East Valley Magazine

EASTVALLEY

“King of the East Valley”PROPERTY WARS STAR DOUG HOPKINS

JUNE/JULY 2013 · $3.99

SUMMER HOT HAIR ESSENTIALS

ON THE ROAD The Best GPS Travel Apps

CONVERSATION

MEET TEAM EAST

Fabulous females with stylish help for you!

THE POWER OF NAPS

STARTERS HEATHER SANDER S & JAMI LINDBER GET WOMEN TALKI G NG

www.eastvalleymagazine.com

Buyers and sellers of diamonds, ďŹ ne gold and estate jewelry.

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Health care the way want it.

Banner Health is excited to announce the opening of two Banner Health Centers in the East Valley that will offer patients a brand new health care experience. We’ll meet your family's medical needs with on-site laboratory, imaging services and convenient hours. ÊÊÊ

UÊÊ `>ÞÊqÊ/ ÕÀÃ`>ÞÊÇÊ>° °ÊqÊÇÊ«° °ÊÊUÊ À `>ÞÊÇÊ>° °ÊqÊxÊ«° °ÊUÊ->ÌÕÀ`>ÞÊnÊ>° °Êqʣʫ° °Ê Same day and next day appointments available.

QUEEN CREEK – NOW OPEN 21772 South Ellsworth Loop Road (North of Ocotillo Road) (480) 512-3700 Schedule an appointment for: UÊ Family Medicine UÊ Pediatrics GILBERT – NOW OPEN 155 East Warner Road (East of Gilbert Road) (480) 649-6600 Schedule an appointment for: UÊ Internal Medicine UÊ Family Medicine UÊ Pediatrics CHANDLER (OPENS AUGUST 7) 1435 S. Alma School Road (Alma School and Willis Roads) (480) 668-1600 (Will begin taking appointments July 8) Schedule an appointment for: UÊ Internal Medicine UÊ Family Medicine UÊ Pediatrics

www.BannerHealth.com/HealthCenters Connect with us:: JUNE | JULY 2013

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EASTVALLEY

Contents

JUNE/JULY 2013 [ IN EVERY ISSUE ]

11 Publishers’ Letter 12 Contributors 14 Connect With Us

16 COVER FEATURE Team East columnists Jami Lindberg (aka the Savvy Socialista) and Heather Sanders, the “ReStyling” guru, chat about how they’ve parlayed their passions into nontraditional businesses that get East Valley women talking

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46 SUMMER ESCAPES Near or far, here are some exciting spots to discover this season

50

50 PORTER BARN WOOD Centuries-old barns get reimagined and reused in unique ways by Valley artist and entrepreneur Thomas Porter 53 BARBERSHOPS A place for a boy among men to ponder his journey into adulthood

STVALLEY EAST

“King of the East Valley”PROPERTY WARS STAR DOUG HOPKINS

54 FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Give your Dad one of these 10 bargain-to-splurge gifts!

JUNE/JULY 2013 · $3.99

MEET TEAM EAST

Fabulous females with stylish help for you!

ON THE ROAD

THE POWER OF NAPS

The Best GPS Travel Apps

ON THE COVER Heather Sanders and Jami Lindberg, photographed at Petite Party Studio in Gilbert

CONVERSATION

HEATHER SANDERS STA RTE RS & JAMI LINDBERG GET WOMEN TALK ING

www.eastvalleymagazine.com

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19 ONE DRESS, THREE WAYS Stylista Jami Lindberg shows the versatility of a maxi dress 20 GET YOUR BODY IN SUMMER SHAPE Fitness experts Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty help you get your best swimsuit body

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3

15 MEET TEAM EAST These five ladies will help you get the look, style, and life you want 18 KITCHEN REDUX Heather Sanders on ways to change up your kitchen’s look without spending a fortune

46

SUMMER HOT HAIR ESSENTIALS

TEAM EAST

JUNE | JULY 2013

Photo by Oh Snap Photography by Carlee

21 MAKE A DIFFERENCE Writer Diane Meehl shows us how to think globally and act locally

team EV

Total Makeover.

Test e Drive On Soon!

With 8,000 improvements, the newly enhanced 2014 E-Class is a sight to behold and a dream to drive.

Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest inventory of new Mercedes-Benz | Scottsdale Road & Loop 101 | 480.991.1155 | SchumacherMB.com

JUNE | JULY 2013

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EASTVALLEY BUZZ

Contents

33

36

38

28 Event Calendar: What’s happening in the Valley 41 Technology: Travel apps for your phone 56 Entrepreneurship: Practical tips for building a successful blog 58 Auto Trends: The 2013 Luxury Lexus LS460 F Sport

LIFESTYLE 33 Jewels: Buying baubles on vacation isn’t necessarily a good deal 63 Relationships: Dealing with divorces 65 Flavor: A tasty twist to a classic meatloaf recipe 66 Adopt-A-Pet: Furry friends

41

44 43

HEALTH 57 Golf: The perfect draw—a tricky shot 59 Health: The power of naps 60 Beauty: Three summer hot hair essentials 62 Fitness: Personal trainers—they make workouts work out!

THE SEEN

58

60

59

22 Phoenix Suns Gala: A night to celebrate 24 Gold Ball: Raising money for community and hospital programs 25 Kurt Warner Experience: The ultimate football package 26 Celebrity Fight Night: Star-studded affair

[ VALLEY SCENE ]

32 LOCAL PROFILE: East Valley realtor stars on Property Wars 34 ARIZONA SKIES: Summer marks the high point of our nearest star 35 CROSSWORD: Poolside Pencilings 36 ENTERTAINMENT: Best in TV, music, and movies 38 VALLEY VIBRATIONS: An otherworldly concept band 40 TWO CENTS: The Dearings chime in 42 AZ FUN FACTS: Marty Robbins, one of America’s great music legends 43 ART & CULTURE: Exploring The Children’s Museum of Phoenix 44 SPORTS: Game-changer Brittney Griner joins the Phoenix Mercury 64 BOOKS: New and noteworthy

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V E R D E

C A N Y O N

R A I L R O A D

We’ll Leave You Breathless and Your Camera Full s We’ve created a stress-free wilderness adventure where the chirping sounds aren’t coming from your phone s You’ll leave your comfortable inside seat and spill out onto an open-air car to soak in every colorful drop of dazzling spring s Riding the waves of whipped cream on a fresh fruit smoothie is just another of the train’s pleasures …and it’s all possible because you’re on our train.

Specials on the Rail s Throw Papa ON the Train for Father’s Day, June 16 s Saturday Starlight Tours on June 8 & 22, July 20 and August 17 s Thursday, July 4 is our Independence Day celebration s Rhythm on the Rails rocks the train Saturday, August 31

It’s not the Destination, It’s the Journey!

R E S E R VA T I O N S

800-456-3117 verdecanyonrr.com CLARKDALE, ARIZONA 2 hours north of Phoenix 25 minutes from Sedona JUNE | JULY 2013

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 2 PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Adam Toren adam@eastvalleymagazine.com

Y E L L A T V EAS 13 · IL/MAY 2013 RIL/M APR

Matthew Toren matthew@eastvalleymagazine.com

EDITORIAL

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CONNECT WITH US

EASTVALLEY (602) 828-0313

EastValleyMagazine.com sales@eastvalleymagazine.com Follow us on Twitter @EastValleyMag Like Us on Facebook.com/EastValleyMagazine

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 Amorette Rinkleib CONTRIBUTORS Brooke Bailor, Ted Baird, Diana Bocco, Scott Bohall, Emily Brown, Julie Carlson, J.P. Dahdah, Leeann Dearing, Matthew Dearing, Pooja Desai, Shannon Dougherty, Audriana Gates, Matthew Grunwald, Lea Haben, Steve Kates, Jon Kenton, Jami Lindberg, Diane Meehl, Myles Mellor, Kim Miller, Amorette Rinkleib, Greg Rubenstein, Scott Sackett, Heather Sanders, Michael Torres, Marshall Trimble, Jennifer Zach PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Fitzsimons James Patrick, Samantha Peck, Mark Susan, Gillian Tomimbang, Oh Snap Photography by Carlee, 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, andOcotillo. 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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2013

• PUBLISHERS' LETTER

Team Effort

A

t East Valley Magazine, we keep close tabs on every Facebook message, e-mail, tweet, pin (Yes, we’re on Pinterest!—come join us!), and letter (And yes, we still get snail mail!) you shoot our way. We’re big on communication with our readers, so no suggestion goes unnoticed.

When an e-mail hit our inbox about including more local perspectives, we listened, and then we started brainstorming ideas to make the publication even more hyper-local.

With that in mind, we’re pleased to introduce you to our new Team East. Made up of five fabulous females who live in the area (you could be the sixth—find out how on page 15), the new team will offer expertise in every issue to help guide you through East Valley life. These local ladies will give you tips on picking stylish clothes, fun fitness ideas so you’ll look great wearing them, how to whip up delicious meals, and making your home look like a million dollars without spending anywhere near that—all locally grown! They’re Team East, and they’re here for you!

ADAM TOREN Publisher

Two of these lovely ladies are none other than our cover girls Heather Sanders, the “ReStyling” guru, and Jami Lindberg, aka the Savvy Socialista. Sanders lives in Ahwatukee and Lindberg lives in Chandler, and in this issue they chat about how they’ve parlayed their passions into untraditional businesses that get East Valley women talking. It’s our pleasure to welcome them as regular Team East columnists, along with the other great gals who make up the team: Shannon Dougherty, Diane Meehl, and Kim Miller.

If you need permission to enjoy a little rest and relaxation during these summer months, East Valley Magazine hereby grants it. Check out our suggestions on page 46 on where to escape so that you can sit back and chill for a couple of days.

Of course, before you head out on summer vacation, you may want to whip out your smartphone and download one of the cutting-edge travel apps on page 41 that techmeister Jon Kenton recommends. If you’re traveling to far-flung locations, you’d be wise to read jewelry expert Scott Bohall’s latest article in which he examines whether buying baubles on vacation is a good deal. You’ll be surprised at what he has to say.

By the way, if you’re feeling a little sluggish and rundown from the intense desert heat, don’t feel guilty about taking a little nap. Find out how a light snooze can actually improve your health and well-being in “The Power of Naps” on page 59. We don’t know about you, but it has us considering a brief snooze before getting back to work.

MATTHEW TOREN Publisher

Enjoy the summer! See you in August.

Cheers!

JUNE | JULY 2013

11

2013

• CONTRIBUTORS

GOLF

GIVING BACK

ARIZONA SKIES

Scott Sackett, GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 1999, was recently voted as one of Golf Digest's best teachers in the state for the fi fth year in a row. He is also director of instruction at Park Meadows Country Club in Park City, Utah.

While in the Valley, he teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Contact Scott through his website at scottsackett.com.

Jennifer Zach is a freelance writer who lives in Ahwatukee. Jennifer and her family enjoy Saturday morning trips to Fountain Hills to visit grandparents and eat oven-baked pancakes at Flapjack’s.

Steve Kates/Dr. Sky® is a locally and nationally known broadcaster of both radio and TV. He is president of Dr.Sky Inc, a multimedia company that produces the Dr.Sky Show on KTAR News Talk 92.3 FM, and appears as a regular on the Morning Scramble on AZTV with Pat McMahon.

VALLEY VIBRATIONS Audriana Gates is an Arizona State University alumna. She is a freelance writer specializing in music and social events and currently resides in Arizona. When not writing, Audriana can be found at many of the Valley’s live-music events.

SPORTS Michael Torres is a Texas State University alumnus who majored in journalism.

He is a freelance writer and sports enthusiast currently residing in Mesa, Arizona.

HEALTH, BEAUTY Diana Bocco is a freelance writer, a coach, and an author. For the past decade, freelance writing has taken her from the dusty streets of Phnom Penh to the manicured gardens of Tokyo to the cobbled alleyways of Prague. As a ertified personal trainer and nutrition consultant, she specializes in health and beauty topics.

ARIZONA FUN FACTS He has been called a cowboy singer, a humorist, and a storyteller. He is Arizona’s official state historian, but Marshall Trimble’s most treasured title is teacher. He hopes people will realize the importance and fun involved in Arizona history and culture.

AUTO TRENDS

RELATIONSHIPS

Greg Rubenstein is a freelance automotive journalist and deputy editor for iZoom.com, an auto-enthusiast website. He has been writing about and racing cars for 25 years.

Lea Haben is the founder and publisher of SmartFem. com, Phoenix’s premier online resource for women.

For the last 10 years, Lea’s been a relationship columnist as well as a radio and TV personality.

She’s been featured in many publications and on many major networks—ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

JEWELS Scott Bohall is the owner of Treasures Jewelers. The Treasures staff has won more design awards than any jeweler in Arizona. Scott is a past president and current board member of the Arizona Jewelers Association.

He travels the world to find gems and speaks throughout the state on jewelry-related topics.

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FLAVOR Matthew Grunwald has been whipping up culinary delights in his mother’s kitchen for years and loves to bring his original recipes to a television audience on “AZ Midday” and “Valley Dish” segments. He is training at the Culinary Institute of America.

ART & CULTURE, BOOKS Julie Carlson is a freelance writer. She’s had articles published in a number of Valley publications.

Julie is also an aspiring screenwriter—her book review blog, “That’s Swell!,” is part of her company, Reel Swell Productions. Julie is also a former police clerk with 11 years experience in law enforcement.

PHOTOGRAPHY Scott E. Whitney was trained at the Navy School of Photography and has traveled the world as a photographer. From portraits to weddings and events, Scott has done it all. He is also a successful real estate broker and an investor at Whitney Realty and Investments. As a photographer and a broker, Scott is bridging both professions, complementing each in a very rewarding way.

TECHNOLOGY Jon Kenton is principal consultant and owner of JRDR Marketing. Originally from London, he has been living in Arizona with his family for the last eight years. Jon has worked in computing and communications for over 20 years. If it connects to a TV, a camera, a network, or a computer, Jon has probably used it.

Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future starts today.

Visit Kidpreneurs.org and put the power into your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand.

Qspevdu!Eftdsjqujpo You've heard the saying, "It's never too late." We say, "It's never too early!" Even children can be introduced to basic business principles and the rewards of entrepreneurship.

Our goal with Kidpreneurs is to outline some basic tools and strategies kids can use to gain some valuable experience in starting, managing, and growing a successful business venture. Through easy-to-understand basic principles and a creative approach, we outline some key techniques that will have a powerful and positive impact on your child's ability to understand entrepreneurship. Using kid-friendly design and illustration, we break down some of the major points of entrepreneurship, so your child can have fun as he or she learns. Also, your child will enhance his or her decisionmaking skills by trying out simple businesses as he or she grows up.

Tomorrow's future starts today. Share Kidpreneurs with your children and help plant the seeds for a stronger future.

As Seen in:

Cppl!Efubjmt Reading level: Ages 7-13 Perfect Paperback: 64 pages Publisher: Business Plus Media Group LLC Language: English ISBN-10: 0692004246 ISBN-13: 978-0692004241 SAN: 931-6647 Library of Congress #: 2009931114 Suggested Retail Price: $12.95 Published by

Bcpvu!uif!Bvuipst 711 E. Carefree Hwy Suite 205 Phoenix, AZ 85085 1.800.211.7608 ext. 700 info@kidpreneurs.org

Kidpreneurs.org

Adam Toren and Matthew Toren are the founders of YoungEntrepreneur.com, which has quickly become one of the largest social networking forums for young entrepreneurs in the world.

