Images Arizona February 2020 by Images Arizona Magazine Carefee/Cave Creek Edition

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f ebruary 2020

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Cave Creek

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M I C H A E L

M c K E E

Celebration of Fine Art Studio #157

I strive to create dynamic landscapes of the southwest featuring distinctive, joyful color. Come and see me at ‘Celebration of Fine Art’. Jan 16 - March 29 (Hayden and the 101) We can also schedule a personal visit if you would rather see my work in your home. Together, we’ll try to find a beautiful piece that brings joy to your life. Your friend in Art - Michael

m i c h a e l m c k e e g a l l e r y. c o m Call for a home visit; 630-779-3793 4

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Now Available at Total Wine and Safeway (Summit) ASK FOR CAREFREE BOURBON AT THESE FINE RESTAURANTS: American Legion • Buffalo Chip • Bourbon Cellar • Capital Grille • Civana Corrado’s Cucina Italiana • Desert Mountain Clubhouse • Harold’s Corral Hyatt Regency • Indigo Crow • Janey’s Cave Creek • Keeler’s Steakhouse • Liberty Station Lush Burger • Mastro’s • Mountain View Irish Pub • Outlaws • Pizzicata • Prickly Pear Inn The Grub • The Horny Toad • The Patio Grill • Venues Café • Z’s House of Thai Carefree Tasting Room | 100 Easy St. Suite 2 | Hours: Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m.–Closing Cave Creek Tasting Room | 6201 E. Cave Creek Rd. Suite C | Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, Noon–Closing

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A RTI S T ’ S

R E C E P T I O N

T U E S D A Y, M A R C H 3 F R O M 2 T O 5 P. M .

“Spring Family,” Trevor Swanson, Painting on Patina Metal, 24 x 16 in

“Roadrunner,” Bryce Pettit, bronze, 30 x 10 x 25.5 in

T REVO R B RY CE A M Y

SWAN S O N W I L D L I F E

PET T I T WI LD L I F E

L AY

“Council of Wisdom,” Amy Lay, Mixed Media on canvas, 36 x 72 in

B RON Z E

A RT I S T S C U L P TOR

CONT EM P O R A RY W I L D L I F E

A RT I S T

INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES, HOME FURNISHINGS & FINE ART GALLERY 36889 N. Tom Darlington Dr. Suite B1, Carefree | 480-595-0171 | suebickerdyke.com f ebruary 2020 imagesar iz ona .c om Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9am - 5pm Allied ASID

REVEALING THE SUBLIME: THE ART OF DAVID ROTHERMEL Writer Shannon Severson

Photography Courtesy of Grace Renee Gallery

COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

BUTTERFLY BURGER LETTING IT FLY WITH LISA DAHL Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Scott Yates

NATURAL ROMANCE Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Robert Elenbaas

RED TRUCK TRADING ROLLS INTO THE NEW WEST Writer Shannon Severson Cover photo by Bryan Black

HERBED CAULIFLOWER MASH Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

56 10

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f ebruary 2020

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Christmann

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Hanie

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph Airdo Amanda Christmann Sue Kern-Fleischer Kyndra Kelly Shoshana Leon Shannon Severson Fadi Sitto

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

ADVERTISING SALES Cooper Langston 480-544-8721 cooper@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2019 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.

It’s February in the desert, and for me, it’s one of the most meaningful times of the year. Though we can’t see the magic, it is during this month that the desert is transforming beneath our feet. We may not notice just yet, but every dark cloud and raindrop we’ve endured has been silently coaxing the beauty from our desert home, reinvigorating dormant roots, branches and spines. Soon, the brown earth will erupt in bouquets of brilliant color, all because of Nature’s will to endure. There is no more beautiful metaphor than the desert to remind us that February is a month of renewal. It’s a season of appreciation for the processes and struggles behind all things beautiful and worthwhile—not only in the natural world, but also in the world we are all creating for ourselves. This month, our writers and photographers have managed once again to capture stories of so many of our friends and neighbors who are working to share their gifts with us. From visual and performing artists to restaurateurs, these talented people are bringing color into our world in the most profound and fantastic ways, working hard and often overcoming adversity to do so. As you enjoy the magazine this month, I encourage you to reflect on the gifts we all have in our lives, and on the hard work and sacrifices that have gotten us to where we are. After all, it takes a few storms to make the desert bloom.

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

I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to be on this journey through clouds and sunshine with each of you.

Local First A R I Z O NA

Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

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f ebruary 2020

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Grace Renee Gallery | 480-575-8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com

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# 7 imagesar | Carefree, Grace Renee Gallery | Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd.2020 f ebruary iz ona .c om AZ15

Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Grace Renee Gallery

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Standing before a piece of David Rothermel’s art is to view not just layers of color and texture, but also a process and vision honed by 45 years of inspiration and introspection—and maybe a touch of divine connection. “I want [people] to bask in the glory of the color and get that quiet feeling,” Rothermel says. “When you look at high art, you don’t know exactly what you’re looking at, but your sensory perceptions are kicking in. Something is going on. It vibrates. They see there’s a lot more work in each piece than what might appear at first glance.” The Santa Fe-based painter, whose abstract works are on display at Carefree’s Grace Renee Gallery, takes color field style to a new level with his technique of layering acrylic paint in full- and halftones on panels of wood in varying widths. This style is a reflection of his early days as a billboard painter, at which time he first had the idea of painting individual panels to be experimented with and assembled later instead of confining himself to a single surface.

Language Immersion PROGRAMS AT CCUSD

“When the paint is wet and they’re nice and shiny and gooey, it’s a thrill,” he says. “Because I use acrylics, they dry to a middle value. The dark colors dry a little lighter and the lights dry a little darker. The color intensity is slightly muted and that is evident in the work I have hanging at Grace Renee Gallery.” When the paint dries, Rothermel uses a hand-sander and water to create depth and luminosity by stripping away layers. This process reveals the colors and the texture of the wood panel beneath and leaves a record of the under-color on the edges. The painter is coaxing life out of something twodimensional. The debris is wiped away and what Rothermel describes as “spatial continuity turned into the sublime” comes through, creating a “portal” for the beholder.

Attend a language immersion information and lottery meeting to learn more! Desert Willow Elementary 5:00-6:00 pm • 480.575.2800 Thursday, January 30th • ______

Desert Sun Academy Wednesday, February 5th______ • 5:00-6:00 pm • 480.575.2900 Horseshoe Trails Elementary Thursday, February 6th • 5:00-6:00 pm • 480.272.8500

480.575.2000 www.CCUSD93.org f ebruary 2020

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SUNSHINE, Acrylic on Wood panel. 38 x 54 in

Some of the arrangements come by chance and many come from intuitive experience, trusting in the process that it will all turn out. There is a lot of flexibility built into his materials and methods. He can assemble and reassemble until the combination feels right. “When you over-paint and under-paint the panels, that’s when they come alive and you get the color field,” he says. “You have to work it until it works you.” Rothermel considers his larger pieces to be some of his most successful. “You’re ‘in’ the painting,” he explains. “You’re in the atmosphere. You notice the edges of colors that you didn’t see at first. The juxtaposition between one panel and the next is really important.” Rothermel’s approach takes the traditional building blocks of color and technique, the eternal truths of Fibonacci code, ratios and the golden means, and imbues them with the “breath and breadth of abstraction.” It is a spiritual exercise for him. Art has always been something that he has been compelled to do. Rothermel first picked up a paintbrush to help his mother—a teacher—paint the plank floors of her oneroom schoolhouse’s porch in Pennsylvania. He always had a love of the outdoors and would create penand-ink sketches of the scenes he saw while playing or hunting small game.

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“

JANUS #8, Acrylic on Wood panel. 30 x 56 in

You have to think with your eyes. When you’re in the studio, it’s a quiet process where you do one thing and another thing

“

happens and then something else is

revealed, so you try and hit on those special parts.

EXPERIENCE

The painter recalls being influenced by everything from the Paul Cézanne paintings in his elementary classroom to TV westerns like Zorro and Bonanza, which captured his young imagination. “I always had cowboy boots and a Western hat on,” Rothermel says. “It was always right there on the tip of my conscience that I wanted to go west one day. I’m still a cowboy—just a little older and a little wiser.” He began studying commercial art at York Academy of Art. After a field trip to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art—where he discovered and was completely inspired by artist Hans Hofmann—and at the urging of an influential instructor, he decided to pursue fine art at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Rothermel also spent a summer in Maine at Skowhegan, studying with well-known artists like Josef Albers and the prolific abstractionist Brice Marden,

while learning, absorbing and finetuning his own abstractionist style. “I came out of art school painting nonobjectively, very abstract pieces,” he says. “I tried to move to New York four times and it spit me out.” Rothermel has been sober for 30 years now but admits to partying during his youth. “It was hell with the lid off,” he explains. “I’d rather buy a six-pack than pay my electric bill. I didn’t have the maturity.” In the back of his head, Rothermel knew that being in the studio was the thing that was going to get him ahead—not the other way around. “You have to think with your eyes,” the painter says. “When you’re in the studio, it’s a quiet process where you do one thing and another thing happens and then something else is revealed, so you try and hit on those special parts.”

It was time to fulfill his dream of heading west. Rothermel moved to New Mexico in 1981. He was ready to paint whatever he saw and felt free to experiment without judgment. He painted landscapes and sunsets with oils, watercolors and acrylics. Painting billboards paid the bills until a strong gust of wind knocked him from his ladder and he broke both of his arms. “The accident was a godsend,” he says. “It prompted me to really pursue my art. I had to go out on my own and get back to the source. I quit my job, got a divorce and moved to Santa Fe in 1987. That’s when the market was hopping and everyone was moving here. It was great energy.” His Santa Fe gallery has been open for many years and Rothermel has mostly concentrated on creating and displaying his abstract work. As time and technology have changed the world and the way people consume art, Rothermel ponders how art— true, transcendent art––shapes our experiences as humans as well as the legacy of his own art. He believes that the human connection to the spiritual realm is strengthened by principles that exist outside of the immediate. “The eternal rules are what make things work,” he explains. “I want to reveal the sublime. If it doesn’t reveal the sublime, it’s not art because it won’t do anything.” drcontemporary.com

f ebruary 2020

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INTERNATIONALLY

ACCLAIMED

AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTIST

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

G R A C E R E N E E G A L L E RY P R E S E N T S

David Rothermel Come meet David and view his bold, colorful paintings on display in our gallery located in the Historic Spanish Village. Wind down from your week while enjoying wine and light appetizers with the artist.

Thursday, February 20 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

EMERALD LIGHT: 38”x 50”

Historic Spanish Village 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 480.575.8080

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GraceReneeGallery.com

ARTIST

DAVID

ROTHERMEL

FEBRUARY 20,

2020

FEATURED SELECTED COLLECTIONS:

Phoenix Children’s Hospital Revlon, Inc. General Motors Corporation Pennsylvania State Museum Joe Walsh/Eagles National 3M Corporation Hilton Hotels President George W. Bush Two Dolphin Hotel Union Pacific Railroad

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JANUS #8: 30” x 56

f ebruary 2020

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COMMUNITY

2020 FEBRUARY

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Feb. 1–29

ROMANTIC FLORALS Throughout February, Scottsdale’s Gallery Andrea will feature romantic florals by artist Andrea de KerpelyZak, internationally known for painting “Healing Flowers.” The artist has created a special series of florals for Valentines Day. Free. Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Gallery Andrea, 7019 E. Main St., Scottsdale. 480-481-2530; artandrea.com

Feb. 1

The Foothills Community Foundation

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum

ANCIENT GEOLOGY CREATES MODERN CAVE CREEK

has assembled 40 fine artists for the

of the West will screen the feature-

Join Chad Kwiatkowski—master’s

5th Annual Arizona Sage Art Market.

length documentary “Maynard

student in geology at Northern

During the juried show, a wide variety

Dixon: Art and Spirit,” which profiles

Arizona University—for this seminar

of fine art from local artists will be

the breathtaking art and complex

about the rocks and landscapes of

available—including beautiful gourd

life of artist Maynard Dixon.

the Desert Foothills region, which

art, dazzling jewelry, vibrant wooden

Narrated by Oscar-winning actress

developed as a result of geologic

bowls, whimsical ceramics, fiber art,

Diane Keaton, the movie provides a

events in just the last 15 million years.

photography, paintings and more. Free.

revealing look at Dixon’s life through

The seminar, sponsored by the Desert

10 a.m.–4 p.m. Holland Community

his paintings and drawings, family

Awareness Committee of the Foothills

Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.

photographs and interviews. Free

Community Foundation, will take

480-488-1090; azfcf.org

for members; included with $15

attendees on a tour through space and

museum admission for guests. 2 p.m.

time to understand how the Desert

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum

Foothills region came to be. Free.

of the West, 3830 N Marshall

6:30–8 p.m. Holland Community

Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-9539;

Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.

scottsdalemuseumwest.org

azfcf.org/about-desert-awareness

ARIZONA SAGE ART MARKET

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MAYNARD DIXON: ART AND SPIRIT

Feb. 3

Feb. 5

WYATT EARP: A LIFE ON THE FRONTIER

that features free museum admission, live entertainment, family-friendly games and more. The Hashknife Pony Express will arrive at Noon, delivering more than

The great-grandnephew of Wyatt Earp

20,000 pieces of mail to the U.S. Postal

will perform his biographical drama

Service. Free. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Western

“Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier,” in

Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West,

which he portrays his famous relative.

