending. More often than not, phone calls to each other are 1) a plea for help because our 7- and 9-yearold have gotten the best of me, 2) a request or a question, or 3) what sounds like a customer-service phone call gone wrong. Touch is not always welcome, such as when I’m rushing to get ready—as always. And his idiosyncrasies, like snoring, drive me nuts. It’s taken time, patience, effort, selflessness, and understanding—characteristics of any longterm relationship. For example, he tells me the movie starts at 7:30 p.m. when it really starts at 8:15 so we’re not late on account of me. I rely on my pink earplugs to muffle his snorts, puffs, and gasps. Here are some other things we do to keep the flames burning.
Schedule regular date nights.
/
Text each other.
We are lucky to have nearby family willing to watch the kids. When we lived out of state, we found a sitter through care.com. We used the online service again to find two great sitters in Gilbert. This way, we look forward to dinner and a movie every other week, no matter what.
/
I wish we could manage little handwritten love notes more often, but quick and easy text messages, chat, and Facebook posts work for us. He often texts, “I love you” or flirts with me on my Facebook page.
Talk.
/
Brandon and I are honest and share about whatever is bothering us. Then, we kiss and make up, or find comfort or a solution from our conversation.
The National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (healthymarriageinfo.org) says marriage is a journey that ebbs and flows; passion will wane but reignite over time.
Shay Moser is a Gilbert mom, writer, and business owner, and she’s passionate about the East Valley. Follow her @ShayMoser.
#Datenightphx Author and marriage expert Pastor Ted Cunningham will give practical advice on how to live happily ever after with your spouse. When: Thurs., Feb. 13, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Where: Mission Community Church, 4450 E. Elliot Rd., Gilbert, (480) 545-4024 Cost: $15 Childcare: Available on a first-come, first-serve basis until full. 1 Child: $6, 2+ children: $10 Register: mission68.org
<< Creative Courtship: Five Unique Ways to Woo Your Love Catch up over coffee at SoZo Coffee House 1982 N. Alma School Rd. Chandler (480) 726-7696
Take a bird walk or go fishing at the Riparian Preserve 2757 E. Guadalupe Rd. Gilbert (480) 503-6200
Set out on a sightseeing tour of Saguaro Lake with Desert Belle Cruises 14011 N Bush Hwy. Mesa (480) 984-2425 Do a dinner date on the water at the Lakes in Tempe at Pier 54. 5394 S Lakeshore Dr. Tempe (480) 820-0660
Enjoy the sunset on a full-moon hike or horse ride horseback at San Tan Mountain Regional Park 6533 W. Phillips Rd. Queen Creek (480) 655-5554
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Rising Star Country music singer-songwriter Destinee Quinn opens up about competing in local beauty pageants, appearing on NBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Voice singing competition, and making it big in Nashville.
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By Anissa Stringer Photos by Tammy Martin Photography, tammymartinphotography.com You might recognize Destinee Quinn from ads for Mane ’n Tail shampoo in Cosmopolitan magazine, or perhaps you remember her as Miss Fiat of Scottsdale. But Destinee isn’t just another pretty face. Her dream is much bigger than that. When Quinn was in fourth grade, she performed in her school’s talent show and discovered a skill she didn’t know she had. It’s something she still remembers quite clearly. “I was extremely nervous, but there was something inside me that pushed me to do it,” she says. “The feeling I got while onstage was indescribable.” That was the moment she realized that singing made her happy, but it wasn’t until later that she knew she wanted to make a career of being a country music singer and songwriter. At the age of 13, when many young girls are thinking about boys and makeup, Quinn began writing songs. She also taught herself to play guitar. She began competing in talent shows and open-mic nights as well. While attending Liberty High School in Peoria, Quinn was involved in the choir. Despite her enthusiasm and drive, she still managed to be a normal ’tween and teen. She hung out with friends at Polar Ice in Peoria and remembers kicking off the weekends with Friday night football games when she was still in high school. Outside school, she continued to enter talent shows, and she also got involved with Arizona Chicks with Picks, a nonprofit organization that helps all ages with music and in turn helps those in need through music. Arizona Chicks with Picks taught Quinn how to book her own gigs and to network. “The best part,” she says, “was being motivated and inspired by all the older female artists.” Her mentors provided her with living proof that it’s possible to make a living doEASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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“People dream of some sort of fame or fortune, things that are very materialistic and come at a great sacrifice and cost.”
