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

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December 2020

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S SA AN ND DE ER RS SO ON N L L II N NC CO OL LN N

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Holiday Open House

T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 3 F R O M 4 T O 7 P. M . Enjoy Live Music by NuWrld Jazz Quartet

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

“Quail Lamp” Bryce Pettit, bronze, 31 in tall

Celebrate with

“Carefree Backyard” Amy Lay, 40 x 60 in

B RY CE PETTIT W ILDLIFE BRONZ E SCULPTOR TREVOR SWANSON WILDLIFE ARTIS T A M Y LAY C O NT EMPORARY WILDLIFE ARTIS T

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

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of

Musical Instrument Museum

COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

LOREN YAGODA Writer Amanda Christmann Photographer Bryan Black

ADVENT OF ANTLERS

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Craig Miller

MARK TATE Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Mark Tate

RED WINE AND CIDER BRAISED SHORT RIBS Writer and photographer Kyndra Kelly

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December 2020

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Hanie

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph J. Airdo Sue Kern-Fleischer Kyndra Kelly Shannon Severson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Brandon Dunham 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 © 2020 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Our community constantly amazes and impresses me. Just when I thought that this holiday season would be but a whisper of what it has been in years past, the incredible individuals and outstanding organizations who shape our state have found ways to safely celebrate, bring people together and spread love, peace, joy and goodwill throughout our neighborhoods. As this month’s issue of Images Arizona began to take form, my heart filled with happiness, pride and gratitude. From our overstuffed holiday performing arts preview that is brimming with festive performances to the numerous nonprofit organizations that are commemorating milestone anniversaries and awards to the talented artists and virtuosic business owners who are delivering culture and prosperity to our community, it is crystal clear that there is no shortage of all things merry and bright this year. As this challenging year comes to a close, I am especially grateful for my family — which has been a steady source of support, inspiration and motivation. I am also grateful to all of the frontline and other essential workers who continue to ensure that our healthcare is maintained and that our supermarket shelves are stocked — many of whom do so at the expense of getting to spend time with their own families. To my Images Arizona staff of writers, designers and photographers, thank you for your enduring commitment to shine a light on and showcase all of the exceptional aspects of the wonderful place we call home. Thank you to all of our neighbors, as well — many of whom started this year off as strangers but are now close friends after exhibiting unprecedented kindness in our community over the past several months. And thank you to Images Arizona’s advertisers, all of whom make this magazine possible month after month. Finally, I would like to thank you — our valued readers — for inviting us into your lives. May this holiday season see you safe, healthy, happy and surrounded by an abundance of love. Cheers!

Local First A R I Z O NA 12

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

December 2020

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T H I S

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CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART

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Vivace Earrings and Butterfly Necklace 18-karat gold with diamonds Award-winning design December 2020

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Musical Instrument Museum

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There is only one place in all of the U.S. that is dedicated to telling the story of our shared connection through music. As Arizona residents, we are exceptionally fortunate to have that place — the cultural crown jewel known as Musical Instrument Museum, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary of educating, entertaining and enlightening guests — in our own backyard. “Musical Instrument Museum is alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of humanity and our distinction lies in offering guests an ability to experience the profound and undeniable power of music that has enriched, inspired and changed lives,” says April A. Salomon, the museum’s executive director. Over the last decade, Musical Instrument Museum has expanded its global collection to more than 13,000 instruments and objects representing musical traditions and cultures from around the world. “Since opening its doors in 2010, Musical Instrument Museum has made a tremendous impact economically, culturally and educationally in this community through thousands of programs, performances and exhibits celebrating the world’s musical traditions,” Salomon says. “Arts and cultural organizations represent the very best in all of us and Musical Instrument Museum is proud to be among those that are bringing joy to people’s lives.” One of the many ways that Musical Instrument Museum brings joy to people’s lives is by entertaining them at its music theater, which has built a loyal following of music enthusiasts over the past decade. Home to 60 concerts in 2010 — an impressive number in and of itself — the comfortable, acoustically superb theater now showcases 300 performances a year, attracting both emerging and established talent. Meanwhile, Musical Instrument Museum is also dedicated to education, having served more