3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480-

The play imagines a conversation

686-9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

between an elderly Wyatt Earp and author Stuart Lake during the mid1920s as they discuss Earp’s adventures

Feb. 7–23

with $15 museum admission for guests.

BLACK THEATRE TROUPE’S TROUBLE IN MIND

1 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s

In recognition of Black History Month,

Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall

Black Theatre Troupe will present

Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-9539;

“Trouble in Mind,” a comedic drama

scottsdalemuseumwest.org

that was written by Alice Childress—a

during the final days of the American frontier. Free for members; included

pioneering African-American playwright

Feb. 6

who was one of the first black female

WESTERN WEEK GOLD PALETTE ARTWALK

writers to win an Off-Broadway Theater

In continued celebration of the Scottsdale

Center, 1333 E. Washington St. Phoenix.

Gallery Association’s 45th anniversary

602-258-8129; blacktheatretroupe.org

Award. $41+. See website for dates and times. Helen K. Mason Performing Arts

season, the organization will dedicate a Gold Palette ArtWalk to the theme of Western Week. The event will feature

Feb. 8

at participating galleries throughout

ARIZONA NATIVE EDIBLE EXPERIENCE

Scottsdale Arts District, which is

Arizona American Indian Tourism

located along Main St. from Scottsdale

Association will pay homage to the

Road to Goldwater Blvd. and north

Native culture and heritage with an

of Indian School Road on Marshall

event that features Native art and artists

Way to 5th Avenue. Free. 6:30–9 p.m.

as well as Native chef tasting stations

scottsdaleartsdistrict.com

offering traditional and fusion foods and

entertainment, music and special offerings

cocktails. $25+. 6–8 p.m. Western Spirit:

Feb. 7

HASHKNIFE PONY EXPRESS ARRIVAL

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 602-2999576; arizonanativeexperience.com

In celebration of the 62nd ride of the Hashknife Pony Express—the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world—Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West will host an event

f ebruary 2020

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Feb. 8 and 9

ARIZONA INDIAN FESTIVAL Celebrate Arizona Indian culture with a spirited and immersive festival that features traditional food, storytelling, dancing, singing and dwellings. Additional features include native arts and crafts as well as innovations and trends in cultural tourism experiences in Arizona. Free. Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. arizonaindiantourism.org

Feb. 8

DESERT FOOTHILLS LIBRARY’S IMAGINE GALA

Carefree Desert Gardens will

Experience an evening of glitz

welcome gardening educator Carol

Experience a tour of mountain

and glam during Desert Foothills

Stuttard for a discussion about the

lions, coyotes and Mexican gray

Library’s 11th annual gala.

vital role that insects play in our

wolves as the Southwest Wildlife

Attendees will enjoy cocktails and

local ecology. During the lecture,

Conservation Center shares the true

a gourmet dinner by Creations in

Stuttard will introduce attendees to

love stories of its resident animals.

Cuisine as well as live and silent

the wonderful and fascinating world

Light refreshments and gourmet

auctions. English Rose Tea Room

of insects, helping to distinguish

desserts will be served and each

owner Jo Gemmill will serve as the

between those that are garden allies

couple will receive a gift. $100 per

evening’s master of ceremonies and

and those that are garden enemies.

couple. 6–7 p.m. RSVP. Southwest

entertainment will be provided by

The program will include a plant

Wildlife Conservation, 27026 N.

We3—including celebrated pianist

raffle. A $5 or more donation is

156th St., Scottsdale. 480-471-3621;

Nicole Pesce, vocalist Renee Grant

appreciated. 9:30 a.m.–Noon. Town

southwestwildlife.org

Patrick and violinist Suzanne

Council Chambers, 33 Easy St.,

Lansford. Proceeds benefit Desert

Carefree. 480-488-3686.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480488-2286; dfla.org

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GARDEN INSECTS: FRIENDS AND FOES

Feb. 8

HEARTS AND HOWLS VALENTINE EVENT

Foothills Library. $200. 6 p.m.

Feb. 8

PARADA DEL SOL PARADE AND TRAIL’S END FESTIVAL The 67th Annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade will travel along Scottsdale Road from Drinkwater Blvd. to Brown Ave. and Indian School Road, boasting nearly 150 entries including colorful floats, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriages, marching bands, wagons and stagecoaches. Following the parade, the Historic Old Town District will become the setting for a Western-style block party. Free. 10 a.m. scottsdaleparade.com

Feb. 9

SALT RIVER BRASS CONCERT Toes will be tapping and hands will be clapping as Salt River Brass steps into the Big Band era for its All That Jazz concert. $16+. 3 p.m. Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. 480644-6500; saltriverbrass.org

Feb. 9

SCOTTSDALE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT Scottsdale Philharmonic will begin its eighth season with a classical music concert featuring works by composers Georges Bizet and Gioachino Rossini. Free; VIP reserved seating available for $15. 4 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. 480-951-6077; scottsdalephilharmonic.com

Feb. 9

WE LOVE ARIZONA! As part of its monthly Kiwanis Family Sundays series, Cave Creek Museum will welcome a representative from the Rosson House Museum to discuss how the Territory of Arizona transitioned to become the Valentine State. Free. 2–4 p.m. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-4882764; cavecreekmuseum.org

Feb. 10–14

PAINTING THE OLD WEST Paint with Phil Starke during this Scottsdale Artists’ School course and learn how to simplify the plein air subject and mix colors that suggest light instead of detail. Students will focus on developing a sense of design and rhythm, learning to take what the landscape gives them and improve upon it. $665. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tubac Golf Resort, 1 Ave De Otero Road, Tubac. 480-990-1422; scottsdaleartschool.org

f ebruary 2020

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Feb. 20

THE ABSTRACT ART OF DAVID ROTHERMEL Grace Renee Gallery will showcase the abstract art of David Rothermel, a Santa Fe-based painter whose works take color field style to a new level. Rothermel layers acrylic paint in full- and halftones on panels of wood in varying widths. He then uses a hand-sander and water to create depth and luminosity, revealing the colors and the texture of the wood panel beneath and leaving a record of the under-color on the edges. Wine and appetizers will be offered. Free. 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd., #7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Feb. 12

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Feb. 13

KNIFE SKILLS WITH THE DOCTOR

featuring female artists. In addition to the yearlong rotational selection of works, an installation-based gallery

Learn essential skills and fundamental

will be on view through May 31.

Anthropologist John Welch will

cuts that will boost your kitchen

$10. See website for hours. Scottsdale

speak about the new means and

competence and confidence from

Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374

methods that are being developed

the Center for Integrative Healing

E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666;

in close partnership with the White

and Wellness nutrition experts Dr.

smoca.org

Mountain Apache tribe to prevent,

Fabio Almeida and Cindy Almeida.

investigate and remediate looting in

The class will include a light meal of

one of Arizona’s most beautiful and

vegetable stir fry. $50. 1:30–3:30 p.m.

important cultural resource regions.

RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443

The lecture is presented by the Desert

N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

Foothills Chapter of the Arizona

480-488-2286; dfla.org

Archaeology Society. Free. 7:30 p.m. The Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, 6502 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. azarchsoc. org/desertfoothills

Feb. 15–May 31

UNAPOLOGETIC: ALL WOMEN, ALL YEAR Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary

Art will unveil a yearlong exhibition

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Feb. 21–March 15 TOP SHELF INVITATIONAL SMALL WORKS SHOW

Sonoran Arts League will present its fourth annual juried fine art show, featuring more than 200 works by Arizona artists—including paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewelry, photography and mixed media. An opening reception and cocktail

chic gala featuring live music, hors d’oeuvres and a beer and wine garden is scheduled for 5–8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. Free. Mondays– Saturdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sundays 1–4 p.m. Sonoran Arts League’s Center for the Arts, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, Cave Creek. 480-575-6624; sonoranartsleague.org

Feb. 22

CELEBRATING BEETHOVEN In recognition of Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary Celebration, virtuoso pianist Taek Gi Lee will present a piano recital featuring Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 32, Op. 111 as part of Christ the Lord Lutheran Church’s Living Music Performance Series. $25. 4 p.m. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. 480-488-2081; ctlcarefree.org

Feb. 22 and 23

ARIZONA MATSURI: A FESTIVAL OF JAPAN Japanese traditional taiko drummer Ken Koshio will perform at the 36th Annual Arizona Matsuri—a festival that celebrates Japanese culture and heritage The event will also feature Japanese exhibits, demonstrations, arts and crafts as well as children’s activities, bonsai displays, Japanese food, Japanese beer and sake garden, games, contests and live entertainment. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. azmatsuri.org

Feb. 23

FORTÉ HANDBELL QUARTET CONCERT Arts at the Rocks will present a concert by Forté Handbell Quartet, a Colorado Springs-based group that aims to challenge audiences’ perceptions of what handbells can do. The concert will be preceded by a 2:30 p.m. workshop titled, “So Many Bells, So Few Hands: A Conversation with Forté About the Art of Ensemble Ringing.” 4 p.m. Free. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Dr., Scottsdale. 480-488-3384; deserthills.org

Feb. 26

TASTE AMERICA POP-UP DINNER Phoenix will welcome the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America for a pop-up dinner as part of a national tour that celebrates diversity of American cooking and highlights the nonprofit organization’s Good Food for Good platform. The intimate dinner will feature a menu crafted by Kristen Kish and Christopher Gross. $225+. 6 p.m. Wrigley Mansion, 2501 E. Telawa Trail, Phoenix. jamesbeard.org

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Feb. 29

CAVE CREEK CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL The town of Cave Creek will host its first-ever craft beer festival, showcasing beverages from the top breweries across the country. In addition to craft beer, the event will also feature cider, kombucha and meads. Entry includes a sampling mug and 20 drink tickets. Pub food will be available for purchase throughout the event, which will also feature live music by Lindsey Vogt. General admission $45; VIP admission $60. 1–5 p.m. Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-6636; cavecreekcraftbeerfestival.com

Feb. 29

THE BEATLES: THE MAKING OF REVOLVER

Feb. 29

more effectively express your vision

Follow the footsteps of The Beatles

KOKOPELLI’S JOURNEY SET TO MUSIC

as the music group redefined

Desert Hills Native American Flute

to painting locations, while

contemporary music, breaking

Circle will perform “Kokopelli’s

instruction will focus on light, design,

boundaries by expanding the scope

Journey Set to Music” as part of

color, value, edges and brushwork.

of pop and rock sounds as they

Christ the Lord Lutheran Church’s

$600. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 480-990-1422;

created their timeless

Living Music Performance Series.

scottsdaleartschool.org

masterpiece “Revolver.” Recently

Free will offering. 4 p.m. Christ the

retired LaGuardia Community

Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave

College professor Vinnie Bruno will

Creek Road, Carefree. 480-488-2081;

discuss the genesis of the songs, their

ctlcarefree.org

musical influences, their recording and even the creation of the artwork on the album’s legendary cover

March 2–6

as an artist. Most time will be spent painting on location in Gold Canyon, which will allow for closer proximity

March 6–8

TOUR D’ ARTISTES STUDIO TOUR AND SALE Fountain Hills Arts League will

38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave

TAKING YEARS OFF THE LANDSCAPE PAINTING CURVE

Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Paint with John Hughes during this

studios and galleries. Attendees can

Scottsdale Artists’ School course and

interact with local artists and observe

learn how to simplify the painting

them in the process of creating

sleeve. $5. 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library,

process and create landscapes that

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present its 9th Annual Tour d’ Artistes Studio Tour and Sale, showcasing the work of more than 60 artists in 13

original works—including paintings, mixed media, glass, metal sculptures, digital photography, fiber art and jewelry, all of which will be available for purchase.

OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST

HIGH END, LOW-VOLTAGE, OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Fountain Hills. fountainhillsartleague.com

March 6–19

IT’S ART FOR LAND’S SAKE Desert Foothills Land Trust will host its sixth annual juried art exhibit and sale designed to promote conservation and wildlife protection through representational art. Artists of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to submit their work by Friday, Feb. 7. Entry is $25 per piece. All works of art must be 2D and representational of a Desert Foothills Land Trust preserve. An opening reception is scheduled for 6–8 p.m. Thursday, March 5. Proceeds will benefit

FREE BBQ LIGHT WITH ANY INSTALL OVER $2000!

LIGHTING, IRRIGATION, LANDSCAPE

www.lettherebelightllc.com (480)575-3204 info@lettherebelightllc.com Licensed | Bonded | Insured

Desert Foothills Land Trust and Desert Foothills Library. Free. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-6131; dflt.org

March 22

ANDREA MARKOWITZ HAT SHOW Andrea Markowitz will host a hat show during which she will raffle and auction off more than 50 vintage hats from the

Desert Gardens Seminar Series At the Carefree Town Chambers 33 Easy Street Saturday, Feb. 8, 9:30 a.m.

GARDEN INSECTS: FRIENDS AND FOES

Guest Speaker: Carol Stuttard Insects are our benefactors, but learn which ones are garden allies and which ones are not.

1950s through the 1980s that belonged to her late mother. Markowitz will also share stories about hats and their designers, offering attendees insight into a time at which women wore hats for every special occasion. Admission includes five raffle tickets as well as tea and cakes provided

Saturday, March 14, 9:30 a.m.

BLENDING HARDSCAPE WITH LANDSCAPE Guest Speaker: Judy Mielke Discover how fun and easy it is to create an inviting landscape in the garden.

by English Rose Tea Room. Proceeds will

Photo: Judy Mielke

benefit Desert Foothills Library. $35. 2–4 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N.

Saturday, April 18, 9:30 a.m.

Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-

GARDENING FOR FRAGRANCE

2286; dfla.org

Guest Speaker: Jacqueline Soule, Ph. D. Learn about the fragrant plants that thrive while adding enchanting scents to Southwest gardens. 480-488-3686 | VisitCarefree.com f ebruary 2020

Photo: Jacqueline Soule

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

When Aruna Baata first expressed her dream to become a contortionist to her father, he gently advised her to consider other circus skills. “My dad always told me that maybe contortion would not be the best fit for me,” says Baata, noting that she is shorter than most contortionists. “He tried to change my mind. But I liked it so I wanted to try and I think that my trying to learn was much bigger than hearing his resistance.” Despite his hesitancy, Baata’s father supported his daughter’s dream and began training with her at the age of 7. Two years later, she began performing contortion and adagio—partner acrobalance— with her father in a traditional circus in Brazil and throughout South America. For many years, Baata was recognized as one of the best contortionists in Brazil. Now, the third-generation circus performer from Mongolia is showing off her contortionist skills in Cirque du Soleil’s touring production of “OVO,” which will be making a stop in Phoenix Feb. 20–23 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The show arrives around the same time that another Cirque du Soleil production—the brand new ice spectacle “Axel”—makes stops in Prescott Valley and Tucson. Translated as “egg” in Portuguese and looking an awful lot like an insect’s eyes and antennae, “OVO” draws audiences into a colorful ecosystem where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love all while Cirque du Soleil’s many talented acrobats move about the stage in the non-stop riot of energy for which they have come to be known. Its cast is comprised of 52 entertainers from 14 countries performing 10 different high-level acrobatic acts, including foot juggling, Icarian games, hand balancing, aerial straps, slackwire, Russian cradle and—Baata’s expertise—contortion. The signature final act mixes trampoline, tumbling and rock-climbing.

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Baata portrays White Spider, a character that the performer says is quite playful. “White Spider thinks that she is the boss of the spiders,” says Baata, noting that there are three other spiders featured in the show. “She is the diva. In her mind, she thinks that she can tell the other spiders to do some mischief or be mean to the other bugs.” More than 6 million people across 24 countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia have seen “OVO” since its premiere in 2009. Baata joined the production in 2013 after first spending a few years hand-balancing on canes in Cirque du Soleil’s productions of Quidam and Saltimbanco. Baata says that she had been involved with the circus for essentially her entire life but nothing could ever prepare her for the sheer intensity of performing in Cirque du Soleil. The contortionist had put most of her circus duties on the backburner while she completed her high school and college education but her friends never stopped encouraging her to submit a video to the worldrenowned entertainment company. She eventually did and, sometime later, she received a call inviting her to replace an injured performer. That was more than 10 years ago. “It goes by fast because you learn so much,” Baata says. “You change shows, you meet people, you make friends and you travel a lot. You get to go to places that you never thought you would go.”

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RESIDENTIAL Baata notes that her commitment to her craft started long before she received the call to join Cirque du Soleil. She explains that circus performers need to develop more skills than just their act itself from a very early age. Necessary strengths include hustling for gigs and wrangling contracts in a very competitive industry. “Then you have to train very hard until you get to Cirque du Soleil,” Baata says. “After that, you still have to continue to train and develop your skills so that you can maintain your job because they keep hiring all of these talented people. You have to remain on top of your game.” Baata acknowledges that being a Cirque du Soleil performer requires a lot of commitment—a commitment that basically becomes a way of life. Avoiding injuries and coping with a schedule that makes spending time with friends and family nearly impossible are simply life skills that a performer must perfect. “Performing is your life,” Baata says. “Some people struggle with that because you have to give up so much of your routine to be in another completely twisted lifestyle on top of all of the training and performing. You have to have a lot of discipline.”

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Baata has that discipline, though. It is what took her from her father’s initial good-intentioned reservations about her becoming a contortionist and delivered her to Cirque du Soleil’s stage.

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“I think that anybody can be a contortionist if they start young,” Baata says. “Regardless if they are

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not really flexible or if they are super flexible and not really strong, I think that everybody has a chance. If you really want something and you are really committed to your dream, I think that you can achieve it.” Baata continues to live out her dreams for which she has worked so hard. Even after spending a decade in Cirque du Soleil, the contortionist continues to find sharing the stage with so many other talented performers to be a surreal experience. “I am surrounded by all of these talented acrobats and people,” Baata says. “Everything becomes normal to us after a while. But when I take the time to actually watch my colleagues perform and see their dedication to a completely different skill than mine, I become like anybody else watching.” Baata adds that, as a Cirque du Soleil performer, she has the best seat in the house. Since she is afraid of heights, she is particularly blown away by “OVO’s” crickets as they bounce around the stage, throwing themselves from the production’s huge walls and returning to them in a perfect position. “I cannot imagine ever doing that,” she says. cirquedusoleil.com

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Furnace Tune-Up Includes:

It has been said that life is about reinventing one’s self. When one of Arizona’s most renowned woman chefs, Lisa Dahl, first told me she was opening a burger restaurant in the then-less-than-swanky former Outlets at Oak Creek, I have to confess that my initial thought was that Dahl was morphing into something so out of character that I wasn’t entirely sure even this queen of couture could pull it off. After all, Dahl is responsible for some of the most iconic upscale restaurants in Sedona. Dahl & Diluca, Cucina Rustica and Mariposa have put the once-sleepy culinary scene of Sedona on the international map. Even her more casual Pisa Lisa provided a new twist on an old theme that brought a heightened level of class and elegance—Dahl’s signature.

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But burgers? I wasn’t sure. If there is one thing I have learned about Lisa Dahl, however, it is that one should never underestimate her ability to breathe life into the most unlikely, yet most wonderful dreams. In Butterfly Burger, which opened Sept. 18 on National Cheeseburger Day, not only has she created what’s likely the most hip and splashy burger restaurant in the state (country?), she’s built a menu that turns the boring old burger into a gourmet meal built with layer upon layer of fabulous flavors. What’s more, with the low-light glamour of a speakeasy, intimate seating and Dahl’s trademark world-class servers, chef and staff, she’s infused her latest restaurant with a je ne sais quoi that goes well beyond great menu selections. Diners may come for the burgers, bourbon and boozy shakes, but what they get is an unmatched dining experience that brings them back time and again.

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FAVORITE FIXTURE: “We have an extravagant round table with a fabulous granite top that’s wrapped in distressed bronze and a crocodile banquette. In every restaurant, I have a favorite thing I gravitate to, and that’s the thing at Butterfly Burger.”

FAVORITE STAND-OUT FEATURE “The thing that makes the burgers unique, and what makes them so decadent that you don’t forget them is that every burger has a flavor profile that makes you die over the combinations. It makes you want to come back because the first burger you choose is so drop-dead delicious that you want to try the others.”

FAVORITE DESCRIPTION “Whimsical ethnicity. We use flavor profiles found all over the planet to create burgers no one has ever thought of before. For example, our Italian Stallion is slow-roasted Campari tomatoes with Burrata mozzarella cheese and balsamic reduction finished with pesto and arugula—and incredibly gourmet. If you are very sophisticated, that burger is a must-have.”

FAVORITE INGREDIENT “Anybody who knows me knows that I am a self-professed mushroom maniac. Each restaurant has some mushroom thing. Of course, many of my burgers have them. My favorite is the Fungi Sublime. If you can eat that burger and ‘sublime’ isn’t part of your description, I don’t know what is! You’ll think about that burger for the next month.”

FAVORITE NON-BURGER BURGER “All of my veggie burgers are all delicious and, quite honestly, the Primo Portobello will stand up to any burger or steak sandwich anywhere. The marinade on the portobello alone, along with the incredible caramelized onions with the manchego and smoky chipotle on a grainy bun—ah! Killer!”

FAVORITE SURPRISE HIT “One of the things that I’d hoped would work out and has really worked out is the Mowee Wowee, which is my mahi-mahi flatgrilled fish burger. It’s beautiful! I created a very natural maple teriyaki, which is off the charts. People who love fish sandwiches tell me it’s the best fish sandwich they’ve ever had.”

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dahl Restaurants Sedona

dahlrestaurantgroup.com

2019 Food Pioneer Award Arizona Restaurant Assoc

2018 TOP CHEF Award Arizona Restaurant Assoc

SCOTTSDALE BURGER BATTLE CHAMPION 2016 - THE GRINGO 2018 - THE FUNGHI SUBLIME 2019 - THE WACO KID

PROJECT SOUP HOPE $40,000 DONATED (% OF SOUP SALES)

Chef Lisa Dahl

butterflyburger.com 982-862-4448

cucinarustica.com 982-284-3010

pisalisa.com 982-282-5472

CONTRIBUTED TO Chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen for disaster relief

mariposasedona.com 982-862-4444

dahlanddiluca.com f ebruary 2020 982-282-5219

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“People come up to Sedona, and when they come to our restaurants they expect something different. This is not just about the burger, but the burger must speak. “Butterfly Burger is a burger place that catches everyone off guard. When they come here, they are prepared to have a fabulous burger, but they don't realize that they are walking into the Cartier of burger places. “It’s all about the layering of every element, but it starts with the best quality of ingredients that we can find. We’ve pushed the envelope on all the elements that are needed to pull that off: fantastic meat, cheese, our selection of buns and the sauce combination that makes us extremely unique.”