ing what she loves. Of course, Quinn’s family has also been instrumental in her success. Her parents (a firefighter and a special-needs teacher) both love their jobs and have always wanted their daughter to succeed in her own dream career as well. Part of becoming successful was learning how to promote herself and work hard. For the past two years, she’s played at the Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek. Working at the biker bar, which has been featured in several motorcycle magazines, challenged her to grow both as an artist and a person. Musically, it forced her to learn the cover albums for many different genres, something that has helped her with her songwriting skills. However, it was just as difficult learning to work a crowd. People come to the Hideaway Grill to socialize, and Destinee had to learn to capture their attention. Rather than being frustrated by the challenges, the job made her realize that the size of her paycheck and the attention of an audience aren’t the most important things—she just loved making and sharing music. Quinn has now appeared at many other venues throughout the Valley. She’s been the opening act for Jamie O’Neal, Eric Church, and Alice Cooper. To this day, she says her very favorite show was opening for Eric Church at the Marquee Theater in Tempe. Quinn has also modeled for Mane ’n Tale Shampoo, been a Miss Arizona USA contestant and a competitor on American Idol, and was crowned Miss Fiat of Scottsdale in 2012. However, it’s her appearance on NBC’s The Voice (Season Five) that she’s most excited about. “I got to work with vocal coaches, film crews, makeup artists, wardrobe, and hair stylists who are all best of the best in this business,” she says. Although she was knocked off The Voice after singing Carrie Underwood’s
“See You Again,” a song that has special meaning to her, the disappointment of being eliminated hasn’t been anything more than a small bump in the road for this determined young woman. The experience helped her understand what it takes to be successful in the music business, but even more importantly, she learned to never let fear or self-doubt get in the way of doing her best. Although she’ll terribly miss the beautiful sunsets we have in the Valley of the Sun, Quinn has begun a new chapter in her life. She recently moved to Nashville to further her career— she just signed a publishing contract with The Song Factory as a writer. She believes that even though things don’t always turn out the way you’d like them to, you can still be successful. “People dream of some sort of fame or fortune, things that are very materialistic and come at a great sacrifice and cost,” she says. Instead of focusing on those things, she believes we should dream about happiness by finding the peace that comes from doing our best and enjoying the journey. That’s what living the dream is to her, and it’s not all talk. In keeping with the philosophy of Arizona Chicks with Picks, Quinn regularly and enthusiastically supports many good causes. She can’t choose just one as her favorite, though. “I support any cause that lifts people up and helps them realize that they are capable of doing so much more than they give themselves credit [for],” she says. So, where will Destinee Quinn go from here? Wherever her road takes her next, she’ll continue to pursue her dream of being a country music singer and songwriter by writing, recording, and sharing her music with the world. You can stay up-to-date with the Valley of the Sun’s newest rising star by visiting her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also visit her website at destineequinn.com.
“The feeling I got while on stage was indescribable.” EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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>
/STYLE
/LIFE > HOME BETTER
A Bit Dressier For a slightly fancier look, reach again for your very favorite dark denim jeans. Pair ’em with a sweet, flowy top and fabulous patent heels, and you’ve created a puttogether ensemble. The outfit is ideal for looking gorgeous in a casual kind of way.
Model: Danielle Axtell Photographer: Marci Anne Photography Location: Postino’s Wine Bar 302 N. Gilbert Rd., #102 (480) 632-6363 postiniowinecafe.com Joyride Taco House 302 N. Gilbert Rd., #101 (480) 623-8226 joyridetacohouse.com Clothing: Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Nordstrom Whether you’re married, been going out awhile, or headed out on your first date, underneath all that pre-date-night excitement is one anxiety-inducing thought: What am I going to wear?! But worry not! Just borrow some inspiration from our 50
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Date Night Outfits East Valley stylista Jami Lindberg on what to wear for an evening with your sweetie.
stylish model, Danielle, who understands that the East Valley is casual but very chic! We headed out to photograph our mode at two of the best date-night places in the East Valley—Postino’s Wine Bar and Joyride Taco House. Both eateries
have delectable menus, and if it’s wine that suits your taste, Postino’s won’t disappoint. The vibe in both places draws you in, and in typical East Valley fashion, the servers and bartenders are nothing but friendly and fun.
The biggest rule to follow when dressing for your date night: Be yourself! A relaxed combo of denim, a dressedup basic tee, and boots just screams cute. Plus, with your own take on sassy nails, bold lips, and smart glasses, the outfit idea comes to life when you walk into the restaurant and rock your look with confidence.
Laid-Back Now it’s time to head into your closet to prep for that evening on the town! Start with a pair of dark denims—they can be skinny, straight leg, or anything you’re comfortable in. Pair with a simple plain-color shirt with a long drape necklace and slip into your favorite boots, and you’ve got a classic, easy look that works perfectly for date night in the East Valley.
Jami Lindberg is a business owner, a self-professed style junkie, and a Chandler mom of two. Follow her at thesavvysocialista.com.
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> BETTER/BEAUTY
Bed of Nails $50 @bedofnails.org Don’t let the name fool you—lying on this feels really good!
Moroccanoil Treatment 3.4 oz. $43 @select beauty retailers moroccanoil.com Leaves hair healthier, shinier, and more manageable.