These brothers have many teaching and research interests including marketing, business development, entrepreneurial emergence, entrepreneurial strategy management, business growth techniques, innovation, and new venture creation. One of their specialties is improving profitability of under-performing businesses with a unique bottom-line program. Matthew & Adam provide instruction in management concepts and finance to emerging and distressed small businesses covering all phases of operations. Enthusiasts for enterprise, their ideas are not only based on research, but also on years of hands-on experience.

JUNE | JULY 2013

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CONNECT WITH EAST VALLEY MAGAZINE

Look what’s for sale in your neighborhood.

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 Web Site: 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 Web site. The deadline for August/September 2013 consideration is July 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 Web site.

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 Web site. 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:

A Better Way to Buy and Sell Online.

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JUNE | JULY 2013

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!

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DIANE MEEHL

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SHANNON DOU GHERTY AND KIM MILLE R

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Meet Team East!

Every issue, these five fabulous females will offer their expertise to help guide you through East Valley life. They’ll give you tips on picking stylish clothes, fun fitness ideas so you’ll look great wearing them, how to make a difference in your community, and making your home look like a million dollars without spending anywhere near that. They’re Team East, and they’re here for you!

JUNE | JULY 2013

15

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED Team East columnists Jami Lindberg (aka the Savvy Socialista) and Heather Sanders, the “ReStyling” guru, chat about how they’ve parlayed their passions into untraditional businesses that get East Valley women talking.

By Sondra Barr Photo by Oh Snap Photography by Carlee Shot on location at Petite Party Studio in Gilbert

C

handler mom Jami Lindberg loves to socialize, and Ahwatukee mom Heather Sanders adores decorating. When the two met during a leadership conference at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, they got down to––what else?––talking. After all, it’s what Lindberg is good at.

“I was drawn to Heather because she wants to see things succeed,” says Lindberg, who’s always had a knack for connecting different sorts of people to great effect. At the time, Lindberg was helping organize a popular boutique event at Cornerstone, where hundreds of local entrepreneurial, crafty-type women showcase their wares and services and over 3,000 East Valley women attend each year.

She listened to Sanders describe in passionate detail her homegrown business, The ReStyle Group, which helps families fall in love with 16

JUNE | JULY 2013

their homes again, and then convinced her to set up a booth at the event to market her business.

Lindberg appreciated Sanders’s take on practical home restyling so much that she started thinking about what else she could do to help spread the word about The ReStyle Group. In no time, Lindberg had introduced Sanders to a number of women and brainstormed branding ideas with her. Her creative bone began tingling, and she thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could make money doing what I like best––chatting and networking?

At the time, Lindberg was working at a Gilbert boutique and helping manage their Facebook page for a little extra “running-around cash,” but the inconvenient hours she worked meant that she sometimes couldn’t pick up her daughters from school or have dinner on the table. From there, the impetus for her business was born.

“First,” Lindberg’s sister told her, “you need to come up with a cute name.” The Savvy Socialista seemed the natural choice for Lindberg, a self-professed social butterfly.

Next, she came up with a logo, a look, and a business plan. When thesavvysocialista.com was launched in February 2011, Lindberg had no clue that an idea she’d hatched in between shuttling her kids to school, sports, and play dates as well as chatting with other moms over coffee would catch on so well with East Valley mompreneurs, many of whom have cute homespun business ideas but don’t know how to get them started or publicized.

Socializing has paid off for Lindberg, who’s developed synergistic partnerships for her clients over coffee, on Facebook, and during television segments on shows like Sonoran Living, where she promotes the wares of many East Valley moms she counts as clients. Whether it’s stationery, hair bows, jewelry, or cute T-shirts, Lindberg helps her clients reach other women and the ever-growing Etsy crowd, who are into fashionable, cute handcrafted products with a real person behind the brand. Lindberg says the full extent of what she offers as the Savvy Socialista wouldn’t be possible without Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, but you can never discount how powerful word of mouth is in the East Valley.

Sanders agrees that their businesses work well in the East Valley because of the area’s collaborative environment.

Women here want to see one another succeed and prosper, she says, and they don’t mind spreading the word about people and the businesses that they now know and trust because of a friend’s introduction. “I couldn’t fathom spending $10,000 on a couch, and I couldn’t fathom asking someone else to do it,” says Sanders, who specializes in helping families stylishly yet affordably update their homes both in person and on morning television. “I’m just the same way I am on Facebook or on TV or just sitting here.

There’s a casualness about it that makes it fun,

approachable, and trustworthy. I think that’s why this network socializing is so successful.”

“The East Valley is flooded with creative women,” Lindberg says, and she loves giving them direction on where to channel their creativity. Recently, she was chatting with another mom at her daughter’s school about working. The gal mentioned to Lindberg that she was considering going to work at Starbucks to make some money while her daughter was at school.

“I asked her, do you like to make coffee? If not, why would you do that?” Lindberg says.

She then asked the woman what she really had a passion for and loved to do. “She told me, ‘I love to do makeup.’ Let’s start there, I told her. I asked, do you want to work at a makeup counter and be tied to hours? ‘No,’ she said, ‘I need to have summers off and pick up the kids from school.’ I recommended she find a mentor to buddy up with.”

Taking Lindberg’s advice, the woman went online and found an Ahwatukee makeup artist looking for an assistant. Now, she’s helping do makeup for weddings and proms. Says Lindberg, “She recently called me to say, ‘I can’t believe I’m making money doing something I absolutely love!’”

Both Sanders and Lindberg are proud to be setting examples for their children and showing them firsthand that you can do business on your own terms while having fun and living out your passions. “Not only do I love connecting people, I’m always thinking how a woman can pair a belt or chandelier earrings to a ho-hum outfit to make it fabulous,” says Lindberg, who definitely has a finger on the pulse of East Valley style. “The East Valley gravitates towards a casual elegance that’s family friendly,” adds Sanders, who’s excited to share practical home-decorating tips with our readers.

And this enthusiasm for what they do and desire to share it with the rest of the East Valley explains their excitement at being two of East Valley Magazine’s new Team East columnists.

“

Not only do I love connecting people, I’m always thinking how a woman can pair a belt or chandelier earrings to a ho-hum outfit to make it fabulous.

”

JUNE | JULY 2013

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Kitchen Redux:

No Mere Warmed-Over Style Heather Sanders offers easy tips on how to change up your kitchen’s look without spending a fortune.

BEFORE Photos by Gillian Tomimbang

V

anilla and tired. This typical East Valley tract kitchen was stuck in the last decade. A glamour girl at heart, East Valley homeowner Angelica Plunkett craved change. Inspired by looks she had seen on Pinterest and HGTV, Angelica was ready to show this space some love. She called me up for some advice on how to achieve the look of her dreams without breaking the bank bank.

With national averages of $19,000 for a minor kitchen remodel and well over $50,000 for a Heather is a local home-style expert major overhaul, homeowners often stay stuck in something that no longer works for them for fear with an affinity for livable spaces and of blowing past their budget. But dreams need not be dashed—it’s possible to make some changes budget-friendly designs. even if your budget is less than ideal.

The flooring was in good shape but took on an orange undertone when paired with the existing cabinets. Replacing the floors was not in the budget. A mushroom color was chosen for the base cabinets to tone down the tile. Luckily, Angelica was brave enough to roll up her sleeves and tackle painting the cabinets herself, which saved money.

She had always dreamed of gorgeous counters. After researching more cost-effective options, she decided to splurge on quartz, a new undermount sink, and a chrome faucet. Mosaic glass tile adds sparkle and personality and ties together the existing tile floors, new paint finishes, and counters. A fresh floral pop of color in the Roman shade adds the finishing touch, brings life to the space, and provides the inspiration for the final kitchen décor.

The result: a glam feel for under $7,000.

Shop This Look PAINT: Sherwin Williams, walls Silver Strand, base cabinets Greystone, sherwin-williams.com WINDOWS: Kravet Cavallo, By The Yard, Tempe, (480) 831-1800 HARDWARE: Vintage Knob polished chrome, Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com TILE BACKSPLASH: Skylights Cottage Mélange, Ahwatukee Carpets, (480) 598-9811

FAUCET: Grohe Concetto, Home Depot, homedepot.com COUNTERS: Silestone quartz Lagoon, Ahwatukee Carpets, (480) 598-9811 AFTER 18

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SINK: Kraus undermount 16-gauge stainless steel, Lowes, lowes.com

TIPS FOR A BUDGET-FRIENDLY KITCHEN RESTYLE • Keep the footprint of your kitchen and opt for a renovation of the surfaces.

• Refinish or paint cabinets rather than reface them.

• DIY any projects you feel comfortable tackling. Enlist the help of handy friends.

• Don’t overimprove. Stay within the range of your neighborhood’s value.

• Determine your priorities, i.e., looks vs. function.

• Do your homework. Read product reviews and ratings before you buy.

• Splurge on heavy-use items: counters, appliances, faucets.

• Use paint, backsplash, and fabric to detract from elements that can’t be changed.

TEAM

EV

One Dress, Three Ways A versatile maxi dress is long on style, says East Valley stylista Jami Lindberg, who shows us how easy it is to pull off this trend and stay cool.

Photos by Oh Snap Photography by Carlee

The Classic

Model: Laura Dress: Dillard’s Jewelry: GlitzyThings.com and Express

Jami is a business owner, a self-professed style junkie, and a Chandler mom of two.

I

t’s that time of year again in the East Valley—the dreaded summer. When temperatures soar, I look for something to wear that will keep me cool yet still look hip, fun, and cute. I’ve found the solution—a simple black maxi dress.

Easy, breezy, and lightweight, a maxi dress is an exciting alternative to revealing miniskirts and short shorts. Perfect for the hottest of Arizona days, a maxi dress moves with your body and offers stylish comfort.

I know what you’re thinking—you can only wear a black maxi dress once in awhile without it looking like your daily uniform. Not so! I’ve got three ways for you to look fabulous in just one simple summer dress!

Want to be stylish in longer hems without looking frumpy and disheveled? It’s all in the styling. With the right accessories and shoes, the maxi dress is a versatile wardrobe staple that keeps you looking cool in the summer.

The classic look is simple yet elegant—a black maxi, cute wedge sandals, and fabulous jewelry.

Appropriate at a summer party or a night out with the girls, you can dress it up or dress it down depending on the type of jewelry you pair with it.

Try chandelier or drop pendant earrings to add instant oomph, and pair with a drape necklace and stackable bangles for added drama.

Urban Chic

Model: Carlee Dress: Nordstrom Shirt and jewelry: Splash Designs Need to cover those shoulders up but still want to slip into a maxi? Pair it with a thin cotton button-up shirt in a colorful plaid for some extra coverage.

I’ve paired my maxi with everything from a plain white cotton button-up to a relaxed denim shirt.

Simply roll up the sleeves, tie up the bottom of the shirt, throw on your favorite flip-flops, and you’ve got yourself an easy urban look that’s stylish yet carefree.

Polished Perfection

Model: Roxanne Dress: Nordstrom Scarf, belt, and jewelry: Splash Designs & GlitzyThings.com Ready for a super current trend that’s perfectly polished? Grab a infinity scarf, wrap it around your neck, and pair it with a belt that’s a completely different color! Wrap the belt around the outside of the scarf and voilà! You’ve pulled together a look that’s stylishly on trend.

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Tone It Up Shannon Dougherty and Kim Miller help you get your best summer bathing suit body.

Photos by James Patrick

REVERSE LUNGE TO KICK Setup: Step back with your left foot into a reverse lunge.

Action: Squeeze through your right heel as you stand up. Kick your left leg in front of you as you straighten your right leg. Step back into a reverse lunge with the left foot and repeat. Complete 15 reps, then switch legs.

BALANCE HOPS Setup: Start by standing on one leg and hands on your waist.

Action: Push off with a bent knee and land on your other foot, keeping knee slightly bent. Hop back to the other side, keeping knee slightly bent.

Repeat 15 times.

SINGLE LEG FLOOR BRIDGE Setup: Lie on back with knees bent, feet flat on the ground and arms at your side. Lift left leg off the ground and keep it straight.

Action: Squeeze butt and lift hips off the ground. Keep hips level, and then slowly lower to starting position. Repeat 15 reps on one side, and then switch legs.

BUTT LIFTERS Setup: On all fours, knees under hips, left leg lifted at 90 degrees, and hands in front of shoulders.

Action: Lift left leg up toward the sky, hold for a few seconds, and squeeze your butt. Lower to 90-degree starting position, and then repeat for 15 reps before switching.

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Shannon and Kim are the Fit Mom Diet Team. They’re nationally published health experts, and they also advocate locally for health and wellness.

S

ummer has arrived, and you know what that means—bathing suit season is here! We’ve all had that moment when we step into the dressing room, 20 suits in hand— many of us don’t find that it’s the most pleasant experience. Don’t stress! Sporting tight glutes and toned legs will increase your confidence in bathing suits and summer attire. While it may take a bit of time to see big results, just the act of beginning an exercise regimen designed to work these areas will help you increase your overall happiness with your appearance.

The legs and glutes comprise one of the largest muscle groups in the body. Thus, increasing your strength in them will speed your metabolism. Developing these areas will also help you see improvement in your cardiovascular abilities as well as the ease in which you perform everyday life activities such as walking and climbing stairs.

The four exercises to the left will help you get in shape for summer and can be easily performed almost anywhere. Incorporate these three times a week in your workout plan, spacing them a few days apart in order to ensure adequate rest. On alternate days, focus on upper-body, cardio, and flexibility training for a total body workout.

TEAM

EV

Think Globally, Act Locally Diane Meehl chats with Victor Jakpor, who’s making a difference in Nigeria all the way from Ahwatukee.

Photos by Mike Fitzsimons

“ Ahwatukee writer and mom Diane Meehl is passionate about all things local.

VICTOR’S VISION: UNLEASH YOUR PASSION AND GET STARTED! Have you always wanted to make a difference but didn’t know where to start? Here’s a guide for the soul:

1. Tap into the issues you care about Victor was once asked, “If you could do one thing to make a difference, what would it be?” Sapele and its needs leapt into his mind’s eye. Ask yourself, then, what moves you?

Violence? Children? Hospice?

2. Listen Victor says that it’s not enough to want to help––you have to find out what the needs really are. If you want to help people struggling with addictions, for example, sit in on a local AA meeting and ask how you can contribute.

3. Invite others Victor enlisted the help of his church, Mountain View Lutheran, which provided the initial funding for just one latrine. Who else can you invite from your house of worship, neighborhood, club, or company to join your effort?

I giggle to think that Victor Jakpor probably never envisioned that his life’s purpose would involve toilets. And because I’m always inspired when people roll up their sleeves to help others, I thought his story might inspire you, too.