A WINNING BEGINNING It was the Scottsdale Burger Battle that made Dahl’s wheels begin to turn. She first entered in 2016, not long after she opened the doors of Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill. She’d never entered a burger battle; in fact, she’d never even seen one, yet the concept of a comfort zone does not seem to exist for Dahl. She threw her name in the hat and did what she does best. “The first burger battle was held at the Valley Ho,” she said. “I’d never been there and I’d never even seen one of those concepts. It sounded like fun, and I thought it would be a fun way to promote our lunch opening at Mariposa. “I’d created my very first burger for the menu at Mariposa called the Gringo Burger. I had no premeditation of what people were going to be cooking up, so I took what I thought was going to be one of the most spell-binding, delicious burgers I could make.

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“The Gringo is a Latin twist on an American classic. It’s not trendy or different, it’s just mastery of all the components being right.” Not only did she impress at the competition, she won. The following year, she was the runner up, and in 2017 and 2018, she again took the title. “I was the only woman chef, but I was also doing certain things that the others didn’t. When I won People’s Choice, I thought, ‘This ain’t so bad! Maybe we’ve got something!’ “It was the stepping stones that made me go, hey, people like these burgers,” she said.

EMERGING FROM A CHRYSALIS Those who have followed Dahl know how deeply personal her attachments to her restaurants are. Lisa’s son, Justin Wesley Jones, was senselessly murdered at the age of 23 when he tried to break up a robbery in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. The two of them had been inseparable, and making great food together was often at the center of their love. They talked about opening a restaurant someday to share the recipes they’d come to love through the years. When Justin died, Dahl packed up her belongings and moved to Sedona, where she felt embraced by the energy of the red rocks. She opened up the restaurant of her dreams, then another, then another. Her fourth restaurant, Mariposa, which means butterfly in Spanish, is a monument to the beauty and depth of their relationship. Those who have had the pleasure of tasting some of the most indulgently satisfying flavors imaginable while taking in the restaurant’s breathtaking views and dramatically fantastic décor know just how special Mariposa is. Many thought four restaurants would be the entirety of her work. After all, each has become wildly successful in its own right, and Dahl herself has earned one award and recognition after another, including hosting two James Beard house performances in New York City.

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As it happened, however, Dahl’s story has not yet ended, nor has her ability to express each chapter in a new iteration of culinary accomplishment. Once again, death has solidified itself as a metaphor in one of Dahl’s restaurants—not as a tragedy, but as a celebration. In November, Lisa’s mother Dorothy, whose fashionable flair and kind yet determined presence were clearly influential to her daughter, passed away just a few days shy of her 95th birthday. Though her death was not unexpected, it did elicit a tremendous sense of loss—and, like a butterfly, of rebirth. “Through the whole thing was an amazing closeness,” Dahl said. “In many respects, it was as perfect as anything so sad can be. You know your parents are eventually going to die of old age, but there were many, many blessings that were so stunning during the process. “Mom was a huge force. Everyone around here knew her because of her persona. My mother represented her love of fashion and décor in her own incredibly sweet, humble, non-egodriven way for over a decade here.” As she spoke, I smiled at my own memory of Dorothy. Though she was a tiny woman—much like her daughter—she entered a room with quiet elegance. Her outfits were always perfectly coordinated with her hats, and she never seemed to wear the same combination twice.

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Lisa Dahl is responsible for some of the most iconic upscale restaurants in Sedona.

Not one for fanfare or pomposity, Dorothy likely wouldn’t have wanted much to-do to be made over her life, but because she’d managed to touch an impressive number of lives, quite a few people showed up to pay their respects, and to hear Frank Sinatra sing “Come Fly with Me” one last time in Dorothy’s honor. “We all felt that we did what she would have wanted. We were lucky to have her for 95 years,” Dahl said. And so, once again, food is a source for love, sustenance and comfort, and it represents love, loss and all of the delicious beauty of life itself.

SETTING IT FREE As I’ve watched her vision unfold, I’ve realized that, for Dahl, life is not so much about reinventing herself; it’s about peeling away layers to expose and embrace beautiful parts of herself that were previously hidden. Butterfly Burger isn’t shy about its smooth, sultry vibe. Seating is intimate and decidedly grown-up. Cell phones are discouraged, and there is a dress code (no tank tops, flip flops or provocative clothing allowed). Also, parents are discouraged from bringing small children because, frankly, it’s just not that kind of place. What Butterfly Burger does so well is envelope its guests in rich warmth. It invites them to sit down, enjoy a killer cocktail, spend quality time with friends and loved ones and reimagine all they knew about burgers. “I think it’s a great concept,” said Dahl. “I like the fact that the unique envelope or canvas that it sits in is also an equal part of that experience. “We want you to hang out feel its arms around you. I want you to love it!” Though she’s poured no less of herself into the creation of Butterfly Burger than she has building the rest of her small restaurant empire, this particular concept is different. Unlike Dahl & Diluca, Mariposa, Cucina Rustica and Pisa Lisa, which she built to be constantly nurtured and groomed, Butterfly Burger was built to fly.

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Each of her restaurants is like one of her children, and Butterfly Burger is the first restaurant she’s developed that can soar without her. “It’s huge for me to say this for the first time,” she said. “It was designed to be a prototype for future restaurants that would not require me to be their mother hen for the rest of their life. It’s a very different thing because the other four restaurants were meant to be little worlds of constant nurturing that were literally like my kids. “It’s not that I don’t feel a strong sense of love for this restaurant, because I really do. I also feel like I kind of want something that would have its own wings and could start to fly out into the world in a bigger way.” Butterfly burger represents the new paradigm for Dahl. “It is the only restaurant that I ever felt this way about. I love it, I adore it, but I don’t feel like I have to live in it. I want one in all kinds of hip cities. This is part of that metamorphosis that is coming. “There is a healthy attachment. There was a different feeling I had when I was dreaming it up, and seeing it manifest, I know that it is a transitional new way of looking at myself as a restaurateur.” Butterfly Burger 6657 AZ-179 Suite B1, Sedona butterflyburger.com

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Robert Elenbaas

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One of the things that I enjoy most about photography is the opportunity to be out by myself. Most people are warm in bed asleep at the hours that I am usually out photographing. I very much enjoy being able to appreciate whatever the setting is without a bazillion people around. Robert Elenbaas

Experiencing the beauty of nature first-hand has an unparalleled positive impact on cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing and other dimensions of mental health. A scholarly article published last summer by the American Association for the Advancement of Science provided points of consensus across the natural, social and health sciences on the inherent value of experiences with nature. The article is just one of countless studies performed over the years that have concluded that the beautiful sights and sounds that can only be found out in nature elicit feelings of peace, joy and serenity—emotions that are closely tethered to the state of being in love. Although many people may enjoy dinner at a fancy restaurant and a showing of one of this season’s most buzzed-about movies this Valentine’s Day, Arizona has much more to offer those seeking a romantic date night. Instead of sitting indoors with several strangers in situations that limit conversation, why not opt for an intimate evening picnic with your significant other against the backdrop of one of our state’s stunningly gorgeous sunsets? Afterward, allow Arizona’s birds and insects to provide the heavenly soundtrack to a night of dancing underneath a sky scattered with glimmering stars. The natural romance of that date will provide you and your Valentine not only with a purely Arizona experience that cannot be replicated in more urban environments but also a feeling of fantastic euphoria. Anthem resident Robert Elenbaas has enjoyed the benefits of the Valley’s landscapes for the past decade. Although he admits to occasionally venturing out into nature by himself, he never passes up the opportunity to bring his wife Julia along as he captures our state’s remarkably romantic skies with his camera. It brings Images Arizona great pleasure to share some of his phenomenal photography with our readers this month. It is our hope that they encourage you to think outside of the box this Valentine’s Day and make a reservation in the most romantic setting imaginable—beneath Arizona’s amorous skies.

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Sunset among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, can be a truly magical time. For a few, brief moments on this particular evening a wonderous pink hue being reflected from the clouds cast a gentle glow over the entire scene. Robert Elenbaas

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In early summer it is possible to appreciate the Milky Way as a low arc across the eastern night sky, with the galactic center in the southeast. Being more sensitive to light than the human eye, the camera is able to capture the color and beauty of the billions of stars and nebulae as one looks toward the center of our spiral galaxy. Robert Elenbaas

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SEEING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US Fine art, landscape and nature photographer Robert Elenbaas has made it his mission to record and capture images that allow people to see things in the natural world that they would not normally see. “Our natural world amazes me, be it grand vistas or intimate details one sees only on close inspection,” Elenbaas says. “Through the expressive art form of photography, I seek to communicate aspects of our world people may not normally appreciate—either because of the limitations of human vision or because we just don’t take the time to really see what is in front of us.” Seeing what is in front of us is critically important. Elenbaas hopes the people who view his photography gain an improved and enhanced appreciation of the natural world. He also wants people to understand that our continued appreciation of it is dependant on us taking care of and protecting it for future generations. Be it our national parks, which Elenbaas believes are overused and underfunded, or wilderness areas that most people may never visit because getting to them involves either riding a horse or walking a great distance, he hopes his photography encourages wildlife preservation. However, he also hopes that it relays something that may never be able to be put into words. “It has been said that photography has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them,” Elenbaas says. “My goal is that my images serve as visual metaphors for the emotions I felt when the shutter clicked.”

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Robert Elenbaas first began dabbling in photography while he was in college in San Francisco. However, at the time, it was merely a hobby since he was studying to become an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist. “The San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department had a really cool photography center,” Elenbaas says. “It was basically a big darkroom. You could just go there and play around. I did not have a lot of time to do so, but that is when I first developed an interest in photography.” That interest in photography never faded over the years as Elenbaas paired it with another hobby—wilderness backpacking. “That takes you to some really amazing places,” he says. “I very much enjoy the outdoors and I like to be able to share with people what I see. My treks would take me to unique places whose wonder I was not skilled enough to relate verbally. In this case, a picture truly did tell the story better than a thousand words.” The advent of digital photography made accurately relaying those stories significantly easier, especially since Elenbass has had very little darkroom experience. Therefore, upon retirement, he leaned into his interests, moving to Anthem with his wife Julia in 2011.

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“This allows ready access to many varied and beautiful sites in Arizona, Utah, California and other western states—whose marvels comprise the bulk of my current portfolio,” Elenbaas says. “If I am not playing golf, I am doing something related to photography.” Much of Elenbaas’s portfolio may be seen and purchased at The Gallery at el Pedregal, 34505 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. relenbaasphoto.com

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Since 2009, an eye-catching vintage red truck has enticed Cave Creek’s visitors and locals to turn in and browse Red Truck Trading Company’s broad selection of new and consignment home furnishings and decor. In 2011, the charming Grotto Café was added to bring even more to the table at this family-owned and operated endeavor. “Consignment is always fun,” says Louann Robertson, owner of Red Truck Trading Company. “You can always find new pieces. We really try to be different and work hard to create vignettes so people can visualize how the items will look in their homes. We only take things in excellent condition. Both our buyers and sellers are high-end clientele.” Robertson prides herself on presenting all of her products in organized and attractive ways. There are always new items coming in. At the time of this writing, there were Zapotec wool rugs, a carved mesquite dining table, a one-of-a-kind midcentury Norwegian desk of solid walnut and a pale gray linen couch that appeared brand new. Many pieces are from vacation homes and are only lightly used. Red Truck Trading Company’s general manager Antonio Peirce is always accepting new deliveries and re-arranging the store’s treasures. “We have a lot of international items because of corporate relocations,” Peirce says. “I’ve had teak from Thailand, Antique Persian rugs from Iran. We have options for every room in the house.” While the business’s 10,000 square feet has always featured about 90% consignment items, Robertson and her son, Curtis Arny, are in escrow to purchase the entire complex, which is also home to Tame Studio Salon and Boutique and Sergio Ladron Art Gallery. At the center of it all, Robertson and Arny are adding an exciting new element: New West Gallery.