13 BEAUTY
PRODUCTS THAT REALLY WORK How do we know? We tested each of these products out!
KORA Organics Three-Step Facial Care $159.95 @koraorganics.com A three-step process that cleanses and nourishes skin without harmful chemicals.
PCA Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF 30 $32 @drugstore.com Created by a Valley-based company, this broad-spectrum sunscreen offers amazing protection for sensitive skin, with no burning or irritation. 52
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Pür Big Blink Mascara $20 @purminerals.com An extreme lash enhancer with Argan oil—it really works!
Clairvoyant Blue Green Algae Body Polish 4 fl. oz., $43 @ clairvoyantbeauty.com Dead skin be gone! This light exfoliate polishes your skin and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and oxygen, while blue algae aids in collagen formation and cell repair.
NEUMA Styling Gel 6.8 oz. $24 @select beauty retailers neumabeauty.com Holds hair in place with zero synthetic fragrance, sulfates, formaldehyde, or anything else that doesn’t belong in your hair.
E.L.F. Lip Exfoliator $3 @target.com This helps you get the softest lips— ever! Philosophy Microdelivery Purifying Peel $42 @drugstore.com Brighten up your skin in one minute with this purifying enzyme peel.
Ben Nye Final Seal $5.50 @camerareadycosmetics.com Come rain, shine, or perspiration, your makeup isn’t going anywhere if you apply this product.
Nailtiques Nail Protein $9.50 @dermstore.com A treatment for weak, brittle, or thin nails. There was a noticeable improvement in nails after a month of use.
Garnier Anti-Puff Eye Roller $10.97 @walmart.com Banish the puffy bags you’re carrying around under your eyes—really!
Elemental Herbology Bio-Cellular Super Cleanse Facial Cleanser $52 @skinstore.com Did we notice a difference? It’s hard to tell, but this smells and feels great on the skin. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> BETTER/BODY
Partner Up
By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty Photos by Stephanie Heymann, thompsonimage.com Models: Marcus Johnson and Sarah Stover
Get working on your fitness as a pair.
At the beginning of each New Year, motivation to get fit is at its highest, but despite our best intentions, motivation tends to fizzle by February. One of the key ways to successfully achieve your fitness goals is to develop a solid support network. So grab a partner and get working on these muscle-building moves!
1. High-Five PushUp Set-Up: Get in push-up position facing your partner. Place hands directly under your shoulders, with legs extended and abs engaged. Action: Both partners perform a push-up, bending elbows 90 degrees. Push back up to starting position and give each other a high-five. Continue push-up and high-five combo for 30 seconds.
2. Crunch Climber Combo Set-Up: Partner #1: Lie faceup on the ground with knees bent. Place hands behind head. Partner #2: Place hands on partner #1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knees. Position one leg forward and bent under body, and extend the back leg. Action: Partner #1: Curl up and forward so your head, neck, and shoulders blades lift off the ground. Pause, and then slowly lower back down. Perform for 30 seconds. Partner #2: Holding the upper body in place, alternate leg position by pushing hips up while extending your body in a plank position. Both feet leave the ground as you drive one leg up and reach the other back. Perform for 30 seconds, then switch. 54
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3. Plank Hop-Overs Partner #1: Assume plank position, with forearms at a 90-degree angle. Straighten your body, but keep your neck and spine neutral. Hold the plank position until your partner is done hopping. Partner #2: Jump side to side over your partner for 30 seconds, and then switch positions.
4. Burpees Set-Up: Squat down with your arms outside your legs and hands on the floor. Kick your feet backwards until you are in push-up position. Action: Bend your arms and do a single push-up. Then, jump your feet forward between hands and jump as high as you can. Repeat for 30 seconds.
Kim and Shannon are the Fit Mom Diet Team. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re nationally published health experts, and they also advocate locally on wellness at fitmomdiet.com.
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> BETTER/RELATIONSHIPS
Money Matters Is it just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man?
Experience Will Make You Rich, or God Bless the Chick Who’s Got Her Own Dear Lea, I’ve been single for almost seven years and am raising the last of my three children. My marriage was a nightmare, as I was married young and married the first man I dated. I’m almost 50 and just finally got my degree, but life has always been hard. I’d like to think that I can finally begin to think about finding a special relationship, yet I’m plagued with self-doubt. While I’m attractive and work out, I still struggle financially and have nothing put away for retirement. My friends say that I should just marry someone well off. I
keep thinking about the saying “It’s just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man.” I feel desperate. What should I do? Dear Desperate, If you want to finally have a quality relationship, you should start working from within. Most of the intelligent, kind men I know are looking for a woman who has a great sense of self and knows what she wants and where she is going. The men that you describe who will support you are probably not good relationship material, as they are looking for someone who looks good on their arm. They control the money, and they will control you as well. I would focus on becoming happier with yourself and taking better control of your assets. Take a course on finances, join a club, learn how to budget better, and get yourself a financial planner. The more confident and independent you become, the better your choices of a future mate.