V

”

ictor and I sat down in a place familiar to both of us—Café Soul, the coffee shop at Mountain View Lutheran Church. It is, after all, the source of Victor’s inspiration to head back to his birthplace for a life-changing trip. I think of Victor as a laid-back sort of guy, a regular Ahwatukee husband and father in a sensible striped shirt. But underneath the calm exterior beats the heart of a man on a mission.

With infectious enthusiasm, Victor shared the story of his fateful journey back to his old stomping grounds in Sapele, Nigeria, in 2006. In his birthplace, Victor stood witness to a region fallen on desperate times. “We’ree talking extreme poverty, and the needss were overwhelming,” he says. h It was the children that stayed with him most. So many of them were selling wares on the streets to make ends meet.

And the lack of toilets at the schools made it even harder for girls to attend.

Victor’s family valued education, so when he returned to Ahwatukee, he decided to start off by supporting just one school with fresh water, a latrine, and textbooks. And Mission Africa, now a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, was launched.

Today, Victor and his team of volunteers give their time raising funds and empowering others across the East Valley to catch his passion for Sapele. “People think you have to do big things to make a difference—but really, you have to just start with one small thing,” he says. “What we’re really doing is all about love, helping children to see that their lives have value.”

Are you inspired to donate $25 to provide a child with textbooks for a year? Visit missionafrica.org.

Want to empower women right here in the East Valley? Check out the following organizations: Fresh Start Foundation: phoenix.wehelpwomen.com UMOM: umom.org Sojourner Center: sojournercenter.org JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

â&#x20AC;˘ THE SEEN

LLisa Blanco and Cha

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Jared Dudley

Jump Ball Gala

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The Phoenix Suns family recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Phoenix Suns Charities at Talking Stick Resort. The Jump Ball gala featured appearances by Suns legends Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley, with entertainment provided by comedian Frank Caliendo and Grammy award-winners the Pointer Sisters.

Photos by Samantha Peck

Robert Sarver

Ania and Marcin Gortat

racyTucker PJTucker andT Charles Barkley and

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Frank Caliendo

Hamed Haddadi

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the coolest spot in the desert For summertime family fun, Arizona’s biggest ‘n’ best water park is not to be missed.

1/2 OFF GENERAL ADMISSION

(623) 201-2000

. wetnwildphoenix.com

©2013 Village Roadshow Theme Park Holdings USA Inc. All rights reserved.

Present this coupon at any open ticket window at Wet‘n’Wild Phoenix or use promotion code 13018 online and save 1/2 off on each General Admission ticket (over 42” & under 64”) up to six (6) people. Valid for general admission only, which includes use of all rides and attractions in operation on day of use.

Coupon is valid 5/31/13 to 9/8/2013 during public operating days only. Not valid on Park company rentals or special events. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon or promotion.

Call (623) 201-2000 or visit www. wetnwildphoenix.com to confirm public operating dates and hours as they are subject to change. PLU 13018

Present this coupon or enter Promotion Code 13018 online

JUNE | JULY 2013

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â&#x20AC;˘ THE SEEN

Brooks St. John-Sm ith, Richard Ziegner, and Niresh Pande

the Entrance to llroom enician Ba Grand Pho

Brooke and Ryan Vink

44th Annual Gold Ball

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Held at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, the 44th Annual Gold Ball raised $650,000 for the John C. Lincoln Health Networkk ccommunity and hospital programs, which include the Breast Health and Research in Center, the Virginia G. Piper Pediatric C Center of Excellence, and Desert Mission.

C Photos by Samantha Peck P

Becky Sh ffin, , Maggie Gri rg e b x A y Dr. Am awlows andTracy P

aw and Sta

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Greg and Jenn McCormick

Jigar and Reshma Shah

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Daphne and

llace Patrick Wa

2013

• THE SEEN

errelle Pryor Joe Victor andT

Kurt Warner gives players a pep talk.

Joe Flacco

Ultimate Football Experience

D

Diehard gridiron CEOs hit the field with some of the NFL’s star players of the past, present, and future during the Kurt Warner Ultimate Football Experience. Prior to the tournament, F ccorporate teams competed in Kart and Segway rracing at the Draft Party & Auction to determine which NFL celebrity would quarterback m tthe teams.

Photos by Samantha Peck P

Michael Irvin and G and Ken Lester

Mark Palmis

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Joe Victor, James Rudo, Aaron Arkenburgg,, Garry Coles, and Matt Stepnes

ch to determine whi d ce ra s am te Corporate e teams. ld quarterback th ou w y it br le ce NFL

Jared Ulrich

JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

• THE SEEN

Jennifer Lopez and

Keith Harkin

Johnny Walker

Star-Studded Affair

Steve Martin

L

Luminaries such as Jennifer Lopez and Reba ba McEntire came out to shine at JW Marriott tt Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix ix for Celebrity Fight Night XIX. Recognized d as one of the elite charity events, the blackktie gala, auction, dinner, and live shows raise se money for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson n Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and nd numerous other charities.

Photos by Samantha Peck

Mario Lopez and Couur rtn t ey Mazza

Billy Ray Cyrus

Evander Holyfield 26

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Frankie Muniz and

ow

Elycia Marie Turnb

©2013 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Franchises independently owned and operated. *Offer valid for a limited time at participating locations only; see showroom for details. Not to exceed 10% of value. Not valid with other offers.

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Call today to schedule your free design consultation.

Chandler Showroom 3415 W Frye Road (next to Target) 480-899-0800 CaliforniaClosets.com

Verne Troyer

EASTVALLEY

Rita Wilson JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

• EVENT CALENDAR

Things to Do… JUNE

Taste the flavors of the season at Schnepf Farms U-Pick Extravaganza. Be it peaches, apples, or tomatoes, the season’s in full swing. Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., Queen Creek. schnepffarms.com

Enjoy the smooth moves of the Tempe Dance Academy dancers at their Talent Factor–Dance on the Move recital. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. chandlercenter.org

1

15

Children’s book author Conrad Storad reads his book Rattlesnake Rules to teach children ages 6 and up about rattlesnakes. Pueblo Grand Museum and Archaeological Park, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix.

(602) 495-0901 phoenix.gov/recreation/arts /museums/pueblo/index.html

22

Rock out to The Elements, Arizona’s premier current rock cover band at the free spring concert in the park.

Freestone Park Amphitheatre, 1045 E. Juniper Rd., Gilbert. gilbertaz.gov/events

6

Enjoy the cool sounds of Sonoran Jazz during the Desert Botanical Garden’s Garden Spring Concert Series.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. dbg.org

7

Search for fascinating desert creatures at the Scorpion Scavenger Hunt. San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Rd., Queen Creek. maricopa.gov/parks/santan

8

Listen to acclaimed singer-songwriter Jewel, who’s sold over 27 million albums, sing her greatest hits. Wild Horse Pass Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. wingilariver.com

8

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Take in a night with Tabatha Coffey, star of Bravo’s Salon Takeover and author of It’s Not About the Hair. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. mesaartscenter.com

9

Absorb an evening of wonderful dance performances by the students at Classic Image Dance. Showcasing their talents in their annual recital, students perform ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and much more. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. mesaartscenter.com

22

…in the Valley JULY

Take the kids to Family Fun Day at the ASU Art Museum, which includes a variety of theme-related hands-on art-making projects, educational booths, free refreshments, and entertainment. ASU Art Museum/Ceramics Research Center, 51 E. 10th St., Tempe. asuevents.asu.edu/calendar

13

Run, walk, or be a splasher and help participants cool down at the Splash Mob 5K Fun Run & Walk to benefit homeless children. Big Surf Waterpark, 1500 N. McClintock Dr., Tempe. bigsurffun.com

Catch up with your favorite new performers at American Idol Live 2013.

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. comericatheater.com

24

20

The Kiwanis Club of Tempe’s 61st Annual Fireworks Spectacular will present the best fireworks show in the Valley, shot from Mill Avenue Bridge. Tempe Town Lake, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. tempe4th.com

4

Head out to the Town of Queen Creek’s 4th of July Celebration, complete with bouncy castles and a water slide. Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., Queen Creek. schnepffarms.com

4

Jam out to Kid Rock as he performs with the Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Desert Sky Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. 98kupd.com/events

24

Rock out during the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, and others. Desert Sky Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix.

98kupd.com/events

5

Groove to the tunes of multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans as she performs in the Ovations LIVE! Showroom. Wild Horse Pass Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. wingilariver.com

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2013

• WINE

FROM SELLER TO CELLAR Wines made 100% in Arizona

By Pooja Desai

Arizona Stronghold When you buy a bottle of wine from Arizona Stronghold, it was made and bottled not too far from where you bought it and not a few thousand miles away in Europe.

Owners and wine experts Eric Glomski and Maynard Keenan’s motto is this: Wines should retain their natural character and fl avor, and quality should never be sacrificed to guarantee that the wine can be made to withstand transportation. Glomski and Keenan started Arizona Stronghold Vineyards in 2007 between the Dragoon and Chiricahua mountains in southeastern Arizona, in Cochise and Graham counties. Their goal was to put Arizona on the map in the wine world. Until recently, it was believed that the climate would not allow for fi ne winemaking But Arizona Stronghold’s ventures proved that wrong by the fact that growing fi ne wine in Arizona is simply a matter of elevation. The winemakers chose a section of land in middle Arizona, between the heat of Phoe-

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nix and the cool winds of Flagstaff, where they could farm successfully.

Arizona Stronghold owns 200 acres in this area, and sustainable farm grapes grow on 120 of them. The Stronghold vineyard is located in Kansas Settlement, 15 miles south of Willcox, and the Bonita Springs Vineyard is located 20 miles north of Willcox. The majority of the sourced grapes grow on their own estate, and Glomski and Keenan sometimes work with other growers in the area to experiment with fruit to create new and interesting ways to create Arizona wine. Visit their winery in Cottonwood for a night of wine tastings and other events. azstronghold.com

Page Springs Cellars The man behind Arizona Stronghold, Eric Glomski, is also responsible for Page Springs Cellars, a vineyard and winery located in Oak Creek near Verde Valley, specializing in Rhône-style wines. Just 15 minutes south of Sedona, Page Springs is a beautiful destination where a dedication to creating and learning about fi ne wine is the top priority. Glomski’s appreciation for nature and community is explicit in this family venture, where his goal is to create wines that express the unique beauty of the landscape. The winery at Page Springs offers a variety of both private and group tours and tastings led by experts who can explain the art as well to a wine novice as to a full-blown aficionado.

If you want to learn more about winemaking, the best way is to pick the brains of this knowledgeable staff. The more you know, the more you’ll be able to appreciate it when you lift a glass! The tasting room is open all year long, with Friday and Saturday evenings offering food and wine specials and live music. Page Springs also offers outdoor massages inside a gorgeous tent deep into the natural surroundings of Oak Creek for guests who are looking for a really relaxing experience. pagespringscellars.com

Pillsbury Wine Company

Alcantara Vineyards

Pillsbury Wine Company came into being when Sam Pillsbury, a film director from New Zealand, visited the Valley to shoot a pilot. He fell instantly in love with the area and decided to purchase 80 acres in the high altitudes in Cochise County to see if he could grow grapes in this unusual location. His vineyards sit at 4,300 feet, giving them endless sun and extra UV, while the cool nigh-time climate allows for ripening to slow down and give the grapes more good acids. The first vineyard was planted in 2000, and his wines were all the rage in the Southwest less than five years after releasing his first batch. In 2010, Pillsbury opened the winery and tasting room in Old Town

Cottonwood, where he showcases his wines as well as local cheeses, nuts, gourmet chocolates, and works of local artists. The room pairs the wines with foods that bring out these flavors, celebrating the unique quality of wines that comes out of the high-desert terroir.

Pillsbury has seen an extraordinary amount of growth and success, and continues to raise its production.

The wines are available at the top resorts and restaurants in Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, and Flagstaff. “In a world of generic food and wine, I wanted to make wines with complexity and nuance but which were entirely original and distinctive,” Pillsbury says. pillsburywine.com

Alcantara Vineyards is more than just a winery and tasting room—it’s like a home away from home on over 20 acres of gorgeous land fi lled with grapes ripe for picking. It is owned by Barbara and Bob Predmore, who bought over 87 acres of land in the Verde River area in 2005 to carry out their dream of winemaking. Named for Barbara Predmore’s grandmother’s maiden name, Alcantara is the fi rst winery to open on the Verde River and is one of the largest in the area. The winery itself is a beautiful Tuscan-inspired estate that is open for tastings all year round, and guests are encouraged to bring a picnic basket so that they can enjoy the views in a completely private setting. The winery is also available for weddings and special events. Barbara’s mission when opening Alcantara was a bit different from the usual winemaker’s goal; it was to create a sustainable vineyard community in the Verde Valley area that could eventually become similar in scope to places like Napa and Sonoma. Building such a community would bring tourism to the state and make the public more aware of ways to honor nature and the environment.

With the 20,000 vines Barbara has planted using green technology, her vision continues to grow. alcantaravineyard.com

You can pick up a bottle of wine made by any one of these Valley-area wineries. Visit the wineries online to check out one a location near you. Sometimes, the best things are closer to home than you ever thought. Cheers to that!

JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

• LOCAL PROFILE

‘King of the East Valley’?

Realtor Engages in Housing Combat on Property Wars

By Jennifer Zach BRASH AND LARGER than life on TV, Realtor Doug Hopkins has been entertaining viewers on Discovery Channel’s Property Wars as “King of the East Valley,” but he wants people to know that he’s just an ordinary guy.

Originally f rom Bedford Hills, New York, Hopkins moved to Arizona in 1987 and graduated from Mountain View High School in Mesa. He majored in real estate at ASU and obtained his real estate license in 1994. In 2004, Hopkins opened Red Brick Realty and Red Brick Realty Property Management, specializing in buying and selling foreclosure properties. In 2008, he decided to extend his expertise in purchasing properties at auction to real estate investors through a new venture, PostedProperties.com.

Hopkins and his businesses are active in giving back to the community. They donate to charities, people, and causes throughout the Valley. They provide meals for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House, raise

money for families with children who have serious medical needs, and contribute to the Boys and Girls Club, Sunshine Acres, and other private organizations.

Hopkins’s passion for real estate equals his community involvement and has brought him many opportunities to be interviewed on television and radio. In 2012, he landed a starring role on Property Wars.

The show follows buyers who are going head-to-head as they battle to snatch up the best Phoenix properties at auction, hoping to land winners and not be stuck with a dud. Season three started filming on May 30.

“Everywhere I go, people recognize me, and I really enjoy meeting them and talking to them about the show and about real estate,” Hopkins says. “The whole ‘celebrity experience’ has been really different.”

One of the questions he gets asked the most is what it’s like off camera while filming. There’s a lot of downtime, Hopkins says, so the cast members talk and hang out.

“I’ve competed against and worked

“

Property Wars castmembers (from left to right), Doug Hopkins, Scott Menaged, John Ray, and Ed Rosenberg

with John for years—we would go out for a beer. I really don’t know the other guys very much at all,” Hopkins says, speaking frankly of his cast mates. “Scott?

Well, I can’t stand him, and he can’t stand me.”

The show’s storyline comprises the largest national foreclosure rate that Phoenix had when the real estate bubble burst, and that the rate is slowing and the market is improving in the Valley.