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Louann Robertson, right, features the art of Lance Headlee, left, at New West Gallery.

Writer Shannon Severson Photography Bryan Black and f ebruary 2020 by imagesar iz ona .cLance om Headlee

New West Gallery showroom

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“New West is our high-end, contemporary Western look,” Robertson says. “It’s a custom line of furniture and will feature the art of Lance Headlee. It’s going to be a great fit for people who want new furniture and then they can add in items from our consignment collection. The furniture is high quality, the manufacturer’s customer service is first class and the price point is good. You don’t want to be married to a couch.” Step inside New West Gallery to black walls, copper industrial accents and a 16-foot-wide glass wall that opens up to the outdoors where a paved patio will connect to the restaurant’s outdoor eating area. The American-made furniture at New West Gallery features contemporary shapes with traditional Western-style accents. For example, track armed sofas are covered in ochre leather with nailhead trim. A pair of Zebraupholstered swivel chairs are arranged in front of a Headlee painting entitled, “Animal Protection,” with a boldly depicted Bonnie and Clyde pair in a safari setting. The vibe is fun and unexpected. “Hopefully it will go over well,” Robertson says. “Lance Headlee’s art is a fresh take on Western. His paintings look great in the gallery space. I love how his version of ‘Bonnie’ is a girl wearing chaps and a hat but holding an iPhone and a vintage Louis Vuitton bag. My own home’s style is straight out of Italy, but his pieces fit right in, as they do with any decor.” Robertson envisions utilizing the space for special events. With the new connected outdoor space and a planned bar area, it will also expand

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the event capabilities of the popular Grotto Café, which is operated by and co-owned with Arny. The cafe is part of a pair of buildings originally constructed by the hands of a ceramicist. Its cement building blocks are inset with sea glass, quartz and accent rocks. The lower consignment area, which once held kilns, has a ceiling of wood batten and columns lined with sculpted ceramic forms. In the cafe itself, windows light the rooms and afford views of the beautifully maintained desert gardens that flow throughout the property. It feels like a storybook discovery—one that just happens to have really delicious food, drinks, and fun rock-and-roll decor. Robertson’s husband, Mike Seitts is an avid music fan who created the fun vibe that has become the café’s trademark. “We have developed our menu over time, but I’ve always been passionate about consistency and guest service,” says Arny, whose extensive background with a prominent Southern California restaurant group got him his start in the business.

Red Truck Trading Company showroom

“We make our own pastries, bake our scones and muffins from scratch and we have a dedicated customer base. I’m really proud of our great reviews and it’s exciting to see how much we have grown over the years.” The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days per week. While it is a popular spot for visiting snowbirds who are known to enjoy a mid-morning Bloody Mary or Mimosa—yes, they have a liquor license—the endearingly mismatched tables and chairs fill up quickly in the hottest days of summer, too. The rough-hewn stone walls just feel cool and refreshing when the day is blisteringly hot outside. Arny strives to continue the feeling of family with his staff of 23. He has been able to take his background in large restaurant operating systems and successfully apply it on a smaller scale at Grotto Café. He has hosted some very special events, including the 90th birthday of famed Hollywood and

The Grotto Café

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Broadway choreographer Dee Dee Wood—whose credits include “The Sound of Music,” “Mary Poppins” and Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime show. “Dee Dee was even on the cover of Time Magazine,” Arny says. “She comes in often. Being a part of her celebration was really an honor for us.” Robertson has a track record of positive community relationships and running successful businesses. She has always landed on her feet, even if it means taking a few calculated risks. She owned her own software development company for 12 years and worked with major corporations all over the country. When Robertson decided to sell the business and stay closer to home in the Cave Creek/Carefree area, she obtained her real estate license and routinely remodeled, staged and sold homes. “2009 came and it wasn’t a good time to be a real estate agent,” she says. “I needed to re-invent myself once again. I’m kind of the queen of doing that. Everyone except my dad thought I was crazy to open Red Truck Trading, but I did it anyway.” Taking that chance has led to great success. The iconic red truck that Robertson bought as a birthday present for Seitts continues to bring in customers new and old, and the future remains bright for this industrious hometown family business. Red Truck Trading Company, New West Gallery and The Grotto Café 6501 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek redtrucktrading.com thegrottocafe.com

f ebruary 2020

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The art of R. Nelson Parrish might appear as varied as his background and diverse interests. Parrish is a painter, sculptor, muralist and photographer. He is drawn to adventure sports as a means to push the body and mind to further limits. He has traveled around the world. He has worked at a roller rink, in digital marketing and on Capitol Hill. But move in closer and you will see a common thread that runs through Parrish’s work, philosophy and perspective. It is something that connects all of us: time, our shifting perspective of it, and how to capture a story in a single moment. “If you look at my entire body of work, it can be seen from the lens of expansion and contraction of time,” Parrish says. “I want to create works that people can come at from multiple vantage points. I like the idea of art being inclusive rather than exclusive. You don’t need to know about the post-modern aesthetic or the neoclassicism that’s in my work to appreciate it.” All of his art is narrative. It is not painting for painting’s sake or sculpture just to celebrate form, though he does not object to such an approach by others. For Parrish, each piece is a moment in a story this third-generation Alaskan feels compelled to tell. His goal is to coax the observer to pause and connect with a feeling or emotion, and to be inspired. “In all of my work, the subtext is viewer empowerment,” Parrish says. “I’m really more interested in creating a piece of work that allows the viewer to transport themselves somewhere else. There’s no wrong answer.

Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Jonas Jungblut

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R. Nelson Parrish sitting in front of "21 Flags" intallation. Flag "Ted" to artist's right is currently in the US Senate building in Washington DC. f ebruary 2020

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SHELBY Fast. Unstoppable. Fearless. Always ready for a race. Zooms recklessly down the rain-slicked roads. Accelerates through the darkness, feeling nothing but freedom.

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“Most of my works don’t have an orientation. Just like a record album, there are A-sides and B-sides. Some songs are better than others, but I can’t stop you from dropping beats on your DJ set. It’s yours. Art should be dynamic. It reflects a time period, but great artwork is timeless.” His “21 Flags” series, pieces of which can be seen at Carefree’s Grace Renee Gallery, is a presentation of varied perspectives on the American flag. “I use the flag as an idea that is inclusive,” Parrish explains. “Each representation of the flag pulls from a part of our history. Our definition of ‘American’ varies and nobody is wrong. When we put it all together, our real strength and power is when we are all unified.” In some instances, it takes a moment to realize the flag is being depicted because they are abstractions, using paint and sometimes negative space to represent the different iterations and representations of the flag over time. It is a uniquely American artifact with its own mythology and symbolism, celebrated in art, raised or trampled in protest, displayed with pride, brandished in war. “If you look at the work itself, it’s a reference to time,” Parrish explains. “The pigment sits stagnant. It’s laid down and dries quickly. Scraping causes the stripes. History moves along, events—bits and pieces—solidify to define each era. We only get to see that portion of time that shows through. “Today, history is moving fast. The stripes themselves are almost like film strips or white noise. So much information is coming it us, it can get muddled, but when we step back, it makes sense.” Parrish purposely painted the flags on paper to show the tenuous nature of democracy.

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PATSY, LORETTA AND DOLLY Tenacious. Vibrant. Alive. Spurns convention with conviction and flair. Equal parts tender and tough. Blazing the trail to the future.

“America is seemingly robust, but democracy is a fragile thing,” he says. “If you twist it the wrong way, it can’t be put back together. Our country, written out in the Constitution, is a concept that was well thought out and we are trying to execute that concept well. “The ideals of America are both a document and an artifact. The Constitution is a piece of paper under bulletproof glass. That document means so much to so many people and that meaning is represented and illustrated in so many ways.” Why 21? Parrish notes that in American culture, the number represents an epistemic shift. It is the winning number in Blackjack, the drinking age, the winning point in a pick-up game and the number of gunshots we use to salute our heroes. It is a number that means something has changed. When he began the project in 2018, it was in response to seeing our country experiencing a major shift—a tumultuous presidential election, the ubiquity of the iPhone and the pervasiveness of social media. “It’s referential to myself, as well,” he says. “I’m no longer just a person, I’m now a father. On a macro level, it’s about what is going on with our country. On a micro level, it’s what was going on with me. Families change; people evolve. And there is nothing wrong with that, but things will never be what they used to be. Tomorrow should always be different than yesterday. Time does not allow us to go backward.” Up ahead, Parrish envisions a new iteration of the “21 Flags” project in 2021, perhaps at regular intervals in the future. He is keeping the details close to the vest, but he says it will be very different. “I want to create a series that is referential to what is important in our country,” he explains. “What is it people need to see and be reminded of? There is always work that needs to be done. “I have always wanted to inspire people. I’m a nobody who grew up 12 miles north of America’s northernmost stoplight. If a guy like me can have the slightest positive effect on culture and society, that means anybody can do it. Hopefully these works will be there to say—in the most American sense possible—if you dream big and work hard enough, it can happen.” rnelsonparrish.com gracereneegallery.com

TOWN OF CAVE CREEK ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CAVE CREEK CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Feb. 29, 2020 Stagecoach Village (7100 East Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331)

1-5 p.m.

Great craft breweries all in one location. Pub Food (for purchase) Live Music by Lindsey Vogt

General admission $45.00

(General entry gets you a cool sampling mug and 20 drink tickets so you can try your favorite beers as well as some new brews)

VIP tickets are $60

(Available online for pre-sale only. Early access at noon plus a cool mug to remember the event and sample your brews in. A $7.00 food voucher to purchase some pub grub and 5 extra drink tickets.)

Tickets available online only at www.eventbrite.com, hurry and get your VIP ticket now before its too late. For more information or to participate as a vendor or brewery visit: Cavecreekcraftbeerfestival.com, or Call Adam Stein at 480-488-6636. f ebruary 2020

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest and Samuel Xu

Pianist Samuel Xu believes that music is more than just a combination of sounds that have rhythm, melody or harmony. “Music is a language that is meant to be shared with others,” he says. “It is a very powerful force. Just look at how many important ways that music has been incorporated into our world.” Xu is an alum of Arizona Musicfest’s Young Musicians program. For the past 30 years, the program has identified, supported and promoted aspiring young musicians in the Valley. Now a freshman studying piano performance at the Eastman School of Music in New York, he has been invited back to the Valley to play a solo alongside the prestigious Festival Orchestra, which features musicians from some of the nation’s finest ensembles. Xu will perform Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at La Casa de Cristo Church in Scottsdale. In addition to Xu’s solo, the evening will also include performances of Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” and Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

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The concert is part of Arizona Musicfest’s Festival Orchestra Week, which takes place Feb. 16–23 at various venues throughout the Valley. Other programs that are part of the five-concert series include a celebration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday, a night of music inspired by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’s novel “Don Quixote” and a salute to film composer John Williams. Xu admits that he is feeling quite a bit of pressure— especially given the high-caliber of musicians with whom he will be sharing the stage. Represented ensembles include the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, National Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. “It is almost overwhelming,” he says. “But the piece that I am going to play is going to be very fun. It takes a lot of practice but I think it will be very enjoyable.” Arizona Musicfest Executive and Producing Director Allan Naplan says that the organization is exceptionally proud to feature Xu—someone in which the organization has strongly invested—as part of this year’s program to perform alongside the ensemble’s world-class musicians. “Players from the nation's top orchestras come here for just one week,” Naplan says. “This will be the first time that we are including a young musician with the Festival Orchestra—which is an unbelievable credit for Mr. Xu that he gets to solo with players of major orchestras. He is an amazing prodigy pianist who has gone through our whole system of competitions and masterclasses.” Through its Young Musicians program, Arizona Musicfest recognizes the outstanding talents of young musicians and provides a space where young competitors can perform for and receive evaluations from some of the community’s finest musicians. Through the program, the organization also distributes monetary awards to winners, with standout participants earning performance opportunities. Students are also invited to attend masterclasses and private lessons with some of Arizona Musicfest’s featured performers. The organization then sponsors two first-year and four continuing students pursuing undergraduate studies through the Arizona Musicfest Scholarship Program. Since 2011, the Arizona Musicfest Scholarship Program has awarded more than $90,000 to Arizona students pursuing college degrees in music. f ebruary 2020

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Xu, who first entered Arizona Musicfest’s Young Musicians competitions when he was 12 years old, says that the organization has served as one of his primary sources of encouragement and inspiration over the years. “I established connections with the organizers and they gave me a lot of performance opportunities,” Xu explains. “They have been gracious enough to offer me concert opportunities so that I could perform with other professionals. I think that it is really cool how they extend all of these opportunities to young musicians in the Valley. That is something that you rarely see—especially up to this magnitude.” Samuel Xu

Xu was also encouraged and inspired by attending many of the concerts that Arizona Musicfest has brought to the Valley. In fact, simply listening to music has had a tremendous impact on the musician—including getting him through an extremely difficult time during his early childhood. When he was 4 years old, Xu was diagnosed with aplastic anemia—a serious disorder that stops the body from producing enough new blood cells. Had it not been for a transplant he received from his sister, he may not be here today. And had it not been for the music that he listened to, those challenging early years may have broken him. Recognizing the incredible power of music—particularly classical music—a 5-year-old Xu started taking piano lessons from his parents Fei Xu and Hong Zhu, both of whom are piano teachers. It was an enjoyable and cathartic hobby. But when he turned 11 years old, Xu started getting much more serious about it.