86 to 100
12%
Segment of the adult-female population that finds money to be very important in a relationship And money is the number-one issue couples fight about.
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40 million
Number of Americans using online dating services
53%
Ratio of single men to single women in America
88%
Lea Haben is a local relationship columnist, a radio and TV personality, and the publisher of smartfem.com.
Chance after a first date that a guy will call if he hasn’t called within 24 hours
Portion of singles who find a great smile the most attractive feature
44% Segment of the adult American population that is single *According to MSNBC survey
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Check out our next issue for the winner of
FACE OF THE EAST VALLEY MODEL SEARCH
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
Across
1 Famous golfer Phil’s nickname 4 Arizona governor Jan 8 TV chef Rachael 10 Time for love messages and flowers (2 words) 13 “Let It ______” 14 French for love 17 Great golf-hole results 21 Present moment 22 Let’s _____ lunch! 24 Beloved English princess 25 The Bachelor flowers 27 “Bang Bang” singer and the lady in a famous couple (goes with 42 across) 30 Deeply personal
32 Star Wars Jedi first name 34 Blue 35 Belief 36 Former Diamondbacks pitcher who went to school in Phoenix 39 Expression of delight or pleasure 41 ”Two Hearts Beat as ____,” U2 42 Husband of 27 across 43 Tragic lover in Shakespeare
Down
1 Message on a Valentine’s card, perhaps (3 words)
2 “________ your heart,” romantic advice perhaps 3 Deep desire 4 Groom’s partner 5 Conducted a campaign 6 Ogle 7 Conclude 9 Golf course designer Pete _______ 11 Abe’s role in The Godfather 12 They’re sculpted on infomercials 15 Query from Miss Piggy 16 City the Girl from Ipanema was walking in 18 Billboard displays 19 Start 20 Biblical verb ending
23 One part of Brangelina 26 Rare and wonderful 28 ”So Much ______ Love,” 1963 soul hit by the Tymes 29 _______ biloba, herb that is said to be an aphrodisiac for men 31 Three-time NBA Coach of the Year Pat 33 First name of the actor who is married to Jennifer Garner 34 Scottsdale-born actress who starred in The Help Emma ______ 37 Babe 38 Lodging 40 Type of TV
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> BETTER/GOLF
Trackman 101
Golf professional Scott Sackett on simple ways that players can improve their game. There are some basic definitions and concepts that every player can learn and benefit from whether they are using a Trackman or are on the range without one. In my recent YouTube series, I discussed these Trackman Fundamentals. Here, we revisit some of these definitions and concepts. Keep in mind that the following is based on a golf shot that is struck in the center of the face and applies to a right-handed golfer. Face Angle: Face angle is the most fundamental concept that players can wrap their arms around. Without getting into too much detail, face angle is the primary force that drives from where the golf ball starts. It’s important for a player to gain awareness while practicing as to where the ball’s starting point is in relation to their target line (R/L). This can be accomplished by using an alignment rod or string on your target line (seen below.)
Club Path:
Attack Angle:
Club path, or where the golf club is moving through impact, is the force driving curvature in a golf shot. Assuming a face angle of zero (square to target line), a club path moving to the right (in to out) would produce a draw, and a club path moving left (out to in) would produce a fade.
Attack angle is the amount in the direction of up or down at which a player hits at the ball. With a driver, it’s imperative that the average golfer hit up at the ball. At 90 mph, an attack angle of negative five (down) versus positive five (up) will result in a shot-carry differential of 23 yards!
To summarize, the ability to comprehend just a few of the many Trackman definitions and concepts can result in a dramatic improvement to understanding of your own ball flight.
DID YOU KNOW?
Phil Mickelson has never won PGA Tour Player of the Year— 42 wins, five majors, being a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and 700 weeks in the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings apparently just doesn’t cut it!
38 percent of the prize money in the tournaments he entered in 2013.
Only twice since 2000 have fewer people finished under par on the par 3s. FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
1. Get in tune with where your golf ball starts. Adjust the face angle to the opposite of where the ball is starting to change your ball flight. 2. Note how your ball is curving. If it’s curving too much one way, try moving the club path toward the direction in which the ball is moving. (If hooking, swing more left; if slicing, swing more right.) 3. Hit up at driver! Tee it high, and check your ball position. I recommend putting it off your left big toe. As the ball moves back in your stance, it becomes increasingly difficult to hit up at the golf ball.