“Foreclosure numbers have returned to the historical average, and I expect that we will see about a 10 percent increase in home val-

ues this year,” Hopkins says.

His advice to buyers who are still underwater? “If you don’t have to move, don’t move. If you can afford the payment, don’t take the credit hit. Be patient, and you should be okay.”

When asked about the moniker “King of the East Valley,” Hopkins chuckles sheepishly.

“Somebody on the show called me that, and it stuck,” he says. It’s embarrassing. I’m just a regular guy—I’m not anything special. I have a good business, and I’m good at what I do. I’d never put that label on myself!”

If you don’t have to move, don’t move. If you can afford the payment, don’t take the credit hit. Be patient and you should be okay.

Doug Hopkins stars in the Discovery Channel's Property Wars.

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”

2013

• JEWELS

Tourist, Beware!

Jewelry expert Scott Bohall examines whether buying jewelry on vacation is a good deal.

3. Those oysters at Disneyland and Sea World have been inserted with a pearl— you did not just get lucky! And the pearl is worth less than what you paid to “find” one.

8. Don’t fall prey to “sales” that just happen to be on when you’re in port. If you have a relationship with your jeweler, you can call to see if something is really a good deal or just a phony discount.

SUMMER GEMS

4. The diamond park in Arkansas really does have diamonds you can mine, but much like panning for gold, the money is in the amount of people who pay and don’t find anything. (One large one was found last year, though!)

9. It’s easy to manufacture a ring in China with $3 worth of silver and a fake gem and make it look like it should cost $200. It’s even easier to make a ring worth a dollar that only looks like silver and sells for $25.

Many folks from Arizona escape the summer heat and head for a cruise or a beach.

Whether it’s the umbrella drinks or the vacation mindset, people frequently return with some sort of bauble. Before you fall prey to tourist pricing and usually below-average quality, there are nine things to keep in mind prior to the trip.

1. Don’t fall for the lure of duty free. In most cases, the duty you save will pale in comparison to what you overpaid for the same item sold in your home city.

2. Ask where something is made. There’s no reason to buy something made in India, China, or Thailand while visiting St. Thomas. Tanzanite can be purchased in Phoenix for usually half of what the island price is.

5. The stores that the ship “recommends” have a contract with your cruise line to send you to them. They both make good money on you.

6. Just because you’re in Tahiti and the pearls are farmed there, the price often isn’t a great one. Usually, you can buy a Tahitian pearl right at home for around half the price of the one sold on the island.

7. Once outside the United States, certificates and appraisals mean nothing.

Even your credit card company can have trouble helping you if you didn’t get what was promised.

There are legitimate deals anywhere in the world, but you won’t normally find them where the tourists go. Ask as many questions as possible before buying and get as much information as possible on the receipt regarding quality, size of gems, treatments, where the item was made, and anything else that may seem important. The more you have in writing, the better is the chance that you won’t be taken advantage of.

If you don’t know jewelry, know your jeweler.

JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

• ARIZONA SKIES WITH DR.SKY

®

RISING TEMPS Summer marks the high point of our nearest star—the sun.

SUMMER OFFICIALLY RETURNS to Arizona at 10 p.m. local time on June 20, also known as the summer solstice. The advent of summer marks the literal high point of our nearest star, the sun, against the vast background stars of the constellation of Gemini—the Twins. A few weeks after this date, we get to experience the highest temperatures of the calendar year.

This is also a great time to experience the wonders of the Arizona night skies. June is a great month to plan your observation sessions and experience all that Arizona can give you. Here’s a rundown of the moon’s phases and related close conjunctions with major planets, stars, and any other heavenly bodies that may be floating by. I’ll also give you a couple of viewing tips.

The month starts with the moon at its new phase, also known as the Dark of the Moon.

This is the best time of the month to view the full outlines of the constellations of summer.

I suggest that you look to the southern sky at around midnight at the start of June to view the star clouds of the summer Milky Way. You’ll be looking at the rich star regions of the constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius. Once you find these on your star chart, begin to view them through a standard pair of binoculars. (To understand binocular magnification, check the set of numbers on your pair, usually engraved on the focus wheel). For example, the magnification set 7x50 gives you a power of seven times the magnification of the human eye through a 50 mm objective lens glass. If you don’t own binoculars and wish to buy a pair, chat with a knowledgeable salesperson about the best magnification number to choose for sky viewing. Do this all before nightfall, of course!

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Now, scan the rich star regions of the Milky Way near New Moon. I know you’ll be simply amazed! This is the region thought to be near the center of our Milky Way galaxy, some 27,000 light years from your eye.

The moon then moves on to its first quarter on June 16, followed by the great June Full Moon, or the Full Strawberry Moon, on June 23 at 4:32 a.m. local time. The last quarter moon follows this on June 30.The Moon will be close to Venus in the evening sky on June 10 and will pass close to Saturn on June19.

To see the June planets, look to the northwest at sunset for Venus. Saturn will be high in the southeast at sunset. Jupiter will pass into conjunction with the sun on June 19, and Mercury will be at its best in the northwest after sunset on June 12, 24 degrees from the sun.

July opens up with additional gems to cherish! The sun reaches the peak of another sunspot cycle around this time! Be on alert for potentially massive solar flares and geomagnetic storms.These may affect radio communications and the power grid. The Earth is actually at its farthest position from the sun on July 5 at 8 a.m. local time, when the sun is some 94,555,000 miles away.This position is called the aphelion. One wonders why it feels so hot at this time!

The moon starts off July at its new phase on July 8 and then moves on to first quarter on the 15th. The Full Moon of July occurs at 11:16 a.m. local time on the 22nd and is known as the Full Buck Moon. July planets

are as follows: Venus and the moon are very close in the northwest at sunset on the 10th.

Saturn is still the planet of the early evening sky, low in the south at sunset. The summer skies of Arizona offer a lot to be thankful for.

Finally, we’re excited about our special international Dr. Sky tours to China and to Costa Rica to see the great comet, known as Comet ISON, on the luxury sailing yacht Star Flyer. Learn more about these voyages by visiting our sales partner’s website, Tropical Sails Corp, at tropicalsails.com. For info on other Dr. Sky public programs, visit our website drsky.com, and our aviation site, photorecon.net.

Join Dr. Sky® for the many Dr. Sky programs around Arizona, monthly events at the beautiful Las Posadas Resort in Sedona, and monthly “Dr. Sky Cruise to the Cosmos” on the Dolly Steamboat. Listen to KTAR News Talk 92.3 weekly for the Dr.Sky Show, 3 a.m.

Saturday mornings. Find the good stuff on Dr. Sky’s websites at drsky.com and drsky.tv. E-mail Dr. Sky at drsky@cox.net. You can find him on Facebook.

2013

• CROSSWORD

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New Phoenix Mercury player for 25 Down ACROSS 1 Watery summer locations 8 Take a quick swim 10 This museum is a great place to take the kids in Phoenix 12 Oil __ canvas 13 “Far out!” in the 80s 14 Indigenous, of plants 17 Look ahead for the future 19 High exam scores 21 “Summer time, and the livin’ is ____” 22 Luxury sedan 24 Overdone Father’s Day present 25 It is chewed all the time 27 Father’s Day month 29 Much of Arizona has this type of climate 32 Southwest airline ticker symbol 33 East Coast highend resort and residential spot, The _____ 36 Flight board abbr.

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DOWN 1 Red rock area in Arizona 2 Babysitter’s handful 3 Big ___ 4 Blanc’s opposite 5 Row 6 Seas 7 She’s lazy in the kitchen?

9 ___ flash (2 words) 11 Pool lane 15 First digit to try the water 16 Sunrise direction 18 Auto insurer with roadside service 20 Came down a pool chute 22 SEC football team, abbr.

23 Visit 25 New Phoenix Mercury player Brittney 26 AZ neighbor 27 Minty drink

28 Kindle purchase 30 ___ the pool and watched the kids play (2 words) 31 Type of river herring 34 DJ announcing tool 35 Blue 38 __ Eliot (poet)

ANSWERS ON P. 62

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2013

• ENTERTAINMENT

By Amorette Rinkleib

MUSIC ✒ Mumford and Sons: June 5 at Desert Sky Pavilion This quartet of British indie folk-rocksters will be making their second appearance in Arizona promoting their latest Grammy-winning album, Babel. Released last September, this 2013 Album of the Year has sold over two million copies in the United States and has been ranked number 11 by Rolling Stone on their list of the 50 Best Albums of 2012. The album’s lead single “I Will Wait” was an instant hit, with over 150,000 copies sold in the United States in its first week of release. livenation.com

✒ Pitbull & Ke$ha: June 19 at Desert Sky Pavilion An unlikely duo, Pitbull and Ke$ha will be teaming up for their North American summer tour. The tour will start off in Boston, hitting 22 different venues throughout the United States and Canada and ending in Tampa, Florida. Pitbull will be promoting his latest album Global Tour with hits such as “Don’t Stop the Party” and “Feel This Moment,” featuring Christina Aguilera. Ke$ha will be promoting her latest album, Warrior, with lead single “Die Young.” livenation.com

✒ Bruno Mars, Ellie Goulding: July 31, 2013 at US Airways Center The Moonshine Jungle Tour, opening in selected cities, is Bruno Mars’s second time on the circuit with special guest Ellie Goulding. This megatour kicks off June 22 and will be hitting cities nationwide as well as throughout Canada and Europe, ending in Sydney Australia on March 10, 2014.

“Moonshine” will be promoting Mars’s album Unorthodox Jukebox, released last December. The album’s first and second singles (“Locked out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man”) each topped charts in over 20 countries worldwide. usairwayscenter.com

MOVIES:

✒ Man of Steel : June 14 Once again, here’s the familiar story of journalist Clark Kent who as a child was sent to Earth to escape the demise of his home planet, Krypton. Unable to cope with his supernatural abilities, Kent (Henry Cavill) has trouble figuring out his place in the world. When Earth is attacked, Kent finds his calling as Superman—protector of earth and humanity.

Based on DC Comics’ Superman, this Christopher Nolanproduced film also stars Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe.

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✒ The Bling Ring : June 14 Written, produced, and directed by Sofia Coppola, this crime drama is based on the actual events of the Bling Ring, a group of Hollywood teens obsessed with fame. These young thieves became infamous for robbing the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Megan Fox, Lindsay Lohan, and Orlando Bloom.

Stars include Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Leslie Mann (Knocked Up), and Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story).

✒ RED 2 : July 19 This action-comedy film is the second installment of the 2010 film RED. An implausible group of retired black-ops CIA agents team up on an intercontinental quest to find a portable nuclear device that has mysteriously gone missing. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones all star in this action-packed film directed by Dean Parisot (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

TELEVISION:

✒ Burn Notice : Premieres on June 6 on USA

Spies don’t get fired, they get burned. After a blown operation in Nigeria, one of these “burn victims,” intelligence agent Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), returns to his hometown of Miami.

He has no contact with his government handler, no identity, and no money. Michael eventually learns that he has been condemned to Miami; if he leaves, he’ll be taken into custody, but if he stays, he can live a “normal” life. Determined to find out why he’s been burned, Michael becomes a private investigator to fund his efforts.

✒ True Blood : Premieres on June 16 on HBO In a world where vampires and other supernatural creatures exist amongst humans, all is far from peaceful. This series follows Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, who falls in love with a 173-year-old vampire, Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).

Their love story is twisted and complex with a variety of trying factors, the latest being Bill’s obsession with a cult of vicious, human-thirsty vampires on the rise.

✒ Breaking Bad : Premieres on July 15 on AMC Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a washed-out high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. To ensure that his family will be financially secure after his death, Walt partners up with former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to manufacture and sell methamphetamine. Numerous altercations and lucky misses with big names in the drug world have earned Walt a notorious reputation under the pseudonym “Heisenberg.” After a hard day’s work of “cooking,” Walt always comes home to his unsuspecting pregnant wife and teenage son, resuming the role of doting husband and father.

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2013

• VALLEY VIBRATIONS

An Otherworldly Concept Band

Audriana Gates talks with A Life of Science, a Valley group creating infectious grooves, spacey melodies, and funky multimedia projects.

YOU ARE INVITED to take a galactic journey of epic proportions. Immerse yourself in the depths of their music. As their synthesized tunes combine with an infectious groove, A Life of Science’s spacey melodies envelope you as you drift off into the night on a dazed trip “alongside miles of dragonflies.” The music is freeing and a joy to listen to.You can see the energy—the purples, the blues, the hues of orangy reds that I imagine the sun encapsulates. Not many bands can capture colors the way A Life of Science does.

A Life of Science includes members Scott Passamonte, James Keenan, Travis Alexander, and Josh Isaac. Passamonte, keyboardist and guitarist for the group, describes A Life of Science as a “concept project from

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the mind of front man James Keenan.” Keenan formed A Life of Science in 2006 with his childhood friend, Zakk Geist. When the band began writing songs, they didn’t have a clear vision of where they wanted to take the project. The concept was still developing, yet they knew that they wanted to create something novel and away from the norm. “We were all instrumentalists by trade, and when James stepped forward to sing, he had to figure out something to start writing about,” Passamonte says, adding that now A Life of Science “includes a musical trilogy of albums, a novel, two comics, videos, art, and a slew of online content.” With the use of electronics in their music, the band explores different styles to mix together the final products of their sound.

Passamonte says that all of the band’s albums “follow the story of a boy raised to save the human race from ourselves in the midst of an impending world war.” Keenan had previ-

thoroughly enjoy the experiment. Because of the varied sound effects and synthesizers on the recorded versions of their songs, they are unable to play it all live.

The experience from album to stage makes ously created for a celestial journey an animated for fans. Passamonte A Life of Science front short titled believes that their alman James Keenan.

Trash Monbum and live shows ster about a lonely creature of the are “vastly different experiences.” same name, and that became the So where does A Life of Sciinspiration for A Life of Science. ence see itself traveling to in the Former member and novelist near future? Would you believe, a Josh Isaac penned a novel, The movie theater near you? “I think Apneist, that further explores the the ultimate goal has always been concept behind the band. to get this concept project onto A Life of Science, then, defies the big screen,” Passamonte says. the idea of genre. “I don’t think “We’d like to make the whole music needs to fit into genres,” bundle complete with a movie Passamonte says. “I mean, it’s trilogy.” A Life of Science also great when it does, but I think plans a comic books series, with most artists would say that to continued appearances at comic really express yourself, you kind conventions. of have to transcend that whole Not since the Beatles took notion. Our music is meant to me through Strawberry Fields be a soundtrack behind a story have I experienced such a kaleiconcept.The musical tastes of the doscopic, imaginative musical different members of ALOS are journey. A Life of Science is the so drastically varied that I don’t indie-electro rock band that soars think we could write one type of with a velocity of sheer brilliance music if we tried.” through the star-filled night sky, The band finds it challengand we’re invited on the voyage. ing to take their conceptual art of climatic sound and translate it To learn more about A Life of into a live performance, but they Science, visit alos.us.

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Medical Center www.scnm.edu/medcenter JUNE | JULY 2013 39

2013

• TWO CENTS

Matthew Dearing

Leeann Dearing

The Dearings chime in on some of their favorite things in the Valley.