Italian Tenor Cornetto

than 500,000 student participants on field trips — a majority of which include Title 1 schools from around our state. “More recently, as a result of the [COVID-19] pandemic, a suite of virtual programs for K–12 schoolchildren were developed and educators across the country — along with five international schools — have requested access for their students,” Salomon says. “With these high-quality programs and continued outreach, Musical Instrument Museum will positively impact over one million eager young learners who can discover the world’s music in an entirely new way.” Home to monthly signature events and special exhibitions like the current Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa, Musical Instrument Museum also features a store and an award-winning café. But, of course, the highlight of the museum is its regional galleries which have consistently enlightened guests who spend an average of more than 3 hours exploring the world’s diverse cultures through a musical lens.

TRAVELING THE WORLD THROUGH MUSIC

David Wegehaupt joined Musical Instrument Museum’s team in January 2009 — 15 months prior to the museum’s opening — as a parttime curatorial assistant. He was attending graduate school at Arizona State University at the time, working on a master’s degree in music performance as a saxophonist. “I had learned of Musical Instrument Museum from a presentation given at my ethnomusicology

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class,” Wegehaupt says. “I immediately knew I wanted to get involved. I had spent the previous year studying in Paris and had spent a lot of time exploring the many wonderful museums in that city. Learning that an ambitious large museum about music was to be built in my hometown, I just knew that I had to get involved.” Wegehaupt immediately contacted the museum’s leadership to inquire about internships. There was no internship program at the time but, a few months later, someone contacted him to interview for a curatorial assistant position to help with the massive project of getting the museum ready to open in April 2010. Wegehaupt eventually left Musical Instrument Museum for a few years to pursue performing opportunities but returned in 2017 as the museum’s associate curator for the U.S., Canada and Europe. Since then, his favorite acquisition that he stewarded has been a Hardanger fiddle — an iconic Norwegian instrument made in 1907 by luthier Olaf G. Helland. “[It] has just about everything we look for in collecting an instrument,” the associate curator says. “Aside from the traditional ornate decorative elements — inlaid fingerboard, painted body and lion head scroll — the Hardanger fiddle differs from a violin in that it has four sympathetic strings, facilitating interesting tuning possibilities and a unique, bright sound.” Wegehaupt initially wanted to become involved with Musical Instrument Museum more than 10 years ago because he knew that it could be one of the best institutions in Arizona, allowing visitors to encounter music and instruments that they have never heard of — like the Hardinger fiddle. That is also why he continues to work at the museum today. “Visitors to the museum have an opportunity to travel around the world through the power of music, to learn about cultures and see the many ways music is used in all cultures for entertainment, for rituals, for celebrations and more,” Wegehaupt says. He especially enjoys seeing young children fill the galleries on field trips as they express fascination and excitement about all kinds of music. “Our education and public programs teams do a great job connecting with local students and communities, involving local musicians in weekend programming

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and making [the museum] accessible and beneficial to the musical community — from young students to professional musicians,” Wegehaupt says.

RETAINING THE SOULFULNESS BEHIND EACH TREASURED PIECE

Daniel Piper, Musical Instrument Museum’s curator for Latin America and the Middle East, joined the museum’s team during the summer of 2011. He brought with him a background as an ethnomusicologist, a multiinstrumentalist musician and an arts administrator. “I was interested in Musical Instrument Museum’s broad cultural mission, bringing engaging content to the public and working directly with musicians, instrument makers, researchers and collectors in many different countries and local music cultures,” Piper says. The curator adds that the experience working at Musical Instrument Museum has given him a much greater appreciation for the value of material culture. “The design, the specific materials, the idiosyncratic elements and the history of any single instrument the museum collects and exhibits embodies something of the essence of a particular place, time, local culture and even the individual person who played or made the instrument,” Piper explains. He says Musical Instrument Museum’s significance extends far beyond just our community because the experience of immersing oneself in the museum’s galleries helps to create in the visitor a deeper understanding and appreciation of our common humanity across countries and cultures.