Tiger Woods won
Only four players—Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Stephen Ames, and Richard Lee—played the par 3s under par in 2013. 58
TO GET THE MOST OF THREE TRACKMAN FUNDAMENTALS, TRY THE FOLLOWING:
Scott Sackett, a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 1999, was recently voted as one of Golf Digest’s best teachers in Arizona for the fifth year in a row. Reach him via scottsackett.com or youtube.com/scottsackettgolf. *Stats according to Golf Digest
> BETTER/WHEELS
By Greg Rubenstein
Mainstream Luxury Introducing Acura’s New High-Tech Flagship, the 2014 RLX. As an all-new-for-2014 model, Acura is hoping its premium RXL sedan will attract savvy high-end buyers who favor technology over pure performance. Replacing the RL sedan, the RLX is much more suited as the brand’s flagship—it’s larger, more refined, and has better power yet returns superior fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive RLX comes in five configurations, starting at $49,345, while the as-tested range-topping Advance configuration rings in at $61,345. Even in base trim, the RLX comes nicely equipped with a 310 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted to a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED headlights, heated power seats, rear-view camera, electric parking brake, eight-inch infotainment screen and seven-inch touchscreen systems display, three-zone climate control, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and 10-speaker audio system. Standard safety equipment is also extensive, boasting features such as forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems, stability, and traction control, seven airbags including a driver’s-knee airbag, and front seatbelt “e-pretensioners.” This latter item is the first seatbelt-tensioning system using electronic controls to reduce tension for more comfort during normal conditions while incorporating front, side, and yaw (measurement of the degree of the vehicle’s rotational motion during turning) motion sensors capable of providing near-instantaneous tension when needed in an emergency. The additional four trim levels between base and Advance—essentially $12,000 in options—puts oodles of high-end, high-tech goodies into the RLX. Highlights of the pages-long list of features include voice-recognition navigation with AcuraLink, an Internet-connectivity system that provides media, convenience, and security services through a smartphone interface.
There’s also all-wheel steering, an active-handling system that automatically applies single-wheel braking to improve turn response with less steering-wheel input. Adaptive cruise control also augments handling, and to make stop-andgo driving nearly hassle-free, automated low-speed following is included as well as automatic brake hold that will keep the RLX stopped without having to maintain pressure on the brake pedal. There are also rain-sensing wipers, cooled front seats and heated rear seats, and a premium Krell 14-speaker audio system favored by audiophiles that performs on par with the top custom-sound setups. Acura’s new top dog delivers handling that is crisp, secure, and responsive. Power, too, satisfies, providing smooth and authoritative thrust from a stop or while overtaking on the highway. This five-seat luxury sedan also returned an observed 26 miles-per-gallon overall after a week of mixed city and freeway driving, besting the EPA estimated rating of 24 mpg combined (20 city and 31 highway). The RLX offers styling that is smooth and organic, with a swept grille that flows into a subtly domed hood. The windshield melts into shallow driver and passenger windows, while a high beltline, a wide rear window, and a stubby trunk create a presence that is solid and large although perhaps just a bit bland. Where most luxury manufacturers today seem to strive for angular, creased, or edgy designs that evoke a love-it-orhate-it reaction, Acura’s aimed squarely at the mainstream. This isn’t a car that will get you noticed, but not everyone is looking to be watched. If that sounds like you and you seek high-end technology infused with luxury and reliability, the RLX should be on your short list. Looking for even more cutting-edge tech? The RLX Sport Hybrid with all-wheel-drive (and 377 horsepower) will likely fit that bill quite nicely.
3 2
1
/
1. Paddle shifters mounted to a leatherwrapped steering wheel
/
2. Eight-inch infotainment screen and seven-inch touchscreen systems display
/
3. Windshield melts into shallow driver and passenger windows
4
/
4. All-wheel steering, an active handling system that automatically applies single-wheel braking to improve turn response with less steering wheel input
Greg Rubenstein is a freelance automotive journalist and deputy editor for iZoom.com, an auto-enthusiast website. He’s been writing about and racing cars for 25 years. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> TASTE/COOK Inside Dish
Young culinary gun Chef Matthew Grunwald on what it takes to put together a television-ready recipe. Since the age of 9, I have been cooking in front of a camera. Sometimes, my on-air time lasts a couple of minutes and sometimes a half-hour. Here’s what goes into prepping for a segment.
Create the Recipe / It all begins with the producer. Like an orchestra conductor, a television producer sits high in the control room and develops content for the show. The producer will chose carefully from the lot of ideas constantly pitched to him or her and then set a format for talent to follow, for example, low-calorie appetizer for Valentine’s Day in five ingredients or less. This is when the chef in my head begins to turn on all the burners to create a television-worthy idea. Boom!—it usually just comes to me. I send the recipe, along with a hook, to get the idea approved. Gather the Ingredients / Then it’s shopping time. On an average shopping trip, I will spend about two hours looking for five to 10 ingredients. Let’s say I’m using pineapple in a dish. I thoroughly inspect every single one to find the perfect fruit that’s going to show well on camera. I don’t need only one—I also need a perfect duplicate for the swap-out. Prep the Ingredients / When I get home, I sort through the ingredients and label those that are going to be utilized for the actions shot (cutting, smashing, searing, etc.) and ones that will be used in the beauty shot. It’s all about making the set look full and beautiful. Yes, I may only need one jalapeño for my guacamole, but I’ll buy six to filter a message into the lens of the camera. Get Ready to Pop It in the Oven / No matter how early a segment is scheduled for—and that’s frequently subject to change—I’ll make the swap-out dish the day of the video. If not, the dish will lose its luster. This is especially tricky when baked goods come into play. Let’s just say that I don’t get much sleep. I really don’t mind, though—it’s my passion!