GREEN JAZZ FACE

etsy.com/shop/GreenJazzFace

SECONDS TO BREATHE

SecondstoBreathe.com

A.M.E. SOUTHWEST, INC. amesouthwest.com

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facebook.com/42movie

Matthew: Bunting (i.e., banners)—this is a thing now? Gad, my wife is exhausting. Here’s what I know: Similar products on Etsy run about $40, and Kelly, the owner of Green Jazz Face, charges a very reasonable $22 for a product that made my wife do the happy dance. Yes, she literally skipped around the room when she opened the package from Green Jazz Face.

That’s $22 well spent.

Leeann: This mama takes decorating and birthdays seriously. Imagine my delight when I stumbled onto Green Jazz Face, a “shop” on Etsy. Kelly creates the most adorable custom bunting! We ordered a Happy Birthday banner, but you can have her write anything you want on your decoration.

I’m going to order one that says “Do the Dishes” and hang it above the sink.

Maybe my husband will find it.

Matthew: Seconds to Breathe is made up of lead vocalist Hondo Valez, guitarist Nate Heater, bassist/vocalist Cory Spotts, guitarist/vocalist Mark Morrell, and drummer Marty Werlk. They form a truly gifted band with a unique perspective and write the kind of songs that get stuck in your head.

From their first album, Sirens, I was hooked on “Home” and “Closer.” Their new album, Bringers of Light, offers more of everything that I love about this band: uplifting, interesting song lyrics and a sound that’s not too gritty and not too pretty, either. In other words, it’s just right.

Leeann: Okay, I love these guys. The group is full of locals from Tempe who’ve been making music together for over a decade. The group’s strength comes from its amazing guitar textures and monster lead vocals from Hondo Valdez. Think Jimmy Eat World meets Foo Fighters. STB has opened for Bon Jovi at the Jobing.com arena, shared the stage with Incubus at Tempe Music Fest, and been featured on MTV’s The Hills. Do yourself a favor and give the band a listen on iTunes.

Matthew: A.M.E. Southwest is the most technologically advanced and well-connected landscape-service provider in the Valley. They handle everything: landscape architecture and installation, arbor care, maintenance, and pest control. And their white-glove approach to customer service means that they’re up and working on your property during off hours (while you sleep!) so that your business grounds stay perfect without disrupting the flow of your workday.

Leeann: Let me see. How can I explain this? A company without landscaping is like...running into the love of your life at the grocery store and you have no makeup on and are sportin’ gym sweats. You’re not putting your best foot forward, and you end up hiding behind a Captain Crunch box display. Your business needs someone who can (professionally and stealthily) keep your grounds looking inviting. This encourages business and keeps your company’s first impression positive!

Matthew: This is the best baseball movie I’ve seen in a while. Harrison Ford is marvelous as always. His gruff and grumbly performance wasn’t something I’ve seen from him in many of his other films. But the real standout here is Chadwick Boseman. Where has this guy been? A graduate of the British American Dramatic Academy in Oxford, he has a list of television credits (day player and recurring roles), but this is the first I’ve seen of him.

I’ll bet it won’t be the last. His acting is subtle, powerful, and moving. I give it four stars.

Leeann: The movie 42 is a beautifully assembled biopic about Jackie Robinson. Most of us are familiar with the major bullet points of Robinson’s life: a remarkable talent who shattered the color barrier and died before his 54th birthday. However, the story is as complex as the hero himself, and the film does a decent job revealing the challenges in Robinson’s rise to fame.

My only complaint was that at times, they painted Robinson with too broad a brush.

Matthew and Leeann Dearing own and operate the local Dearing Acting Studio off Shea Boulevard and 32nd Street (dearingstudio.com). Leeann is one of Dr. Bob Parson’s official Go Daddy Girls. For more of their thoughts and suggestions, follow them on Twitter @LeeannDearing and @DirectorDearing.

Would you like the Dearings to come review your business? Send an email to ReviewFor2@DearingStudio.com.

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2013

• TECHNOLOGY

GPS Travel Apps For Your Phone: Both Fun and Practical

By Jon Kenton AS SUMMER VACATION season gets underway, thousands of apps are available for travelers to download to their smartphones.These little helpers can assist with everything from trip planning to finding the closest restroom.There are apps for navigating to your hotel, finding restaurants and points of interest along the way, entertaining the kids, translating languages, and a host of other useful things. Here are a few worthy of consideration for your upcoming trip.

THE MUST-HAVES: NAVIGATION

The navigation app is still the single most important GPS tool you can have on your smartphone.This one app alone can save huge amounts of time on the road and take a great deal of the hassle out of driving in an unfamiliar area. Apps such as these have moved beyond simple directions. They now have 3-D maps, show traffic congestion, give you locations of everything from gas stations to national parks, tell you which lane you need to be in for an upcoming turn, and can show you pictures of the area you’re looking for. Since smartphone screens are somewhat small, a navigation app that provides good, clearly spoken directions with plenty of advance notification of an upcoming turn is absolutely essential–– you should never try to read the details on a smartphone navigation app while driving.

Fortunately, most top-of-the-line navigation apps have this feature.

Google Maps is the top U.S. navigation application for smartphones.

SPECIAL INTEREST APPS: GREAT INFORMATION AND LOTS OF FUN

Traveling to a fun destination is very exciting, but sometimes the hours in the car can get quite boring. Of course, there are all sorts of games, video entertainment, and eBooks that can help pass the time, but there are also plenty of special-interest or hobby apps that can be quite enjoyable.

For example, if you’re a history buff, the History Channel has created HISTORY Here. This interactive travel guide has thou-

sands of historic locations across the United States in its catalogue, along with stories, maps, photos, and videos that bring them to life. While traveling along the highway, HISTORY Here displays locations of interest up to 100 miles on either side of the highway from your current location.

The History Channel also provides a HISTORY App that allows you to watch your favorite History Channel TV shows and Bet You Didn’t Know, which features hundreds of short fun facts written by the History Channel team. If you have an iPad, their Civil War Today app features a day-by-day exploration of the American Civil War that explores every phase and aspect with thousands of original documents, photos, maps, diary entries, quotes, and newspaper broadsheets. And for those who love a challenge, there’s always the Ultimate History Quiz!

For Food Network devotees, the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Fan app provides the locations of all the restaurants that Triple-D has been to. The app will display all the nearby locations on a map, and when you select a specific dive, you will find show videos, recipes, photos, and tips from other travelers who have sampled the cuisine. While the app does not provide directions to your favorite diner, it does give you the ability to open the location in the Maps application to get directions.

DESTINATION APPS: GREAT DETAIL

The last category of useful GPS-enabled apps is that of mobile travel guide for a specific destination. As an example, last summer I vacationed in Yosemite National Park and found the Chimani Yosemite National Park app very useful. Like all of these types of apps, there’s a great deal of information, including photos and video that you can take advantage of. This particular app features an audio tour and an up-to-date guide to events. As photographers, we found the sunrise/sunset times plus tips on the various scenic points very useful. The GPS-enabled map (which does not require a cell or WiFi connection) allowed for detailed zoom and provided information on all of the hiking trails in the park.

In short, GPS applications can assist you with the details of your trip and also help you pass the time when you need to. If you have a particular interest or hobby that you enjoy or want a destination travel guide in your pocket, search for it in the App Store.

You never know what you’ll find!

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2013

• AZ FUN FACTS

Marty Robbins State historian Marshall Trimble on one of America’s great country music legends.

ONE EVENING IN the spring of 1980 I was attending an event at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. I stepped into an empty elevator at a nearby hotel, and following right on my bootheels was the legendary country-and-western singer Marty Robbins. I’ve always been respectful of privacy when it comes to celebrities, so I fixed my attention on the toes of my boots.

Suddenly, a face peered up at me from beneath the brim of my hat.

“Hi, I’m Marty Robbins,” he said, offering his hand. I hesitated a moment and then blurted, “Yes sir, I know, and I know your wife’s name is Marizona because she was born in Maricopa County, Arizona.” “How’d you know that?” he asked. “I’m an Arizona historian and I know that stuff.” I replied. He said, “Let’s go have some dinner.”

Over dinner, he told me all about his early years working in the bars around Phoenix and how he came to write his most famous song. I’d always heard that the friendly and approachable Marty Robbins was the most popular entertainer ever to perform at the storied Grand Ole Opry, and now I knew why. They say he never left the stage area until everybody had a chance to come up and shake his hand. He was an American original: a singer, a songwriter, a movie star, a NASCAR driver, and an all-around good guy all rolled into one.

Marty was born Martin David Robinson on Sept. 26, 1925, in Glendale. He grew up poor in a family of nine children, living along the Santa Fe railroad tracks. He worked at odd jobs like herding goats and bustin’ wild broncs to help out the family. He dropped out of high school in 1942, joined the Navy, and spent the war years in the Solomon Islands.

During downtime, he learned to play guitar and began writing songs.

After the war, he returned home, worked construction jobs during the day, and sang with local bands in bars and nightclubs around Phoenix at night. He also changed his name to Marty Robbins. Before long,

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he had his own local radio and television shows.

In 1951, Marty was signed by Columbia Records and got his big break the following year singing on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

His perfect pitch and voice range made him one of country

music’s most versatile performers. During the 1950s, he had a number of top hits including “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation” and “Singing the Blues.”

In 1959, he recorded his signature song, “El Paso,” and it won a coveted Grammy Award, the first country-and-western song to win such recognition. The song became number one on both pop and country charts and marked the beginning of bridging the gap between the two music fields. Marty got the idea for “El Paso” in 1955 when driving through that city on his way to a family gathering in Texas. Two years later, passing through again, the song took shape as he visualized a Western melodrama about a young cowboy who fell in love with a Mexican girl in a dive in El Paso called Rosa’s Cantina. A cafe in Glendale where he used to hang out called Rosa’s Cafe inspired the name. (He didn’t know it, but there actually

was a saloon in El Paso around the turn of the century called Rosa’s Cantina.) When he reached Phoenix 10 hours later, he was ready to write. The song took only a few minutes to complete.

Marty Robbins had 18 number-one hits but is best remembered for “El Paso.” The folks in that Texas town were so grateful that they named a park and recreational center after him. A plaque honors him at the city’s international airport.

“El Paso” was taken from his Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs album, which was followed up with More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. The second album won a Grammy in 1961 for Best Country and Western Album. Both albums remain cowboy-music classics to this day.

Marty received many awards and honors, including being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975 and selected for Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. He was also an avid race-car driver, driving in 35 NASCAR races with six top10 finishes. In 1983, NASCAR honored him by naming the annual race at Nashville the “Marty Robbins 420.”

Marty died on Dec. 8, 1982, at the age of 57 from complications following open-heart surgery. On the day of his death, the clouds over normally dry El Paso opened up and shed tears over the passing of one of America’s great country-music legends.

2013

• ART & CULTURE

Kids More than Welcome!

Julie Carlson explores The Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM of Phoenix is an educational hands-on place for kids to get out of the grueling heat and have fun running around this summer.They can start right away with the massive Schuff-Perini Climber, a gigantic treehouse-like structure made from recycled fencing, ramps, steps, and beams located just around the corner from entrance and admissions. The climber is just one of over 300 play experiences that the museum boasts as an innovative way for children to learn through doing.

The building that houses the museum is located in the heart of downtown Phoenix near Chase Field and Heritage Park and was once known as the historic Monroe School Building, which operated as the largest elementary school west of the Mississippi (1913 to 1972).

When the school closed its doors, the city of Phoenix was eager to get the coveted property back. But in 1998, a small group of volunteers who had founded the Phoenix Family Museum set in motion their own plans for the building.

In 2001, Phoenix voters approved the $10.5 million in bond funds to purchase and partially restore the school as the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.Throughout the years, more funds were raised, and renovation plans continued until the museum opened its doors to the public in 2008.

The 48,000-square-foot facility has three floors geared toward five core areas of service: arts and culture, early learning through play, health and wellness, environmental awareness and stewardship, and cultivating tolerance and understanding. Throughout the museum, children’s laughter and excitement of participation in activities greet visitors every step of the way. The building is disability accessible and provides a safe and secure environment that children can explore freely.

The museum’s target audience is children up to 10 years of age, and the highly educational activities are designed to get parents and caregivers involved in the experience. Museum staff, whose backgrounds include art and psychology, are on hand at all the exhibit and play areas to assist, answer questions, and monitor activities.

Some of the most popular areas include the Art Studio, where craft themes rotate weekly and youngsters can paint on largescale rocket ships or castles; Building Big, a cool place where kids can let their imaginations run wild in the forts they create; The Market, where children can “grocery-shop” by selecting foods from different cultures; Pedal Power, where kids ride tricycles through a small car wash; and Whoosh, a large plastic piping system that shoots out colorful scarves high up through its other end by use of air pressure.

One of the things the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is known for is the Noodle Forest. Green Styrofoam noodles are suspended from the rafters and form a thrilling maze for kids to run through and find their way to the other side. If

of the bigger-kid patrons.These areas are especially fabulous for first-time parents.

As you walk through the building, you can imagine the sounds of former Monroe School pupils running through the halls. In the museum’s Crave Sandwich Café, blackand-white photos of former students hang on banners, and artwork inspired by Monroe alum Jackson Pollock are there to appreciate.

Each month, the museum hosts a different theme for the calendar year. June is Safety Month, with programs on topics that deal with heat, desert, water, and helmet safety. July focuses on literacy and education; through activities such as storytelling, reading, and focusing on children’s authors, the museum hopes it will spark little ones to get ready for school. The

The Noodle Forest is made of Styrofoam noodles suspended from the rafters and forms a maze for kids to run through.

The building that houses the museum is located in the heart of downtown Phoenix near Chase Field and Heritage Park and was once known as the historic Monroe School Building.

little ones need a breather, they can relax in the Book Loft.There are also special areas designed for the 3-and-under crowd that are perfect for exploring the senses and staying safely out of the way

museum also offers over a variety of 500 educational programs during the year—the presentation of important aspects of diet and food, taught by the employees on Phoenix Children’s Hospital, is one such timely program.

Since its opening, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix has had 1.3 million visitors, and around 300,000 people visit annually. This includes the 5,000 member families and students on field trips who comprise 20 percent of the guests. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays except for select holidays in June, July, and August. Every first Friday of the month is free.

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is located at 215 N. 7th Street, Phoenix. If you’re interested in checking out what the museum has to offer, call (602) 253-0501 or visit their website at childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.

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The Market, where children can “grocery-shop” by selecting foods from different cultures.

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2013

• SPORTS

Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner aims to win

Mercury coach Corey Gaines reviews play with the team.

Sportswriter Michael Torres talks with Phoenix Mercury coach Corey Gaines about adding game changer Brittney Griner to the team.

Photos courtesy of Barry Gossage/Phoenix Mercury ON APRIL 15, the Phoenix Mercury selected Brittney Griner as the number-one overall pick in the WNBA Draft after the team won the draft lottery and got to select the best player for their team. Although the Mercury looked at other options, it was clear to them that their best choice was the game-changing Griner. The 6-foot-8-inch center out of Baylor was a transcendent player at the collegiate level,

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averaging over 22 points per game, recording 748 blocks, and setting a record with 18 dunks during her college career. Now dunking in the desert, Griner has the potential to change not only the fortunes of the Mercury but also the entire WNBA. Griner, of course, cannot succeed by herself in the league.