“One morning, my dad just looked at my hands and said, 'You have a lot of potential,’” Xu explains. “The piano is a versatile instrument. I feel like I can do a lot of things with it. It is an instrument that I can explore and enjoy.” In addition to several first- and secondplace wins at Arizona Musicfest’s Young Musicians competitions, Xu won the International Institute for Young Musicians International Piano Competition, the Arizona State Music Teachers National Association Junior Piano Competition, the Arizona Young Artist Piano Competition and the Steinway Avanti Star Piano Competition. Xu’s accomplishments propelled him to where he is now, studying piano performance at the Eastman School of Music in New York and preparing for a prestigious solo with the world-class Festival Orchestra at the invitation of the organization that played an integral part of his success. Today, Xu draws inspiration from all of the exciting things that he sees other artists doing with music. As he continues to advance along on his own journey as an artist, he is more motivated than ever to share his language with others and to use the powerful force of music for good. “I want to have a formal performance career,” Xu says. “I could also teach, which I think would be a very enriching experience for me. I would also like to incorporate classical music with digital or visual art. That is a project that I have been interested in since applying for college. “It is my mission to communicate music, to gain a deeper understanding of it and to be more artistically mature.” azmusicfest.org

f ebruary 2020

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"Copper Desert" by Ed Mell

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kirstin Atwell Ford has been making movies for more than 25 years. However, the Arizona native believes that working on her latest project—a documentary about the unprecedented collaboration between three American masters—has been the most transformative experience of her career. “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera” is a documentary about the artistry behind Arizona Opera's production of “Riders of the Purple Sage”—a fully staged musical adaptation of author Zane Grey’s novel of the same name. The film will celebrate its world premiere 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Scottsdale’s Museum of the West will host the event, which is part of the city’s annual Western Week that culminates with Parada Del Sol. The museum’s director and CEO Michael J. Fox says that it is his organization’s mission to immerse people in the unique story of the west and that “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera” does precisely that. “The documentary captures a powerful chapter in our regional history and the lasting impact of artists who have expanded the narrative from Old West to the New West,” Fox says.

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THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera” briefly begins on opening night of the opera before flashing back in time to composer Craig Bohmler’s initial discovery of Grey’s literary works. Atwell Ford recalls the dinner conversation she had with Bohmler in 2012 during which he relayed the story of his discovery to her. He told her that he was hiking in Payson when it started to rain so he decided to visit the Rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin. “He did not really know who Zane Grey was but he discovered that he is the writer who essentially created the Western genre,” says Atwell Ford, noting that Grey not only wrote more than 60 Western novels—many of them based on his experiences in Arizona—but was also one of the first writers to start making films from his novels. “In that way, Grey influenced the worldwide perception of the West.” Bohmler told Atwell Ford that he was so fascinated by Grey that he was inspired to begin reading “Riders of the Purple Sage”—a novel that when published in 1912 was translated into 20 languages and became an instant worldwide bestseller. It is also the only Western on the Library of Congress's list of 100 Books That Shaped America. As Bohmler spoke of how operatic he thought the story was, Atwell Ford’s mind was inherently filled with visions world-renowned landscape painter Ed Mell’s artwork. She shared these visions with Bohmler and the visual environment for an opera inspired by “Riders of the Purple Sage” was hatched. “Ed Mell works in a very three-dimensional way,” Atwell Ford says. “There is very often a foreground, a mid-ground and a far backdrop. His work really lends itself to being put into a stage environment in three dimensions. He had achieved an unparalleled pinnacle of success in the art world but he had always been interested in designing for the stage so he was excited to come on board. Atwell Ford then asked Bohmler if he would be open to her documenting the process of the opera coming together for a film. He agreed and shooting began immediately.

TRACING THE ARTISTIC PROCESS Through the film, Atwell Ford analyses the different artistic processes of each major character—Zane Grey, Craig Bohmler and Ed Mell.

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Photo Courtesy of TimTrumble

Photo by Robert Pflumm

Photo Courtesy of TimTrumble

“We learn a little bit about who Zane Grey was and his impact,” she explains. “He would take these trips out into Arizona’s backcountry and find locations and characters and fashion stories about them.” The director followed along as the artistic team behind the opera visited the places that inspired Grey. That, in turn, inspired many of the decisions that they made in the opera. “We take a look at how the Arizona landscape influenced Craig to write his score and how it influences Ed Mell in his artwork,” Atwell Ford says. The film continues tracing the artistic process, showing everything from the sets being constructed and the costumes being built to the singers rehearsing and the opera’s director adding her vision to the production. “It steamrolls into this big moment of opening night where no one is really sure if it is going to work,” Atwell Ford says. “And it played to sold-out audiences who were on their feet every night. The electricity at Symphony Hall was remarkable.” As if seeing the success of “Riders of the Purple” was not inspiring enough, Atwell Ford had the added benefit of exploring how other artists approach their work while filming her documentary. “These are artists who are serious professionals,” she says. “Getting to see the inner-workings of their processes has been life-changing.” Atwell Ford is therefore thrilled for audiences to also reap the benefits of seeing those processes in “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera.”

EXPERIENCE “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera” Wednesday, Feb. 5 | 7 p.m. | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale | $18 | 480-499-8587 | scottsdaleperformingarts.org

“I am really excited for everyone to come to the world premiere and see something that is meaningful to them in the film—whether it is the landscapes, the paintings, the music, the libretto, the performances or the book itself,” she says. “It is really just an amazing tapestry of one aspect of Arizona's arts and culture.”

CELEBRATING ARIZONA ARTS AND CULTURE After the Feb. 5 world premiere at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Atwell Ford will take “Riders of the Purple Sage” to the film festival circuit. However, she assures that there will be additional opportunities for audiences to see the documentary later this year. Additionally, the opera itself is making its triumphant return as part of Arizona Opera’s 2019-20 Main Stage Season with performances scheduled for Feb. 28–March 1 at Symphony Hall in Phoenix. Joseph Specter, president and general director of Arizona Opera, says that “Riders of the Purple Sage” transformed the organization as well as the community’s perception of its art form. “We are proud and honored to have a documentary of this caliber capture the creation of Arizona Opera’s first world premiere as we mount the first revival of ‘Riders of the Purple Sage’ on our Main Stage this season,” Specter says. Atwell Ford believes that “Riders of the Purple Sage” is a cutting-edge piece of theater based on a story that really gets to the root of the American character. “‘Riders of the Purple Sage’ is a provocative story of the settling of the West,” she says. “It is our story told through the writing, music and paintings of some of our nation’s finest artists. In centuries to come, it will be known as Arizona’s distinct cultural contribution to the art form of opera.” She feels unparalleled passion for the opera as well as for her film—which she says has been a large-yet-rewarding endeavor. “It has been just a phenomenal experience,” the filmmaker explains. “Everyone who has come on board the film and the opera itself has some type of family history in Arizona and recognizes that ‘Riders of the Purple Sage’ is our opportunity to highlight the world-class work that Arizona artists do and really celebrate Arizona arts and culture.” ridersoperafilm.com f ebruary 2020

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Writer Lisa Van Loo Photography Courtesy of Thunderbird Artists

Randy O’Brien’s tools may seem familiar: the doughy balls of clay, the spinning wheel, the sponges and the spray. They all fit in a potter’s studio. But O’Brien—the featured artist at Thunderbird Artists Spring Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival—is regularly taking a left turn where other potters may ordinarily play it straight. Inside his Tucson studio, O’Brien relies on a process he developed over the course of 10 years to create otherworldly ceramics that, to the untrained, up-close eye, resemble tropical lava fields in the early stages of rebirth—or deep-sea discoveries known only to cold-blooded creatures looking for a safe haven in saltwater. “I just set up all these dominoes, and everything falls into place,” he says.

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TheHornyToad.com

O’Brien is one of 160 acclaimed artists who will be participating in Thunderbird Artists Spring Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival, which will take place Feb. 28–March 1 in downtown Carefree. In addition to the artists and their work, the three-day festival will also feature live music from violinist Teresa Joy, who will be performing daily throughout the event. She will be joined by her father—world-renowned flamenco guitarist Esteban—for special appearances. Premier contemporary jazz/funk group Afterglow is also scheduled to perform. The festival will also feature an extensive collection of domestic and imported wines for tasting. For $10, patrons will receive an engraved souvenir wine glass with six tasting tickets, allowing them to stroll throughout the event, sipping samples while taking in the beautiful ambience of downtown Carefree.

6738 E. Cave Creek Road 480-488-9542 Sunday – Thursday 11 am – 9 pm Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm Your Community Restaurant Since 1976

Lunch • Dinner • Events • Full Bar Takeout & Catering Available!

THE MAGIC OF MINERAL FORMATIONS AND LICHENS O’Brien’s unique style, which finishes with an explosion of vibrant color over a glazed ceramic vessel, found its origin in the 1980s. O’Brien was experimenting, trying different types of glaze and surface treatments, finding himself eager to push the limits of a crawl glaze further, to new depths. He tried different application techniques, and played with unconventional minerals, trying to create a glaze that was different than what was traditionally used. He was looking to take the cracks that formed in the glaze— features he refers to as platelets—to the next level. “I had the idea of making those platelets several inches, and thick, so they have some real depth and they’re not just a thin skin over the clay,” he says. “So, it’s a threedimensional sculptural form over the clay.” And, after a decade of tinkering and adjusting, that is what he achieved. “I’ve taken it to a scale where no one else is,” he says. O’Brien, who started his ceramics career as a student at the University of California at Berkeley, has found a groove with the cracked ceramic vessels that he’s made his calling card. And, in recent years, he’s found ways to add a powerful punch to his work by injecting each piece with vibrant colors or combinations of colors.

It's A Toad kind Of Love

Valentines Day Special Dinner for 2 & Champagne Toast 12 oz Prime Rib or Grilled Salmon Your Choice of Potato Vegetable & Side Salad 1/2 Order of Strawberry Shortcake to Share

$55

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f ebruary 2020

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Potter Randy O'Brien is the featured artist at Thunderbird Artists Spring Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival.

“I was looking at mineral formations and lichens and corals and nature, and they can often be quite bright. I wanted to introduce brilliant color to my work,” he says. “Twenty years ago, these pieces were much more earth-toned. I’ve gradually gotten them brighter and brighter to as bright as they possibly can be.” By bright, he means lime green. Or a combination of orange and yellow that creates an almost neon effect. Or a burning red, that stands up against and out from the dark, cracked glaze below it in a striking way.