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Eggnog and Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding—rich, creamy, and
delightfully decadent!
2 eggs plus 1 egg yolk, beaten 1½ cup eggnog 1 cup brown sugar ½ Tsp. freshly grated nutmeg 1 pinch ground cloves 1 pinch ground cinnamon ¼ cup Kahlua 3 cups day-old challah bread, medium diced (challah bread can be bought at kosher bakeries and delis such as Chompie’s) ¾ cup shelled pecans, chopped roughly 4 oz. Mexican chocolate, chopped finely cooking spray > Preheat the oven to 350˚F. > In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, eggnog, brown sugar, spices, and Kahlua. Whisk until fully incorporated. > Toss together the challah bread, pecans, and Mexican chocolate so that the chocolate is evenly distributed throughout the bread. > Pour the wet ingredients into the bread and evenly coat all the pieces. Allow the bread to soak up the moisture for 5 minutes before transferring to a 7-inch springform pan, well coated with cooking spray. > Place the bread pudding into the center rack of the oven and allow to bake for 20–25 minutes until it sets and no longer jiggles when you shake the pan. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the counter for at least 30 minutes before thoroughly enjoying.
Two East Valley spots to get your bread-pudding fix Cornish Pasty Company (two East Valley locations) 960 W. University Dr., Tempe (480) 894-6261
Chef Matthew Grunwald on the set of Arizona Midday with host Destry Jetton
1941 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa (480) 838-3586 cornishpastyco.com
Homemade bread baked in rich chocolate brandy sauce until crispy on the outside and warm and moist on the inside. Served with crème anglaise or ice cream.
Famous Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (two East Valley locations) 3250 W. Frye Rd., Chandler (480) 782-1212 1011 N. Dobson Rd., Mesa (480) 615-1444 famousdaves.com
Melt-in-your mouth scratch-made bread pudding and pecan praline sauce served warm with vanilla-bean ice cream and whipped cream.
Matthew Grunwald regularly whips up original recipes for a television audience on Arizona Midday and Valley Dish segments.
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> TASTE/COOK
Cooking with Your Valentine Treat your love to a romantic night in the kitchen whipping up scrumptious short ribs with ricotta gnocchi 62
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
By Erika Monroe-Williams
I think cooking in the kitchen with your significant other is so romantic. One of the first dates I had with my husband was cooking pasta together in his kitchen—what a fun night that was! There’s something about getting your hands dirty together, laughing at your mistakes, and cheering your triumphs—it brings the two of you close! In the end, you have a delicious meal you’ve created together. Pop open a great bottle of wine, and the night is perfect.
Short Ribs with Ricotta Gnocchi For the short ribs: 2 pounds bone-in short ribs (you can find these at the butcher’s or higher-end grocery stores) 1 Tsp. salt 1 Tsp. freshly cracked pepper 2 Tsp. vegetable oil 1 cup celery, chopped 1 cup carrots, chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 Tsp. garlic, minced finely 1 6-ounce can tomato paste (about ¾ cup) 1½ cups red wine
2 cups beef stock 1 Tsp. chopped fresh sage 1 Tsp. chopped fresh thyme 1 bay leaf
For the gnocchi: 1 15-ounce container whole-milk ricotta 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1¼ cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg 1¼ cups all-purpose flour ¼ Tsp. salt ¼ Tsp. pepper
> Start the short ribs. Preheat oven to 275˚F. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. In a heavy ovenproof Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over mediumhigh heat and sear each side of the short ribs until they’re a nice caramelized brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the Dutch oven and set aside (do not rinse out). > Purée celery, carrots, and onion in a food processor. Add to the Dutch oven along with the minced garlic over medium heat. Sauté until tender, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in tomato paste and sauté another minute. Add wine, and deglaze pan, making sure to incorporate any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add sage, thyme, and bay leaf followed by beef stock, and stir well, cooking until the liquid starts to bubble. > Add short ribs to the Dutch oven, and cover. I like to coat the ribs with the braising liquid. Place in preheated oven and cook for about 3–4 hours, until the short ribs are very tender and fall off the bone (I do mine in 3 hours, and they’re quite tender). This will still need a seasoning of salt and pepper when it comes out of the oven. > Start the gnocchi. When the short ribs are about 30 minutes from being taken out, start prepping the gnocchi. They can be cooked right before the ribs come out. Stir together the ricotta, eggs, parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Add flour, stirring to form a soft, wet dough. If too sticky to roll out, add a little more flour. Shape the dough on a well-floured surface with lightly floured hands into 2 1-inch-thick ropes. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces with a lightly floured knife. Put in 1 layer on a lightly floured parchment-lined baking sheet. > Bring a medium to large pot of salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) to a boil. Starting with half the batch, add few of the gnocchi at a time to the pot, stirring occasionally until half the gnocchi are in the pot. Cook until cooked through (cut one in half to check), 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Lift out with a slotted spoon, and drain in colander. > Finish short ribs. Take the short ribs out of the oven and remove them from the sauce. With two forks, pull the meat off the bone, removing the fat and bones and discarding. I like to leave in some big chunks of meat along with some shredded meat. Some ribs are more fatty than others. If there’s a lot of fat on top of the sauce, use a baster and remove some of the fat. If the sauce is too thin, place on a burner over medium to medium-high heat and reduce the liquid until the sauce is thicker. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste after reducing. Put the meat back into the sauce, and toss to coat. Spoon sauce/ribs into each bowl or plate and top with gnocchi. I like to add some more sauce to the top. Enjoy!