Championship-winning head coach Corey Gaines and a healthy Mercury squad will be looking for her to help them get back to the top of the WNBA. In turn, they’ll help her become the best player she can be. Gaines, who incorporates a fast-paced style of offense into his coaching style, has never truly had a player who can play the post position the way Griner does.

“It’s another piece to our system, which should just make us better,” he says.

Gaines inherited his uptempo coaching style from former Mercury head coach Paul Westhead, under whose lead he played at Loyola Marymount.

It’s Gaines’s vast knowledge of this style of play that makes the idea of Griner in Phoenix interesting. She’s an excellent passer and rebounder, and this assures Gaines that she’ll fit in just fine with the team.

“The beginning of the fast tempo is a rebounding outlet,” Gaines says. “Rebounding is the lost art of what starts the fast break, and I think people forget about that.”

Griner is definitely a prolific rebounding outlet, and it’s evident in her stature. The Houston, Texas, native is a dominant physical presence, Along with her height, Griner has a wingspan of 88 inches, or 7 feet 4 inches. Her standing one-arm reach is 9 feet 2 inches, and she wears a men’s 17 shoe.

Griner shoots a high percentage from the field and at the free-throw line.These are talents

that will be enhanced once she steps on the court with Mercury veterans and past WNBA champions like DeWanna Bonner, Candice Dupree, Diana Taurasi, and Penny Taylor. These veteran players lead an established group that’s ready to win now with the addition of Griner.

“It’s not like she’s coming to a team [that’s] saying, ‘Save us,’” Gaines says. “She’s coming to a team where we say, ‘Let’s get better and add to the mix.’”

One of those veterans looking to have a better season than last year is none other than Taurasi, who was plagued with injuries during most of 2012. Taurasi, once a number-one overall pick herself and a true leader, will help Griner succeed early. Gaines acknowledges that that's an excellent characteristic to have in the locker room.

“If you know Diana well, the one thing people say about her is she makes other players better,” Gaines says.

Despite only being a rookie, Griner’s talents have garnered so

Griner gets one of her famous dunks in.

much attention throughout her college career that NBA owner Mark Cuban commented in April that he would consider drafting her into his Dallas Mavericks franchise. Although the WNBA is one of the highest forms of competition, Gaines sees Cuban’s comments as a compliment and a testament to how far along the women’s game has come.

“I think as a whole, the WNBA takes it as a compliment,” he says.

Fans attending Mercury games this season will continue to see a high-paced offense led by the likes of Taurasi and other Phoenix veterans, and they’ll also see Griner come into her own in the WNBA. Gaines believes that Griner hasn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg of what she can do offensively. Once she does, though, teams will have to look out for the Phoenix Coach Corey Gaines has high Mercury. hopes for the Phoenix Mercury.

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2013

â&#x20AC;˘ STAYCATIONS

Summer Escapes Near or far, here are some exciting spots to discover this season

By Brooke Bailor

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Pool at the Four Seasons

SENSATIONAL STAYCATIONS Family Fun Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., Scottsdale (480) 515-5700

Four Seasons Premier Casita Room

Outdoor view

Embrace the desert and its summer glory in a luxurious setting away from it all. The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers guests casual comfort, renowned personal service, a scenic location, and temperatures up to 10 degrees cooler than the Valley below. Perfect for families looking for affordable luxury, the resort has summer rates beginning at $139 per night through August 31. Guests can enjoy a complimentary cocktail reception every Friday night, and children will enjoy movie and dinner during Pajama Jam movie night at the Kids for All Seasons Program while parents relax over a meal together in Talavera or the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American canteen, Proof. Everyone can kick back with a weekend breakfast buffet at Proof, featuring a Bloody Mary bar, and relax at the refreshing pool with such amenities as complimentary cabanas, smoothie samples, and fruit kebabs. fourseasons.com/Scottsdale

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Talking Stick Casino

Vegas-style Excitement Talking Stick Resort 9800 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale (866) 877-9897 Gear up for summer excitement with a quick vacation to the Valley’s premier Vegas-style Talking Stick Resort. This luxurious resort offers mega-entertainment under its roof— you can choose from among the 240,000-square-foot casino (one of the largest in Arizona), the 25,000-square-foot Salt River Ballroom featuring big-name headliner concerts, the TSR Showroom—an intimate spot for shows and live performances, the happening pool, and the championship golf course. If you’re looking for entertainment to perk up your weekdays or punctuate your weekends, Talking Sticks’ nonstop live music, Vegas-style shows, 24/7 casino action, mouth-watering restaurant fare, and comfortable guest rooms offer a bang for your summer bucks. talkingstickresort.com

Relax inside a cabana at Talking Stick

Las Posadas

Close-to-Home Getaway Las Posadas 26 Avenida De Piedras, Sedona (928) 284-5288

Las Posadas bedroom suite

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Take a short hour’s drive to breathtaking Sedona to enjoy a leisurely weekend amid the brilliant red and orange sandstone formations surrounding the area. Las Posadas of Sedona, a boutique inn, is a 20-suite property with three grand villas that offer a luxurious and private respite from the hustle and bustle of a Valley workweek. Las Posadas is ideal for romantic getaways, wedding accommodations, family reunions, and “girls” weekends, with the perfect combination of privacy and service to keep your stay feeling intimate and all your own. Uniquely positioned steps away from one of Arizona’s finest Mediterranean restaurants and Sedona Golf Resort, Las Posadas’ gracious hosts assure that your stay will be pleasantly memorable.

Another plus: The inn just unveiled a sparkling new pool in June. lasposadasofsedona.com

ay and r’s D athe F s i Th Card ’s Gift Buy a V hirt

E E R F S A n V’s T

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Opus Hut

Cool Awaycation OPUS HUT San Juan County Rd. 8, Ophir, Colorado (970) 708-0092 OPUS HUT Looking for a vacation unlike any other—one where you can escape all the clutter of the daily grind? Head to the OPUS Hut, a rare natural experience nestled high in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. OPUS is a completely self-sufficient, off-the-grid lodge that boasts some of the country’s most spectacular mountain surroundings and all the amenities you need when the sun goes down. Swim and fish in the crisp waters of alpine lakes, mountain-bike the rugged roads and trails, or just relax and enjoy sunny decks and a wood-fired sauna. The OPUS Hut comes equipped with solar powered electricity and hot water, two wood-burning stoves, indoor composting toilets, and plumbing. During the summer months, services and events at the hut include meditation instruction and retreats, massage therapy, plein air painting, photography workshops, and yoga instruction. opushut.com

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Contemplative walk through a meadow at the foot of a mountain

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Hiking view from the Hut

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2013

• BARN DOOR STORY

Salvaged Treasure

Porter Barn Wood founder Thomas Porter and fellow woodworker Bjorn Olson (at left) among a barnful of possibilities.

Centuries-old barns get reimagined and reused in unique ways by Valley artist and entrepreneur Thomas Porter.

By Sondra Barr Photos by Mark Susan Porter makes beautiful use of wood grain in his projects.

RECLAIMED WOOD HOLDS a mystique for 31-year-

old Phoenix resident and artisan Thomas Porter, who considers this timeless medium a unique way to artistically merge the old and new. His inspiration comes from 200-year-old barns in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa that he has taken apart and shipped to Phoenix for his company, Porter Barn Wood.

The wood from these venerable structures is then reimagined and reused in local commercial building projects and personal residences.

“I love the nostalgia barns represent,” says 50

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Porter. Wood in its roughest condition is an inspiration for him—he sees the possibilities for its transformation into something unique and functional, like a table, a countertop, a door, a wall, or a bench. He sells a majority of the wood he ships in to contractors, architects, and designers for use in a variety of projects, including Bourbon Jacks in Chandler, Handlebar in Tempe, Union Biltmore in Phoenix, and Sedona Wine and Beer in Sedona, but it’s

the custom woodworking projects Porter has a hand in that really fire up his creative spirit.

Porter grew up watching shows like New Yankee Workshop and This Old House while honing his artistic and woodworking skills.

“I’ve been woodworking since I was a child,” he says. “My grandfather used to have a small shop in his garage, and I always admired how he could build whatever he felt like.”

The idea for the business came about from

Porter calls this project a Four States Door, with wood from barns in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Michigan, and put together here in Arizona.

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helping some friends who’d brought salvaged wood out to Phoenix after disassembling a barn back East. Since Porter was the only one they knew who had a forklift, they enlisted his help to offload the shipment. With an eye on the ever-growing movement toward green and sustainable products, Porter had a feeling that there was an untapped market for reclaimed wood in Arizona––hence the creation of Porter Barn Wood.

“My background is in art, and I love to build new and creative things,” he says. It’s a skill that has developed into an organic, naturalflowing aesthetic that lends itself well to working with the unique properties of reclaimed wood.

One of Porter’s favorite reclaimed materials to work with is mushroom wood, which is taken from barns where mushrooms are grown.

He explains that the mushroom enzymes eat at a wood’s surface and create an individual texture and look that is unlike anything most people have seen. Depending on the project, Porter will mix mushroom wood with other types of salvaged wood for a multitextured design that is equal parts rustic and modern, like the custom sliding door he

Salvaged wood has a unique look coveted by many architects, contractors, and designers.

recently built and installed in a Phoenix home office.

Along with fellow woodworker and friend Bjorn Olson, Porter offers customers as much or as little involvement in their project as desired. Some people

“

My grandfather used to have a small shop in his garage, and I always admired how he could build whatever he felt like.

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”

outside their price range, but when they consider the history behind the piece and the time and effort required to make it a reality, they soon realize the value of something so timeless that c annot be duplicated or mass produced.

It seems that the local market is catching on to the Thomas Porter installed a custom sliding benefits of utilizdoor made of a mixture of different types of salvaged wood for this Phoenix home office. ing a product that’s not only environmentally friendly but uniquely come to him armed with designs beautiful as well. Porter’s busiin hand, ready to tackle building ness has been brisk, and his bigsomething themselves, and others gest challenge is staying stocked consult with Porter so that he and with reclaimed wood. “There Olson can create a personalized aren’t many old barns left, and concept and design based on a clipeople aren’t in a hurry to tear ent’s specific project. Since Porthem down,” he explains. Even ter Barn Wood has an in-house so, he says that the folks he does blacksmith,they can handle many buy old barns from are invariably projects from start to finish. overjoyed that there’s a new place Just about anything can be (and market) for their history to crafted out of salvaged wood, incontinue. cluding beds, cabinets, flooring, walls,and lighting fixtures,and for To learn more about Thomas a lot less than one would expect.

Porter and Porter Barn Wood, According to Porter, some people visit porterbarnwood.com. may think that a custom piece is

2013

• V'S BARBERSHOP FEATURE

Barbershops: First Steps in the Rite of Passage A place for a boy among men to ponder his journey into adulthood. It’s a guy thing!

By Emily Brown that there once was a time when a cowboy could ride into any town and, spending less than a dollar, be welcomed into a barbershop and transformed with a bath, a haircut, a straightedge shave, and a boot shine? This happened more often than not back in the late 1800s. At the turn of the century, barbershops even outnumbered saloons in most Western towns! Barbershops were a local common ground, with weather reports, town gossip, employment-opportunity postings, or even a possible date arranged. It was a slower day and age.

Barbers and barbershops have evolved over hundreds of years from surgeons to wigmakers, dentists, and even bartenders. With a public outcry over possibly contagious diseases, we have watched this union of professional men and women change and adapt to the laws passed, which have evolved to govern their trade over the years. One thing has remained true: The barbershop has always been a little bit of heaven for a man, a place to relax, to become healed and whole again. A place for a boy among men to ponder his journey into adulthood. It’s a guy thing!

V’s Barbershop was one of the first shops in the country to bring back the authentic DID YOU KNOW

barbershop and capture this timeless experience again by combining a mix of modern amenities and classic style for both men and boys. V’s offers a variety of menu options that include high-quality haircuts, straight-razor shaves, men’s facials, face massages, moustache and beard trims, and shoeshines.

“When we opened V’s at Arcadia in 1999, clean, upscale barbershops were rare,” says Jim Valenzuela, aka Mr. V, who opened the business.“A couple existed in Manhattan, but certainly none in the West. Our timing was great, because men had just started to pamper themselves. I did not think we would do many shaves, and was I wrong in my forecast! We now do tens of thousands of shaves annually and helped bring straightedge shaves and the barbershop experience as a whole back to a level that is second to none.”

And if you think that Mr. V has stepped back from the business details in any way over the last 15 years, you’d be wrong. He shined shoes at that Arcadia location and still has many new barbers perform their first shave on himself.

“I love this business,” he adds. “V’s will always provide a n e n v i ro n m e n t where getting a great haircut or a traditional hot-lather shave also means building great memories for men and their sons. It is the core of our business.”

Since 1999, V ’s Barbershop has captured the timeless, authentic barbershop experience by

combining a rich mix of modern amenities and classic style. Today, V’s has eight locations around Phoenix and has expanded into states across the country, including California, Texas, Indiana, Missouri, Washington, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Georgia.

To learn more, visit vbarbershop.com.

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2013

• FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Father’s Day Gift Guide Dad got enough ties and barbecue aprons?

Give him one of these 10 bargain-to-splurge gifts!

Joystick-It Transport your Dad back to his youth with a suction-cup joy stick and watch as he dominates iPad downloads of Packman and Space Invaders. $12. thinkgeek.com

Sportcraft Fire Ball Toss Light up your Dad’s eyes with a glow-in-the-dark ball and LED-lit baskets so the game can go back and forth all night long. $13. target.com

Sagaform Hamburger Press Add this simple and practical tool into your Dad’s grilling arsenal and watch his eyes light up at the thought of wowing everyone with his burger-making prowess. $14.95. amazon.com

CharacterArt Prints Bring out your Dad’s inner man-child with one of 25 different übercool superhero prints. $14.95 each or two for $24.95. studiopictor.com

A Clean Shave There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned barbershop haircut and straight-razor shave to make Dad feel like a man.

From $21. vbarbershop.com

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Power Cup Gadget Charger

100th-Anniversary EvoWood Swiss Army Knife This limited-edition walnut version of the classic tool is a handy reminder of just how manly Dad really is. $59. llbean.com

Power up Dad’s devices with this cleverly designed power inverter for the car that fits in a cup holder and can power three devices at once. $49.95. redenvelope.com

Ravi Ratan Star Wars 4 GB Flash Drive Cuff Links The Force will be with your Dad when he wears these Ravi Ratan Star Wars 4 GB Flash Drive Cuff Links that double as portable storage. $200. nordstrom.com

Diamondback Overdrive Mountain Bike Dad will blaze his own path with the rock-crawling, root-crushing power he’ll get from the Diamondback Overdrive Mountain Bike. $479.99. dickssportinggoods.com

Lego Farnsworth House Take your Dad’s secret Lego-building habit to a more refined level with this display-worthy mini Mies van der Rohe replica. $60. lego.com

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2013

• ENTREPRENEUR

Popularity Rules Publishers Adam and Matthew Toren offer six practical tips for building a successful blog.