EXPERIMENTING WITH ENVELOPE VASES O’Brien spends about 90 days a year on the road, traveling to shows throughout the country, which is nothing to say of the time he spent in Malaysia as a high schooler—where, as an exchange student, he learned he was completely enthralled with ceramics. Formal training immediately followed his return to the U.S., and he quickly began creating and selling his work in order to pay for school.

EXPERIENCE Thunderbird Artists Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival Feb. 28–March 1 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Downtown Carefree | 101 Easy Street, Carefree | $3; youth under 18 free; additional fee for wine tasting i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m fe b r uary 2 02 0 78thunderbirdartists.com

“It gave me an unrealistic vision of how easy life would be as a potter,” he says of his early success. “It gave me a perspective that I couldn’t fail; that it was certainly doable. Because of that, I never gave up.” He eventually earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and chose to explore and learn in Alaska before settling in Arizona. “In the beginning, I lived very frugally and I spent all of my time in the studio,” he says. “I was just in love with it and wanted to spend all my time in the studio. I was working 16 hours a day, seven days a week for the first 10 years, just scraping by. But it helped me develop the skills I have now.” O’Brien is currently relying on those skills—and new ones he’s picked up along the way—to create a new type of envelope vase for which he’s quite smitten, both visually and tactically speaking. He expects to feature a number of the envelope-style vases during Thunderbird Artists Spring Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival. “Those are hard for me to keep in stock,” he says. They involve an altered process, different from the wheel-thrown, more functional, vessels he has spent years creating in his studio. Because of their shape, different steps are required, as is a new level of focus from O’Brien as he’s creating. “The wheel-thrown pieces, I can just do it with my eyes closed,” he says. “I don’t even have to think. It was kind of holding me back from making something that was completely original.”

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But the envelope vases beg him to critically analyze his every move.

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“They’re more technically challenging. And, they’re more visually interesting,” he says of the pieces. “I have to be completely aware and focused on what I’m doing so I don’t mess them up. It’s very challenging. When I put them in the kiln, I breathe a sigh of relief.” thunderbirdartists.com

$129.00 Normally

Call or Text 480.463.1696 to Schedule your Appointment! f ebruary 2020

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Loralei Lazurak and Bill Watters/Air Major Media

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Carefree's First House

MAKING MEMORIES H WESTERN STYLE

OLD WEST SPIRIT NEW WEST TALENT

About seven decades ago, two men, KT Palmer and Tom Darlington, had a wild idea. They wanted to create an upscale community in the Arizona desert — the next Palm Springs — where the rich and famous could live and play. They imagined homes integrated into the striking desert terrain, and peaceful vistas where luxury was second only to privacy. Off of desolate dirt roads left rutted by cattle and horses, the two men found a vast expanse of desert where Precambrian granite outcrops appeared as if they were dropped by giants. Giant saguaros, ocotillos and teddy bear cholla spread bouquets of color through granite and schist crags, hidden by wild groves of mesquites and ironwoods. They discovered an old goat farm with a well tapped into a sizeable water source, and in 1955, they bought the homestead and its 400 surrounding acres for $44,000. This would be the place they’d begin their own community — a place like none other. That place would be Carefree, and in the coming years, Darlington, Palmer and a colorful character named Gerry Jones would turn their little section of Arizona into one of the most famous towns in Arizona.

GROWING THE DREAM In 1952, Darlington and Palmer found themselves in need of someone who could bring their ideas to fruition. They needed a design architect, and not just anyone with a drafting table would do. They needed someone who was passionate about creating homes where indoor spaces were seamlessly interwoven with outdoor spaces. They needed someone who could envision something great before a single foundation was poured. And, to be real, they needed someone determined enough — or naïve enough — to drive 30 miles up bone-jarring dirt roads to hear what they had to say.

6130 East Cave Creek Road • Cave Creek, AZ

www.lastiendascavecreek.com f ebruary 2020

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Huebner Residence

Heidtman Residence

Sherer Residence

Gerry Jones was that man, and when Darlington and Palmer told him they wanted to build luxury homes in what felt like the middle of nowhere, he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blink. Instead, he got to work.

CAREFREE BY DESIGN Conceptualizing a community like Carefree was not an ordinary endeavor; but then again, Jones is not an ordinary guy. Born on an Indiana farm during the Great Depression, young Gerry began working the night shift at a bakery at the age of 11 to help his family survive. He served as a sergeant in the Marines during World War II and Korea, then remained in China, where he was intrigued by Far East concepts of history, politics and philosophy. He studied martial arts and jai alai, and sought answers to questions much deeper than his Midwest roots. While in Asia, Jones was fascinated by the design and feel of ancient Buddhist monasteries. Instead of being built upon the land, they were integrated with the land. Not only did the natural surroundings remain undisturbed by their construction, it appeared to have become part of the landscape.

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This became the foundational principle of Jones’ designs, and it was exactly what Palmer and Darlington were looking for in the creation of Carefree.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Jones didn’t always agree with Darlington and Palmer on the details. In fact, though Darlington and Palmer were enthusiastic about the street names the town is now known for, Jones was not. Never Mind Trail, Huff N Puff Place, Lazy Lane, Tranquil Trail and more were decided when, at a dinner party, Palmer mentioned that street names had not yet been chosen. As the story goes, jovial guests began contributing their ideas, and so they came to be. Jones was less than convinced. In fact, he didn’t think anyone would want to live in a place with such silly names. It was one of the few topics Jones was wrong about, however. Before long, even major nationwide publications were talking about the leisurely community in the desert where one could walk down Easy Street.

LAYING THE GROUND WORK When it came to laying out the roads and plats, like everything else he did, Jones took a bit of an unconventional approach. An avid rock climber, he hiked and climbed through every acre of untamed land, sketching a map as he went along. He used his rough maps to lay out roads and configure lots. He also documented guidelines, creating rules for development that would eventually become part of the Maricopa County Hillside Ordinance. In 1958, just one year after the three men shook hands, Jones broke ground on the first two homes in Carefree. The first, located on Bloody Basin Road, was to be the DeMille House. The second home, located on Long Rifle Road, was to be the home of KT Palmer. Darlington’s home would later be built on Peaceful Place.

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Houses in Carefree sold for about $80,000 to $90,000, about six times the cost of a home in Phoenix. Though the price was exorbitant at the time, it would have been an incredible investment today. For example, a 2.5acre improved lot on Black Mountain sold for $2,700 in 1959. Today, it would be valued at about $850,000. In all, Jones designed and built about 140 homes in Carefree, and about 300 homes in the Valley, including on Camelback and Mummy Mountains, Pinnacle Peak, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Clearwater Hills and Cave Creek. He brought his expertise to Taliesin West’s Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, where, for 17 years, he taught extreme terrain architecture. His unique style, a bit of Spanish Mission architecture mixed with a more contemporary use of flow, light and open spaces with lowslung rooflines and natural materials, continues to define the community. Gerry Jones maintains that he is not a founder of Carefree, but looking at the scope of his work and the accomplishments he continues to achieve, the line between founding the community and defining it is blurred. Hugh Downs, Paul Harvey and Extra Large Underwear Along the way, Gerry Jones built a life that included experiences that, even decades later, seem a bit surreal. Carefree became quite the spot for the country’s who’s who, and Jones was right in the middle of it all. Among his memories are times he spent hiking and rock climbing with Hugh Downs. Jones designed a residence for

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the “Today” and “20/20” personality and his wife, Ruth, and he remembers putting the first repelling bolts in the Carefree boulder pile while Downs’ daughter played below. In 1968, Downs and Jones decided to build the first fly-in home in America in what is now Carefree Airpark. After designing, building and decorating it to the nines, the home was marketed as a pilot’s dream. From golf to its own private hangar, it was quite the to-do. On opening day, Downs flew his plane in and taxied up to the home’s hangar. Aware of his audience, he grabbed his golf clubs and sauntered into the wine reception taking place. It was a large statement — and a brilliant one — but it didn’t work quite as they’d imagined. As it happened, the home was purchased by Earl Bartholomew, an engineer and inventor who didn’t fly, didn’t have an airplane and was not a golfer. Bartholomew ended up using the hangar as his workshop, where he developed several industrial patents. Paul Harvey and his wife Angel were also Carefree residents, moving into their home on Lot 266 of Carefree Drive in 1968. The home was built with a sound studio so Paul could broadcast his nationwide program from Carefree in the cold winter months. Paul loved to walk and hike, and Jones often hiked with him. Once, during his show, Harvey referred to American deaths during a Vietnam battle as “light casualties.” Jones, whose service during World War II and Korea had left lasting impacts, confronted Harvey while the two climbed Elephant Butte, saying that there was no such thing as a light casualty. Harvey never used that term again.

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Allan Mayer, heir to the Oscar Mayer company, and his wife, Lois, were considering the purchase of a 20-acre parcel high on Black Mountain in 1972. The problem was that there was no road, and the lot was unimproved. Jones took the couple on a steep and strenuous climb up the mountain from Stagecoach Pass. For hours they climbed, and when they reached the destination, they looked out over the Valley and took in the breathtaking views. Glancing into the distance, Jones spotted a dust storm coming in. Keeping his cool, he encouraged the couple to head back down the mountain’s steep slopes. Their descent began too late, however, and they ended up taking cover behind a large boulder. Winds blew, cholla balls flew into the trio, and they were pounded with rain as they huddled behind the rock. Over the howling of the wind, during the worst moment of the storm, Lois leaned her face into Jones’ ear and shouted emphatically, “No sale!” The couple instead bought a five-acre parcel in Carefree Highlands. They also bought the Black Mountain lot and donated it to Maricopa Mountain Preserve. Another story that still brings a laugh happened in 1974 when Carefree residents Ross and Phoebe Slingman rented out their house to Orson Wells. Ross Slingman drafted a strict lease forbidding Wells and his housemate, John Huston, from photographing or filming at the home. They asked Jones to watch over the house in their absence.

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Sure enough, the two filmmakers couldn’t resist setting up cameras. Jones reported his discovery of lights on the patio, and Wells and Huston were promptly evicted. Upon their return, the Slingmans were greeted with a devastating sight. A car had smashed in the front wall of the guest house, and some of their most valuable heirlooms, including a Louis XIV desk, were floating in the swimming pool. The place was all but destroyed, and among the mire were several pairs of Wells’ size 68 underwear. Once remodelers and time had healed the Slingmans’ wounds, they made the most of the situation. Each year, on the anniversary of the fateful eviction, they ran a pair of Wells’ extra large underwear up the flagpole and enjoyed a bottle of wine.

EXPERIENCE Gerry Jones Home Tour Sunday, March 8 | 9 a.m.–noon; noon–3 p.m.; 3–6 p.m. | Tickets $75; available at Cave Creek Museum | 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek 480-488-2764 | cavecreekmuseum.org

Gerry Jones Featured Exhibit Wednesdays and Thursdays 1–4:30 p.m. | Fridays 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Saturdays and Sundays 1–4:30 p.m. | Cave Creek Museum m aSkyline g e s a r i z oDrive, na.com fe bCreek r uary 2 02 0 Cave | 480-488-2764 | cavecreekmuseum.org 886140 iE.

A CELEBRATION OF LEGACY Through the years, Carefree has grown and morphed into a quiet town where the rich and famous still live and play in relative anonymity. Arts and culture have made a resurrection of sorts, as the community has welcomed and nourished an increasing number of artists, musicians and performers. Jones is the last of the original Carefree trio. He finished his latest home in Black Mountain’s Nighthawk subdivision in 2018, and his signature design has etched its way into the landscape just as sunshine has etched lines in his skin. March 8, Cave Creek Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the Gerry Jones featured exhibit and a one-day home tour of six unique and outstanding residences he created. Workshops and special events will be held at the museum and at other locations to celebrate Jones’ legacy throughout February and March. Home tour participants will visit the homes via chauffeured buses in three shifts throughout the day, 9 a.m.– noon; noon–3 p.m.; and 3–6 p.m. Residences are multi-level and are not ADA accessible. To quote Cave Creek Museum director Karrie Porter Brace, the exhibit and home tour “celebrate the imagination, aesthetic and resolve that initiated and continues to give the desert foothills its wonderful signature character.”