Erika Monroe-Williams is a local television personality and the face behind thehopelesshousewife.com.
Fun fact: In Tuscany, gnocchi is called strozzapreti, which translates to “priest-stranglers.” Legend has it that a priest choked to death after eating these delicious dumplings too quickly. Eat slowly, and enjoy! This recipe for short ribs with ricotta gnocchi is one of my most popular ones. It’s gone pretty viral, and I receive lots of emails from people who say that it’s now one of their favorite dishes. This is just perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner—lots of rich, lick-off-the-bowl sauce with tender pillows of ricotta pasta and fall-off-the-bone short ribs. Yum! This is actually a very easy dish to make. I would put the short ribs in the oven about 2 ½ hours before you both start making the gnocchi together, which kills two birds with one stone—the house will smell of the delicious short ribs when you start cooking together, and you will also have made half the dish in advance, leaving the gnocchi for you two lovebirds to have fun making. EASTvalleymagazine.com FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014
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> TASTE/EAT ON THE TABLE
BEHIND THE KITCHEN DOOR AT RUFFINO > It’s one of the East Valley’s oldest Italian restaurants.
Each issue, we take you behind the scenes of an East Valley eatery. First off, we step into one of the EV’s oldest Italian restaurants to check out what’s for dinner.
THE TAB
What you get for your money: stuffed mushrooms: baked mushroom caps stuffed with chicken, sausage, and cheese, served in a white wine sauce baked lasagna: homemade pasta stuffed with meat and ricotta cheese, baked and topped with mozzarella and béchamel seafood ravioli: homemade pasta stuffed with shrimp, scallops, salmon, halibut, and ricotta cheese, served in lobster bisque sauce crème brûlée tiramisu
> On average, they sell 20 bottles of wine a night. > 100 pounds of fresh pasta are prepared each week. > Head chef Martin has been with Ruffino for 24 years. He’s been with the restaurant longer than any other employee. > The staff at Ruffino have more than 120 years combined experience in the restaurant industry.
Bosco Montepulciano: Bosco, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva, Abruzzo Italy, 2009—intense aromas of ripened red fruit and spicy notes; the palate is full and soft, rightly tannic with a persistent fruity and spicy flavor
Chef Martin’s 4902 E. Warner Rd., favorite Phoenix things (480) 893-8544 to cook ruffinoaz.com with: fresh seafood, jalapeños, fresh basil, and garlic. His favorite meal to make is lasagna, which he makes fresh daily at the restaurant. Ruffino
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Chef Martin is proud of his Seafood Ruffino!