YOUR BUSINESS IS thriving. You’ve managed to stay ahead of the competition. But staying on top requires a strong and consistent connection to your audience (i.e., your current and potential customers). While a blog offers an excellent forum to build this relationship, it seems everyone’s got one—or more. Like stars in the sky, there are now so many blogs vying for eyeballs, with thousands upon thousands more coming online daily, that creating a successful blog (translation: one that people actually read and come back to) takes skill and a whole lot of proverbial elbow grease.

Whether you haven’t set foot into the blogging atmosphere or you’re a blogging veteran, know this: Building and maintaining a hightraffic blog can be a daunting and anxietyinducing task even for the most highly successful and productive of individuals. Yet surprisingly, building a popular blog comes down to a few simple, elemental steps:

•

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ADDRESS TOPICS YOU’RE

regularly go off on tangents involving too many topics and issues that don’t support the main purpose of your blog.

Again, simplicity rules. Be concise and stay under 500 words so you don’t lose your readers’ interest.

PASSIONATE ABOUT

Now that you have an idea of where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, ditch the ho-hum and tackle concepts that get you fired up and, more importantly, help fulfill your goals. Chances are that your passion will excite your readers and incite them to get emotionally invested in what you’re writing about, making it more likely for them to comment and share your blog with their circle of influence.

•

•

•

STAY ON TRACK

Don’t stray too far from your original thesis. You’ll lose your audience if you

BE ORIGINAL

Develop your own voice. In a world of homogeneity, a blog is your space to let the real you shine. No one wants to spend time reading a rehash of every other blog that touches on your topic.

Readers latch on to originality and personality, so don’t fear being creative and blogging with flair.

KEEP IT POSITIVE

Remember these words: simple and authentic. Drop all hints of pretension and garrulity and write with an eye toward inspiring your readers. Everyone wants to feel good and be a part of a bigger, brighter future.

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE AND HAVE GOALS

You wouldn’t expect to successfully complete a marathon without setting training goals and milestones. The same concept applies to building a successful blog. Think about what you

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want to gain from blogging. Increased profits? Visibility to new customers and partnerships? Whatever you expect to gain, home in on what you’re looking to achieve and create a realistic roadmap to get you there.

•

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

In the business world, we often hear “You’re only as good as your last sale.”

The same theory applies to blogging.

You need to constantly create and post interesting content to give your audience a reason to come back—and offer them a reason to bring their friends along next time. So dedicate yourself to blogging regularly, say three times a week. You might not see an instant response, but if you hang in there, results you hope for are inevitable.

2013

• GOLF

The Perfect Draw Golf professional Scott Sackett offers tips on how to negotiate a tricky shot. starts just right of target and gracefully works (draws) back to the target is a thing of true beauty. (Please note: These tips apply to right-handed golfers) The perfect draw is a shot every player wants to consistently be able to hit. With the following knowledge and help golf radar-technology TrackMan provides (visit my website and click on the TrackMan button to learn more), you will now have an understanding of how to pull this shot off (as illustrated by picture 1.)

First, you’ll need to grasp the importance and relationship of clubface and path. In each image, the red shaft, arrow, and/or circle represent where the clubface is pointing at impact. The blue shaft, line, and/or circle illustrate the path of the golf club through impact.

With an iron, the direction the clubface is pointing at impact is responsible for 75 percent of where the ball starts. With a driver or fairway wood, the clubface dictates 85 percent of the ball’s starting direction. Thus, it’s fair to say that if you want to hit a draw where the ball starts right, the clubface actually needs to be open at impact (shown by the red arrow in the second image). A positive face angle of 1.0, as illustrated by the number inside the red circle, will give you a ball that starts right of target, just as a negative face angle or shut clubface will give you a ball that starts left of target.

Club path—the blue line—and not the clubface is responsible for the curvature of the golf ball. In order to hit a shot that starts right and curves left back to target, the club path of the golf club needs to be moving farther out to the right from where the clubface is pointing at impact (notice where the blue line through the golf ball is going in relation to the red arrow). In this example, the club path is 2.7 degrees to the right, and you have a face angle of only 1.0 degree to the right.This gives us a club path that’s pointing farther to the right than the clubface is. The yellow circle in the image above is face to path. Here’s a simple calculation that tells us which way

A BALL THAT

the ball will curve: A negative face to path will curve the ball left, and a positive face to path will curve it right. A 1.0-degree face angle minus a path of 2.7 degrees equals a face to path of 1.7 degrees, giving us the resulting ball flight (pink line) of right to left. This next part is the key distinction to make: The clubface is open to the target line but closed to the club path. For a right-handed player, a clubface that’s closed to the club path will move right to left, and one that’s open to the club path will move left to right (the opposite would hold true for a left-handed player).

So, next time you find yourself wanting to hit that tight draw starting right, remember this: For a ball to start right of target, the clubface needs to be open to the target line and the club path (movement of the golf club through impact) needs to be moving farther to the right than where the clubface is pointing.

Follow me on twitter @Scott_Sackett and Like Scott Sackett Golf on Facebook to

Picture 1

keep up to date on all my contests, tips, and articles. Be sure to look in between next issue, where I cover how to hit the perfect fade.

Scott Sackett has been a “Golf ” Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 1999 and was recently voted as one of “Golf Digest’s” Best Teacher in the State for the fifth year in a row. He is also director of instruction at Park Meadows Country Club in Park City, Utah. While in the Valley, he teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. If you would like to reach Scott, you can contact him through his website at scottsackett.com.

Picture 2 *This explanation is assuming center contact. Also, both face and path are measured in relation to the target line JUNE | JULY 2013

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2013

• AUTO TRENDS

Smooth Operator Auto expert Greg Rubenstein reviews the 2013 Luxury Lexus LS460 F Sport.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, sedans

that cost upward of six figures should be pretty much perfect.

Excluding the low-volume and extremely high-dollar marques, including Bentley or Rolls-Royce, these luxury four-door cars are as good as it gets, offering a superb blend of ride comfort, performance, and technology you would expect in a vehicle costing more than some homes.

While the options out of Germany— Mercedes-Benz S class, BMW 7 series, and Audi A8—garner the lion’s share of status sales, the Lexus LS has captured a solid segment of buyers since its 1990 debut. Over the years and now into its fourth generation, the primary knock against the LS has been that it’s too serene, precluding all sense of connectivity between driver and outside environment. In standard trim, that assessment is well founded; the LS460 sets the benchmark for a quiet, supple ride bereft of all passion. It’s the epitome of the auto as appliance.

Fortunately for Lexus and the buying public alike, there is the F Sport option, available

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as an add-on to any LS model, be it rear- or all-wheel-drive, long-wheelbase L, or hybrid.

For 2013, the F Sport package consolidates various performance parts and pieces, some of which have been previously available, into an option that essentially creates a new model.

The $12,000-and-change F Sport package enhances both visual and driving character.

Gone is the nondescript silhouette, numb steering, and dislocation from all road feel.

The tested LS460 F Sport rear-wheel drive boasts an aggressive exterior styling thanks to a dedicated new front bumper, distinct upper and lower grilles, and a purposeful rear diffuser. Inside, the unique F Sport seats are heavily bolstered, and the leather steering wheel with paddle shifters helps makes the most of variable gear-ratio steering, driveradjustable sport-tuned air suspension, limited slip rear differential, six-piston brake calipers, and high-performance tires mounted to gorgeous 19-inch forged alloy wheels from BBS. With a base MSRP of $71,990, the $85,000 as-tested LS460 F Sport undercuts comparably equipped German rivals by at least $10,000. It’s an all-around superior drive until stacked up against Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW M, or Audi S/RS performance models, which are substantially more expensive.

Driving the LS460 F Sport with its 19-speaker, 450-watt surround-sound audio system and in Sport S+ mode (from the driver-selectable options of ECO, normal, comfort, Sport S and Sport S+), acceleration is brisk, reaching 60 mph from a standstill in about 5.5 seconds. Shifts from the eightspeed automatic are exceptionally crisp, and downshifts are rev-matched, which allows for performance and smoothness. Braking is secure, and cornering is flat and stable, feeling more nimble than its 4,365-pound curb weight might suggest.

The LS460 F Sport offers a full complement of safety and technology features.

Of particular innovation among its safety advances are a pre-collision- and collisionavoidance system, which will automatically intervene in case of imminent collision and also has the capability to bring the vehicle to a full stop without driver intervention.

Among its technology standouts is a center-console 12.3-inch display screen with multifunction mouse controller. This isn’t unique among luxury vehicles, but its ease of use and redundant controls on the console and steering wheel make it among the easiest to learn and most intuitive to use.

The Lexus flagship is an exceptional car ready to serve its owner with smooth performance and superb comfort. Whether your desire is for ultimate isolation or complete engagement, there is an LS to meet your needs. You owe yourself a test drive to experience it in person.

2013

• HEALTH

The Power of Naps: How a Light Snooze Can Improve Your Health

By Diana Bocco for kids. In fact, experts believe that most adults could use a little napping and would benefit greatly from it.

Napping can improve mood, alertness, motor dexterity, and judgment, according to Dr. Lubna Javed, a Las Vegas board-certified physician specializing in family medicine and sleep medicine. “It can also give you a burst of alertness and boost energy, enhance creativity, and help make up for the sleep debt from sleep deprivation,” Javed says.

Sound appealing? Keep reading to find out how else napping can benefit you and how to do it right.

NAPS AREN’T JUST

Wake-Up Call: Napping Can Be Good for You Research has shown that people who don’t get enough quality sleep will have greater negative side effects when under stress, says Dr. Robert Oexman, the director of the Sleep to Live Institute in Joplin, Mo. “Stress is a normal part of life, and we can only control our reaction to stress—and our reaction to stressful events can be altered depending on whether we’re fatigued or well rested,”he says.

If you’re exhausted, your ability to handle stress is going to be a lot poorer than if you’re well rested. Also, being exhausted makes you more explosive, more prone to depression, and more likely to exaggerate any negative information you receive.

Then there’s the direct benefit to your heart.

According to Oexman, people who do not get the quantity and quality of sleep they need are more prone to heart disease. “That’s because when people don’t get the sleep they need, they have higher levels of inflammation in the body, which can increase the risk of heart disease,” Oexman says.

Napping Done Right According to Javed, 85 percent of mammals are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep for short periods of time. A good example would be your dog, who seems to constantly

be napping and waking up to ensure that he doesn’t miss out on anything important going on around him. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic, meaning that they have two distinct phases: sleep and wakefulness.

In simple words, this means that napping at the wrong time or for too long can backfire.

Oexman adds that naps should be less than 20 minutes long. “Any nap longer than 20 minutes can allow you to get into deeper stages of sleep, which will make you feel less refreshed when you wake up,” he says. People who work a normal work shift (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and sleep 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. should nap sometime in the early afternoon, around 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.“This time after lunch correlates with a normal drop in our circadian rhythm, which makes most people a little prone to sleepiness after lunch,” Oexman says.

Oexman adds that for those who find it difficult to wake up after a 20-minute nap, it might be a good idea to sleep in an area with some light, which will reduce the likelihood of getting into a deeper sleep and increase the ease of waking up.

One word of caution from Oexman: Don’t

nap on the couch in the evening while watching TV. This will make it harder for you to get to sleep when you really need to—at the end of your day.

FIVE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL NAPPING 1Plan naps according to the time of day short naps; keep them to around 2Take 10 to 30 minutes long. best times to nap are in the 3The midafternoon, at the lowest level of alertness, or after a meal. the right nap environment— 4Create keep the room dark, stay warm, and have minimal distractions.

5Time your caffeine intake.

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2013

• BEAUTY

Summer Can Be a Hair-Raising Time!

Three essential solutions to help your hair look soft and shiny when it’s hot outside.

By Diana Bocco WELCOME TO SUMMER. A

time of golden tans, longer days, and—ruined hair?

Unfortunately, summer can be more than unkind to your hair. Unless you take the necessary precautions, you’ll end up with frizzy, dried-up hair. And those sun-kissed highlights?

They’re actually your hair oxidizing as a reaction to the light–– and oxidization means dry and weak tresses.

“The hair is born with 89 percent keratin,6 percent moisture, and the rest vitamins and minerals,” says local celebrity stylist Amy Freudenberg, who has styled the hair of top celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Angela Lansbury. “The environment you live in can strip the hair of these components, resulting in dry, stringy hair.

The solution? A simple but effective regimen of hair care can help you fight the effects of summer and the heat while keeping your hair looking soft and shiny.

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize Hair needs moisture to prevent drying out. Freudenberg recommends using a hair-care product to add moisture and protect against harmful rays before heading outside. Moisturizing is especially important if you’re going to be taking a dip in the pool. Freudenberg advises using specialty products you can spray into your hair before hitting the pool to add moisture and UV protection. “This will keep chlorine out, which is a good thing because chlorine will fade hair color and strip hair of essential moisture,” she explains.

For best results, Freudenberg recommends using a cream leave-in conditioner with thermal and UV protection built in.

“This will prevent frizz and healthy hair becoming dehydrated hair,” she says. “Mixing a keratin or protein deep conditioner with a moisture treatment is a great cocktail idea.”

And for added benefits, retire your hair dryer during the summer months. “Try to air-dry hair during summer days as well, or don’t wash for a couple of days, especially if you are living in an extremely hot climate,” Freudenberg says.

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2. Add Some UV Protection Your skin is not the only part of your body that needs protection from harmful rays. Hair-care products that contain UV or added UVC protection are key to maintaining the health of your hair and retaining moisture, according to Freudenberg.

Also, lack of UV protection will cause color to fade faster, so this is especially important if you treat your hair chemically on a regular basis. “I recommend a spray type, not a cream leave-in conditioner for when you’re outside in summertime, simply because of the convenience of just misting and going,” Freudenberg says.

3. Go Easy on Chemicals You don’t have to let your roots grow or your gray show during the summer, so by all means, go ahead and keep coloring your hair. But to help during summer’s already drying climate, you might want to choose to go easy on other chemicals and processes, such as straightening. “The added acceleration of chemical services plus the hot drying climate can cause very dry hair,” Freudenberg says.

And if you’re willing to deal with those annoying roots for a little longer than usual, Freudenberg advocates hats, topknots, and braids as great ways for masking overdue color, and they can make you look fashionable, too. “If you can’t lay off the chemical services, make sure you’re using a deep moisture treatment once a week during summer time,” she adds.

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2013

• FITNESS

Personal Trainers: They Make Workouts Work Out! Fitness expert Ted Baird explains why a personal trainer helps people achieve their fitness goals.

“I don’t need a personal trainer. I can work out on my own.” I hear that almost every day from people attempting their own fitness program. The reality is this: A very high percentage of those people who don’t engage a personal trainer or a supervised training system will not achieve their fitness goals.

Many people have a dusty fitness DVD on the shelf or a new pair of jogging shoes that have never made it to the pavement. What about all of those days when you show up at your local community gym, walk around talking to people for an hour, and then simply go home having never worked up a drop of sweat? None of these will ever help you reach your personal fitness goals.