Each Visit includEs:

• Visual inspection of all rooms • Check HW heater • Check for pests, insects • Check landscaping, pool and spa • Check for signs of leaking • Check thermostats • Visual inspection of garage and systems • Run water, flush toilets • Check fridge

Weekly Checks While You’re Away

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HomeWatchAZ sends a report with photos detailing any problems via email after each inspection. We work with a large network of trusted contractors and servicemen, and can arrange & oversee cleaning and repairs. We meet deliveries, pest control and tailor our services to meet your individual needs.

Serving the NE Valley including Scottsdale, Carefree, Cave Creek and Desert Ridge since 1998.

602-909-6635 Our mission is simple...

“We relieve the stress of leaving your home vacant for extended periods of time.” Diane Mitchell - Owner

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R e f e r e n c e s

A v a i l a b l e

•

B o n d e d

f ebruary 2020

I n s u r e d

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Writer: Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Xquenda Spa at Rancho Mañana

Xquenda (pronounced ‘ek’ skwen da) is a Native American and Zapotec word meaning “spirit, soul, essence.” At Xquenda Spa at Rancho Mañana in Cave Creek, owner Shandell Stanisic has created a beautiful, restful environment to renew the spirits and enhance the lives of her many loyal patrons who visit from around the world. “I’m very passionate about the spiritual nature of people,” says Stanisic. “When I first walked through the doors to apply for a job in 2015, I knew I would own this place someday. Something about the natural surroundings, the architecture of the building, the energy here, it just spoke to me. I feel like we are in the most beautiful and sacred place on earth.” After working as a manager for four years, Stanisic purchased the business and recently celebrated a very successful first anniversary. A former Nike Athlete, she has an international background as a business owner, fitness professional, instructor and skin esthetician. “I am so pleased with how well we are doing,” she says. “I feel like I’ve come full circle. We are carrying the torch to keep this spa going and I’ve been able to implement the programs I’ve always envisioned right here in the community I love. I completely re-did the salon and lash studio and I have so many future plans. It has really taken off.”

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She selected the name Xquenda for its relevance to past and purpose. “I chose Xquenda to pay tribute to those who have lived here in previous times,” she explains. “As I was researching the Zapotec traditions, I discovered that our unique Kiva room looks much like the type of temple the Zapotec people used to honor their ancestors. I thought that was pretty interesting.” The round Kiva room, with a central fountain lit by an overhead skylight, is surrounded by cushioned nooks where one can sit or lie down, enveloped in a cozy robe, and draw the curtains for privacy while awaiting the next service. Water infused with lemon and herbs from the spa’s own garden is available for sipping. The serene room is part of the beautiful, calming environment that Stanisic and her highly experienced, carefully selected team provide. The spa has a complete range of options for holistic wellness, therapies and integrated beauty modalities with the latest options for facials and natural facelifts. It offers recognized and licensed therapy for pain, trauma, weight management, life changes and spiritual relations. The new lash studio, revitalized hair studio with Master Stylist, Scarlett, Nail Technician, Lauren, and makeup salon with Permanent Makeup Artist Aesthetician, Yana, rounds out a full offering of massages (with DiTina, Tina and Cyndi) and specialty massages (including, Modern Cupping, Mañana Mama prenatal and Sports massage), facials and specialty facials with Catherine, Miranda and Jessica (including Microcurrent and Chemical Peel) and body services (including Jojoba Body Polish and Moroccan Cocoon with Rassoul.) A very exciting new service is also the treatment that Meghan (Markle), Duchess of Sussex, credits for her eternally youthful appearance: Buccal Facial Sculpting Massage. “You can see the results immediately,” Stanisic says. “It’s deep tissue massage that activates the lymph nodes, sculpts facial tissue, drains toxins and smooths out wrinkles from the lips and cheeks. It’s like a face lift because you come away with well-defined chin and cheekbones. The before and after photos we have taken are amazing. We are really excited to offer this cuttingedge treatment because it is so effective.” Holistic therapies such as DreamSpa LED Light Therapy, Reiki, Hypnotherapy and Meditation are also offered. f ebruary 2020

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It’s a whole person approach. The six treatment suites, including a Duet Suite for couples massage, are spacious and comfortable, with a private tub and shower in each. Stanisic is now offering exercise and stretching classes that include Yoga, Pilates and Circuit Training and has launched Xquenda Adventures for visitors who want to explore the surrounding landscape with experts to guide them on mountain biking tours, scenic hikes and desert rock climbing. The advanced hike goes to the summit of Black Mountain and includes lunch from Tonto Bar & Grill next door. Part of Xquenda’s dedication to renewal is the innovative use of Lotus Wei Flower Essences, which have been lauded by the likes of Oprah and Dr. Memet Oz. Patrons choose a picture of a flower that resonates with them and how they are feeling that day. Each flower corresponds to a flower remedy essence that is formulated to enhance mood, focus, energy, sleep capacity, to quell anxiety or to promote a peaceful, quiet mind. The bio-energetic essences are compared to an acupuncture treatment without the needles. “I was drawn to Lotus Wei because it’s not just essential oils,” says Stanisic. “Everyone is doing that. It’s an Arizona company that is getting a lot of attention for the effectiveness of its products. Once a formulation is chosen, that essence is used to customize all the treatments that individual will experience during their visit. We end their visit with an essence-infused chocolate. This is an offering we really want to be known for.” The formulas are available in serums, spray mists, elixirs and anointing oils so customers can take them home, extending the benefits between sessions. There is also an accompanying app. One of the spa’s employees credits the Quiet Mind formula for alleviating her insomnia. “I approached it with a bit of skepticism, but I’m a believer now,” she says.

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Stanisic considers her team a family and firmly believes that everyone who visits the spa becomes part of that family connection. Xquenda’s new VIP Club allows anyone to become part of the family. With a yearly commitment of $79 per month, members can choose from a massage or facial each month, plus receive 15% off all other services on a special VIP service menu, a $40 gift card during the member’s birthday month, gift cards to give away and family and friend discounts. Extended hours are offered just for members. “You get the full resort spa atmosphere for the same price as those corporate massage businesses in strip malls, but with even more advantages,” says Stanisic. “We have had a great response to the program.” Unused services just roll over to the next month, so part-time residents can easily partake. Since Xquenda is adjacent to the restaurant, golf and hotel amenities on the Rancho Mañana property, it makes sense to appeal to the many consistent patrons who have come to know and love the ebullient Stanisic and the community she has created in this restful space. “We have the same clients who come in year after year,” Stanisic says. “They love our services, the familiarity of being welcomed on a first name basis. We go above and beyond in quality and innovation to give a very high level of personal care. I perform services myself, so I’m always ready to jump in so we never have to turn anyone away. Whether someone is a local resident, a timeshare client or a first-timer, we want everyone to feel welcome and completely cared for.” Xquenda Spa 5720 E. Rancho Manana Blvd. 480-550-9521 xquenda-spa.com f ebruary 2020

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Bryan Black

If it’s been a while since you’ve ventured east on Cave Creek Road, past the lights and sounds of the suburbs and into the serenity of the Tonto National Forest, you may be missing more than just a reprieve from the heat. Just over a year ago, Raven’s View wine bar re-opened in a small but chic space one mile past the Bartlett Lake turnoff and across from the beautiful and secluded Desert Mountain Outlaw Course. Sixteen months later, Raven’s View has become a “where the locals go” kind of place, with local art and music and a comfortable vibe that makes it feel like an extension of home. Entering into its second season, the Raven’s View calendar has added wine tastings featuring winemakers from near and far. The menu has evolved to include Taco Tuesdays, when $3 tacos are piled high with fresh combinations that look as delectable as they taste. Far from fast food fare, these favorites pair well with any of the dozens of featured domestic or imported wines and beers. Chicken gnocchi carbonara has stepped up as the new hearty favorite, with plump dumplings, charred ripe tomatoes and rich, creamy carbonara sauce. Sophisticated plates of tuna tartare add an upscale element to the casual atmosphere. Stacked layers of avocado, wontons, ahi and house-made ponzu are artfully delicious—and unexpected fare in this little desert oasis! Another new must-try treat is the beefsteak and burrata stack. Creamy burrata cheese and fresh basil are sandwiched between thick slices of beefsteak tomatoes and sprinkled with a seasoned olive oil drizzle. If heaven had a flavor, this would be it. Plenty’s new at Raven’s View! Make it your next stop for winding down. ravensviewwinebaraz.com

GIVE IT A SIP

RAVEN’S VIEW WINE BAR 42016 Old Mine Rd., Cave Creek | 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Mon.–Wed. | 11:00 am.–10:00 p.m. Thur.–Sat. | 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Sun. 480-378-3755 i m a g e s a r i z|oravensviewwinebaraz.com n a . c o m fe b r uary 2 02 0

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6738 E. Cave Creek Rd | 480-488-9542 | TheHornyToad.com

f ebruary 2020

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Roasted Strawberry Cheese Danish This sweet breakfast is the perfect way to wake up your special someone this Valentine’s Day! Makes: 4–6 pastries

Ingredients: 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (thawed) 8-10 medium strawberries (sliced) 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature) 1 egg yolk 1-2 tablespoon sugar (depending on your preference) ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon lemon zest ½ cup seedless raspberry jam

Directions: Combine softened cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest in small bowl. Beat with hand mixer until smooth. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment and lay puff pastry on top. Cut into heart shape using a cookie cutter or freehand. Peel away the puff pastry, leaving the cutouts on the baking sheet. Reuse the pastry as desired. Spoon a small amount (about 1 tablespoon) of the cream cheese mixture on each heart, leaving a small border around the edge. Top each heart with sliced strawberries. Warm the raspberry jam until smooth and brush onto fruit. Brush the edges of the puff pastry with an egg wash or a tiny bit of cream and sprinkle with additional sugar. If your dough is quite soft, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Bake until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes.

Chef's Notes: Any combination of berries will work. Use your favorite or what you have on hand. I didn’t have a cookie cutter the size I wanted, so I cut out the hearts with a knife. You could do these in any shape you desire, but make sure it is big enough to accommodate the cheese filling and fruit. Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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You can use any flavor of jam that you wish. It works better if it is smooth.

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Herbed Cauliflower Mash This creamy side dish is a great and yummy alternative to regular mashed potatoes! Serves: 6

Ingredients: 1 large head cauliflower (trimmed and cut into florets) 3 tablespoons butter 1-2 cloves garlic (minced) Âź cup sour cream Âź cup grated parmesan 2 tablespoons fresh dill (chopped) 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped) Salt and pepper

Directions: Steam cauliflower until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and return to pot, covering with lid. Allow to sit for a few minutes or longer. When ready to proceed, add steamed cauliflower to food processor and pulse until smooth. Add butter to pot along with garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant. Add the pureed cauliflower to pot with butter/garlic mixture and stir in sour cream, parmesan, dill, parsley, and salt & pepper to taste. Stiruntil combined, adjust seasoning to taste and serve.

Chef's Notes: Use cream cheese, plain yogurt or heavy cream in place of the sour cream. Use any combination of fresh herbs that you have on hand. Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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Feel free to use any cheese you like. Make it your own and tailored to what you are serving it with.

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$1,075,000 A Legend Trail Beauty. 4bed/3.5bath, pool. Sandy Comacchio 480-440-6706 & Cynthia Rahrig 480-650-1401

$2,100,000 Car Collectors Dream holds 8 to 16 cars with racks in Desert Mountain home by Architect Shelby Wilson. Kathy Reed 480-262-1284

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$1,125,000. Highly upgraded single level home with views of Pinnacle Peak and city lights. Patrick Rice 970-846-5461

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