> BUZZ/CROSSWORD
By Myles Mellor
34 Down Across 1 Famous golfer Phil’s nickname 4 Arizona governor Jan 8 TV chef Rachael 10 Time for love messages and flowers (2 words) 13 “Let It ______” 14 French for love 17 Great golf-hole results 21 Present moment 22 Let’s _____ lunch! 24 Beloved English princess 25 The Bachelor flowers 27 “Bang Bang” singer and the lady in a famous couple (goes with 42 across) 30 Deeply personal 32 Star Wars Jedi first name 34 Blue 35 Belief 36 Former Diamondbacks pitcher who went to school in Phoenix 39 Expression of delight or pleasure
41 ”Two Hearts Beat as ____,” U2 42 Husband of 27 across 43 Tragic lover in Shakespeare
Down 1 Message on a Valentine’s card, perhaps (3 words) 2 “________ your heart,” romantic advice perhaps 3 Deep desire 4 Groom’s partner 5 Conducted a campaign 6 Ogle 7 Conclude 9 Golf course designer Pete _______ 11 Abe’s role in The Godfather
12 They’re sculpted on infomercials 15 Query from Miss Piggy 16 City the Girl from Ipanema was walking in 18 Billboard displays 19 Start 20 Biblical verb ending 23 One part of Brangelina 26 Rare and wonderful 28 ”So Much ______ Love,” 1963 soul hit by the Tymes 29 _______ biloba, herb that is said to be an aphrodisiac for men 31 Three-time NBA Coach of the Year Pat 33 First name of the actor who is married to Jennifer Garner
34 Scottsdale-born actress who starred in The Help, Emma ______ 37 Babe 38 Lodging 40 Type of TV
25 Across
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> BUZZ/BACKSTORY
THE EAST VALLEY SURVIVAL GUIDE TO V-DAY! As a married guy and someone whose romantic skills are questionable, to say the least, I had to dig deep to find the right sort of things to put in a survival guide for V-Day. I mean, gosh, it sounds like D-Day and conjures up images of husbands and boyfriends storming a beachhead amidst mortar bombs and grenades and rushing through barbwire and metal blockades to get a good table at a trendy restaurant. If this is what comes to mind when you start planning a romantic evening, then perhaps a few tips couldn’t hurt.
MAKE RESERVATIONS
You’re not Tony Soprano. Nor are you the queen of England. Make a reservation. Don’t be overconfident or think that you’re connected like some goon from Goodfellas. I get it–some people don’t want to be beholden to a schedule and think spontaneity is the only way to be romantic, but if you were truly spontaneous, you wouldn’t be out on V-Day trying to make up ground in the trenches. So call ahead.
SIMPLICITY RULES
Don’t go too far overboard with extravagant event planning, No one wants to go on a scavenger hunt for hours or be out in public until his or her feet blister.
Restaurant owners and managers are going to hate me for this one, but you should have a second reservation at a different restaurant and at a later time. What happens when you get to your date’s house and she’s still trying on dresses or doing curls in front of a mirror or in the middle of a bad-hair nightmare? You’re late, that’s what happens. Have a Plan B in case a hostess refuses to seat you because you’re 30 minutes late.
CHOOSE FOOD WISELY
This should be common sense, but chose your food wisely. You don’t want to be afraid to breathe or fighting a breeze from the aft. Mexican food is never a good choice if you hope to get closer and more personal. It goes without saying: Avoid garlic, onions, or anything else that may foul your breath or the air close by.
HAIL AN UBER
LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION
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BEWARE OF ALLERGIES
You don’t want to take someone to a place that has wall-towall shellfish if they might go into anaphylactic shock. One time, I cooked dinner for a woman who had peanut allergies. I unwittingly ate a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to curb my appetite while the food was on the grill. One little kiss, and we were in the emergency room.
PLAN B
Drinking too much is not romantic. You aren’t funnier or a better dancer, and you’re statistically 10 times more likely to get caught leering at your server’s physique. It’s okay to have a drink to loosen up and get a little groove on, but you have a long battle ahead and you will need your faculties to carry you through the night. Remember, we’re in it for the long haul, and no one wants to go home early, or alone. Pace yourself.
M.D. Thalmann is a local writer and author. To see his work, visit mdthalmann.com.
Many of the other V-Day warriors will ignore the tip at left and get behind the wheel after opting for a second (or more!) drink. Don’t do it—you’ll be putting other drivers and your date at risk. Uber it. If you don’t know what that is, visit uber.com and download the app. Your date will be impressed that you’re in the know and can have a ride at a moment’s notice.
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2014 EASTvalleymagazine.com
DESSERT AT YOUR PLACE
It might be presumptuous or bold, but I like to have a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries in the fridge and a bottle of white wine or champagne chilling at home next to some candles and rose petals. If the date goes south, then it will be nice to move all that to the bath and polish off the drink and dessert by yourself while you reflect on what went wrong.
LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION (PART TWO)
No buffets, all-you-can-eat, or family-style restaurants. Unless you’re taking an escaped circus bear out for dinner, you don’t need to pack away three pounds of meat and cheese.
For over 40 years, A New Leaf has been helping families...changing lives in the Valley, providing critical needs programs and services. Faith House and Autumn House Domestic Violence Shelters & Support Programs
La Mesita Family Homeless Shelter
Foster Care Program Youth Residential Homes
Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shelter, EVMC Community Behavioral Health Programs
Over 19,000 individuals have been served this past year through 20 programs including homeless and domestic violence shelters, youth and community programs. You can make a difference.
www.TurnaNewLeaf.org â&#x20AC;˘ 480.464.4648
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Buyers and sellers of diamonds, fine gold and estate jewelry.
LONDONGOLD.COM arrowhead
(623) 979- 4445
chandler
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(480) 705-4191
scottsdale
(480) 367-1717