HERE’S WHY YOU MIGHT NEED A PERSONAL TRAINER: ACCOUNTABILITY You should look for a per-

sonal trainer who will hold you accountable to your goals and to your commitment to work out. It’s helpful to have a trainer who’ll call you when you don’t show up.

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Answers to the crossword puzzle on page 35.

Sometimes, the knowledge that you’re going to get a phone call or text from your trainer is all the motivation that your body needs to get out of bed and to the gym!

STRUCTURE A solid fitness program needs

to have a defined structure and system for it to be effective. A personal trainer will have a specific routine for you to follow that moves you toward your personal goals.

This system is a vital piece that allows you to see improvement week by week. If you show up for your workout and your trainer doesn’t have a plan tailored to your needs and ability, get a new trainer!

EXPERTISE Working out with a DVD or

a self-guided system lacks a key component that only an experienced trainer can provide—expertise. There is a reason your trainer goes through hundreds of hours of study and testing to become qualified to be a personal trainer. That education, combined with their experience, creates a level of expertise that gives them the ability to help you focus on your specific fitness needs. A good trainer will help correct poor form, push you to the next level, and help you establish achievable goals, all from the baseline of solid expertise. Trust the expert!

RESULTS When you select a personal trainer or a gym, ask what kind of results they’ve been able to help other clients achieve.

After all, you’re spending hard-earned dollars to get results and not to say “I have a personal trainer.” If your personal trainer can’t quantify results from the other clients, find someone who can. Don’t pay your trainer to be your friend but to be your results motivator!

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CROSSWORD ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Watery summer locations 8 Take a quick swim 10 This museum is a great place to take the kids in Phoenix 12 Oil __ canvas 13 “Far out!” in the 80s 14 Indigenous, of plants 17 Look ahead for the future 19 High exam scores 21 “Summer time, and the livin’ is ____” 22 Luxury sedan 24 Overdone Father’s Day present 25 It is chewed all the time 27 Father’s Day month 29 Much of Arizona has this type of climate 32 Southwest airline ticker symbol 33 East Coast highend resort and residential spot, The _____ 36 Flight board abbr.

37 Have dinner 39 Amigo 40 Places where ships are built

DOWN 1 Red rock area in Arizona 2 Babysitter’s handful 3 Big ___ 4 Blanc’s opposite 5 Row 6 Seas 7 She’s lazy in the kitchen?

9 ___ flash (2 words) 11 Pool lane 15 First digit to try the water 16 Sunrise direction 18 Auto insurer with roadside service 20 Came down a pool chute 22 SEC football team, abbr.

23 Visit 25 New Phoenix Mercury player Brittney 26 AZ neighbor 27 Minty drink 28 Kindle purchase 30 ___ the pool and watched the kids play (2 words) 31 Type of river herring 34 DJ announcing tool 35 Blue 38 __ Eliot (poet)

2013

• RELATIONSHIPS

On the Sidelines Relationship expert Lea Haben offers suggestions for those dealing with divorces.

Dear Readers, Divorce and loss are always painful and devastating, but it’s important to remember that we should not let our pain hurt others. If you or someone you know is going through the process of divorce, it’s important to get professional help.

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE Dear Lea, Hopefully, you can answer this. I am 15, but I do read your column. I am writing to you, as my brother and I are worried about my mom. My mother and father are in the middle of a divorce, and my mom is so mean to dad. My mother has called the police on my dad and said that he was hurting her when he wasn’t, and she calls him the most horrible names. I love my dad very much, and she has made my brother and me get rid of all of our pictures of him.

Mom does everything she can to keep him from seeing us. I am afraid of my mom when she gets this way. I miss my dad terribly, as he is kind and funny. I wish I could say or do something that would make my mom happy again. Please help.

Dear 15, I’m so sorry to hear that you and your brother are caught in the middle of your parent’s divorce. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes grownups make mistakes, too. I don’t know the particulars of your parent’s situation, but I would encourage you to talk to a teacher, a school counselor, or another adult

who can help. You wrote that you read my column, so I suggest that you put this article in a place where your mom can read it too.

Sometimes, adults get so angry and fi xated on their own problems that they forget about the others they affect. I assume you probably have a cell phone like most teenagers, so I would encourage you to keep photos of you and your dad on it. Again—talk to a counselor or a professional, as it sounds as if your mom needs to talk to someone, too. I hope this helps. And remember—it’s OK to talk about it.

DUCK FOR COVER! Dear Lea, I’ve been dating a woman who has been divorced about two years. I like her, but the way she talks about her ex and the nasty things she writes about him on Facebook concern me. She’s been divorced and separated for

over three years, and yet the way she talks, it’s like it happened yesterday. I’ve never met him, but we do have mutual friends who say he is not the creep she portrays him to be. We have been dating for a few months, and the dates start out OK and then we somehow end up talking about her ex—again. I do like this girl, although she seems to run hot and cold.

Your thoughts?

Dear Concerned, I’d run, not walk, to the nearest exit. A woman who is fi xated on an ex after three years is a recipe for disaster. There are usually two sides to every story, and normal people get over it and move on. I am concerned that she can’t let go. You have not mentioned how old this woman is, but a smear campaign on Facebook tells me that she is either immature or emotionally unbalanced. Take your cue and move on before you become her next target.

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2013

• BOOKS

BETWEEN THE PAGES with Julie Carlson

ALEX CROSS, RUN

HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME

DARK DREAMS

By James Patterson

By Kirsten Miller

Xlibris, Corp., July 23, 2012, 112 pages, available in paperback and eBook

Little, Brown and Company, Feb. 18, 2013, 432 pages, available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and eBook

Razorbill, Feb., 21, 2013, 464 pages, available in hardcover and eBook

Best-selling thriller writer James Patterson proves once again with his latest Alex Cross book why he’s number one. This time around, the Washington, D.C., detective and his team investigate a new murder case involving three serial killers. Usually, Cross has to deal with one psychopath on the loose in the nation’s capital, but not so in his latest adventure. As with many of Patterson’s other books, readers know right off the bat who the killers are, and this book is particularly engaging in that the murderers seem to be untouchable. In Alex Cross, Run, two very powerful people—one a plastic surgeon and the other a modeling-agency owner—are killing innocent civilians. And that’s not all—a third killer, angry about an old case, is after Cross. When Cross oversteps his bounds, the police department assigns him to a desk job. Does that stop the invincible detective from capturing the bad guy and protecting his own family? Heck, no! Throughout the novel, readers will feel for their favorite detective as he uncharacteristically sits behind a desk answering phones. Not to worry, though—Cross doesn’t stay put for long and relies on going through back-door channels to catch the bad guys. Once again, the stellar detective and allaround good guy is entering into a dangerous and deadly cat-and-mouse game, and it’s thrilling from start to finish.

Similar to Miller’s Kiki Strike books for tweens, How to Lead a Life of Crime features teen characters who are criminal masterminds. Her latest book is for a much older teen audience; it centers on a young man named Flick who comes from a privileged background but grew up with an abusive father. Because of this and other circumstances, Flick has turned to a life of crime and is living on the streets. He’s cunning, smart, and a fighter, but he’s also vulnerable and has a soft spot for his girlfriend. One day, a mysterious man asks Flick for a favor that turns into an even bigger one: Flick is to enter the prestigious Mandel Academy, a top-secret school devoted to developing the most hardened teens into criminal thieves, hackers, assassins, and ruthless political insiders. The school is like a grown-up version of Hogwarts—instead of devoting itself to wizardry, it teaches juvenile delinquents to be better at their game. Flick wants nothing to do with the school, but he sees an opportunity to risk everything, including his girl, to go after the man who has haunted his life and hurt his family for years—his father. The novel is interesting and definitely unique, but it may leave parents concerned that there’s an underlying message of it being OK to lead a life of crime. Then again, there’s usually a moral to every story, and Miller subtly weaves hers throughout. Despite Flick’s sailorcussing mouth, bent up anger, and criminal ways, he’s someone to root for, and readers will be happy to watch the game and cheer.

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By Alex Knight

Dark Dreams deals with somewhat controversial subject matter—stem cell research in particular.

If you’re interested in reading about cutting-edge research or conspiracy theories surrounding alien landings and abductions in Area 51 in New Mexico, then the book is interesting in that regard.

Knight digs into these myths and the possibility that something else is happening at the top-secret location—breeding hybrids. Dark Dreams is part fiction, part nonfiction, which is confusing at times because both blend into each other without solid transitioning. The story often jumps from sciencetextbook writing to science-fiction novel. There’s also too much telling and not enough showing, not to mention the lack of description and dialogue.

Knight clearly has informed herself about her subject, but the book is very dry reading from a self-published author who usually writes erotica.

Dark Dreams could have been more interesting had it stuck to one type of story and one type of scientific angle instead of trying to fit everything into one novel.

2013

• FLAVOR

WORLD’S BEST MEAT LOAF 2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil 1 sweet yellow onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 lb. ground beef, 85/15 1 lb. ground pork Ω cup cream 3 eggs ∑ cup bread crumbs ∑ cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped 3 tbs. kosher salt 1 tbs. freshly ground black pepper cooking spray 10" x 4" x 3" bread pan (anything similar to this size will work) meat thermometer Preheat an oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium and sweat the onions and the garlic for 4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.

Remove from heat and set aside.

With your stand mixer’s paddle attachment, combine the ground beef and ground pork together. Mix the meats on medium speed for 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add in the remaining ingredients, including the onions and garlic, and mix until combined, about 1 minute.

Liberally spray the pan that will be used for the meat loaf with cooking spray.

Add in the meat loaf mixture to the pan. With a spoon, press the mixture down into the pan to ensure that all of the air pockets are removed.

Place in the center rack of the oven and bake until the meat loaf reaches an internal temperature of 155°F. (You can take the meat loaf out of the oven at 150°F and let it rest for carry-over cooking.)

Let the meat loaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy.

RED-WINE REDUCTION 1 cup red wine 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed Ω sprig rosemary 2 sprigs thyme 2 tsp. black peppercorns, whole 1 tsp. kosher salt 3 tbs. butter, cold Combine all of the ingredients except the butter in a small sauce pan and place over medium heat. When the sauce starts to simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the red wine reduces by half.

When the sauce has reduced, strain out all of the ingredients and transfer the reduced wine to another pan. Turn the pan over medium heat and whisk in the butter. Take off the heat and serve over the meat loaf.

Gourmet Meat Loaf Chef Matthew Grunwald offers a tasty twist to a classic dish.

FEED YOUR SOUL, and do it gourmet style! Honestly, there’s truly nothing better than a delicious, moist meat loaf topped with an exceptional sauce and served alongside the perfect accompaniments. Today, I’m offering you my World’s Best Meat Loaf recipe and, as a tasty bonus, am including a simple twice-baked potato that will make people think you’re a pro. I’ve also described a red-wine-reduction butter sauce served alongside a bundle of roasted baby carrots. It’s a caliber of meat loaf you can order in a fine-dining establishment.

Blended throughout the dish is a thread of fresh herbs that brings this composed meal to a gourmet level. The addition of a few special ingredients like Boursin cheese and, of course, red wine incorporates variant flavor profiles that will excite your palate and leave you hungry for more.

You’ll find that if you follow a few of my tips throughout the recipe and put a bit of love and soul into the dish, perfection can be achieved—easily!

ROASTED BABY CARROTS 1Ω lb. baby carrots, peeled, stems trimmed 4 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil 1 tbs. kosher salt ∑ tbs. freshly ground black pepper 1 tbs. granulated sugar 3 tbs. flat-leaf parsley, chopped 5

Heat an oven to 350°F. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and toss to combine evenly. Transfer the carrots to a baking sheet, making sure to drain off excess oil.

Roast in the oven for 7–10 minutes, until the carrots are tender. Remove and serve hot.

TWICE-BAKED POTATO 4 russet potatoes, washed 1 egg, beaten 1 (5.2 oz) package Boursin cheese 1 bunch chives, chopped 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 tbs. cream Preheat an oven to 350°F. Bake the russet potatoes on the middle rack until fork tender in the center. Remove the potato from the oven and let cool 5 minutes.

While the potato is still warm, cut down its middle and scoop out most of the inside into a bowl. Repeat for all of the potatoes.

Combine the remaining ingredients with the scooped-out potato flesh and mix to combine. Transfer the potato filling to a pastry bag and refill each of the hollowed-out potatoes. When ready to serve, reheat the potatoes in the oven and bake 5–6 minutes until the tops of the potatoes turn golden brown. Serve hot.

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2013

• ADOPT-A-PET

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE

Bryce Bryce is a 3-year-old male Chihuahua mix with a big heart, looking for his forever home. He’s very friendly and well behaved. He’s housetrained and knows a couple of basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “stay.” A pure cuddle bug, Bryce is very low maintenance. He would make a great addition to any family.

Bryce’s adoption fee is $125, which includes his neuter, microchip, and vaccines.

O’Malley O’Malley’s a 1-year-old white-and-orange-point mix. A very sweet lovebug of a cat, he gets along with other felines so well that he’ll often lie next to the other cats in the cattery and groom them. If you’re looking for a superfriendly cat that loves lots of attention, O’Malley’s the cat for you. O’Malley’s adoption fee is $50, which includes his neuter, microchip, and vaccines.

Rain

Grimalkin Grimalkin’s a very sweet grayand-white domestic shorthair.

Gleason Gleason is a 5-year-old dachshund mix who loves people! He’s a goofy boy who just wants attention and will seek it every chance he gets! He gets along with other polite dogs and would make a great addition to any home.

Gleason’s adoption fee is $125, which includes his neuter, microchip, and vaccines.

Grimalkin can seem timid and shy, but his curiosity always shines through. He’d do really well in an easygoing household. Grimalkin is 10 years old but still has a good amount of energy and affection to give.

He loves to get rubs on the top of his head and would be an amazing cat to live with since he has such a kind and charismatic personality. Grimalkin’s adoption fee is $50, which includes his neuter, microchip, and vaccines.

Rain’s a 3-year-old female poodle mix that seems to get along with everyone.

She’s easygoing and calm and loves to just sit by your side and chill out. We don’t think we’ve ever even heard her bark. She’s good on the leash and would be great for going to the local farmers market or on long walks or just lounging around watching TV. Rain’s adoption fee is $175, which includes her spay, microchip, and vaccines.

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth’s one of the cats we’ve had at the shelter the longest. A 9-year-old domestic shorthair tabby, she was adopted from us once before but returned when her owner passed away.

Rita is definitely a one-cat girl. In her advanced age, she’s very set in her ways and can have some cattitude.

She’ll come up to you when she wants rubs, but she also likes her alone time. Rita needs to be in a quiet home

where she can be herself and offer her companionship. Her adoption fee is $50, which includes her spay, microchip, and vaccines.

These pets may already be adopted. Please visit aawl.org for a current listing of pets available for adoption at the Arizona Animal Welfare League. All dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered, are up-to-date on their shots, and will go home with a microchip inserted. The Arizona Animal Welfare League is open from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday–Friday, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. AAWL is located at 30 North 40th Place in Phoenix. For more information, call (602) 273-6852.

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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

Men’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.

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