The Academy of Excellence is a fully online K-12 school that is a part of the Cave Creek Unified School District

“We begin to see beyond conflictual differences, embrace diversity and value culture itself as a basic human need,” Piper says.

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“We hope to retain in the experience of our exhibits some of the soulfulness of the people behind each treasured piece,” Piper says.

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One of his favorite parts about working at Musical Instrument Museum is the opportunity to travel the world to personally acquire instruments from musicians who are cherished in their respective cultures. He especially enjoys spending time with each instrument owner, who shares with him the story and passion behind the instrument before releasing it to the museum.

THE ULTIMATE CELEBRATION OF MUSIC

Rich Walter, Musical Instrument Museum’s curator for the U.S., Canada and Europe, joined the museum’s team in October 2014. Since then, his role has expanded into new geographic areas and familiarity with a far greater range of instruments and musical traditions. “My background includes study and work in archaeology, anthropology, ethnomusicology and folklore,” Walter says. “With those personal interests, Musical Instrument Museum is definitely a one-of-a-kind environment because it inherently combines matters of music and material culture at the core of our mission — and I am constantly learning more about topics that genuinely interest me.”

Hardanger Fiddle

Walter’s work at Musical Instrument Museum has gifted him with an ever-present reminder that people are passionate about music and musical instruments. He uses that as healthy motivation to always put forward his best effort on behalf of that collective passion. He has also come to the compelling realization that excellence exists everywhere in the world. “Innovation, creativity and virtuosity can be found everywhere and applied to any given tradition,” Walter says. “So, it is exciting to learn more about how those different communities or traditions define excellence, and [to] seek out examples of musical instruments that help reflect that in a variety of ways.” Even having been engulfed in the museum for more than six years now, the curator remains fascinated to see how a relatively small number of concepts — a tuned string, a percussive surface or a pipe with finger holes — have been developed into a seemingly endless variety of musical instruments, whether they are made humbly or extravagantly. “Because we are a museum, it is always most satisfying when we can display instruments that have the best qualities of musical sound, playability and artful construction,” he says. Walter is continuously inspired by each new acquisition, particularly because it will represent a meaningful improvement to Musical Instrument Museum’s collection. He is especially proud to see how the museum’s collection and galleries have matured quickly over time.

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Roberta Flack's Steinway Piano

“We recently acquired an originalcondition, authentic 16th-century Italian tenor cornetto,” Walter says. “It is visually striking and quite a rare historic instrument and will provide new dimension to our portrayal of Renaissance-era European music.”

“

Arts and cultural organizations represent the very best in all of us and Musical Instrument Museum is proud to be among those that are bringing joy to people’s lives. April A. Salomon

Walter adds that the acquisitions that involve exceptionally positive relationships are among his favorites. “We were thrilled to accept the generous donation of Roberta Flack’s own Steinway piano,” Walter says. “That developed out of mutual respect. We are always proud when artists of such high status recognize Musical Instrument Museum as the ultimate celebration of music and want to contribute to our collections. In return, they are excited to have their careers represented side by side with musical peers from around the world. It is a joy to create new exhibits driven by that sense of pride and connection.”

JUST GETTING STARTED

Water says that as a singular resource for anyone who loves music and is excited to discover authentic instruments from around the world, Musical Instrument Museum’s significance lies in its ability to open up so many ideas of human experience — from expression and heritage to aesthetics and identity — through the accessible entry point of music. “I love observing guests who are simply looking at instruments when they begin their visit, and then before long start to discuss their own family histories, travel

experiences or comparisons between music they discover in different regions of the museum,” he adds. “It is rewarding to know that Musical Instrument Museum’s galleries often evoke so much more than music — and the whole experience frequently leaves people with a different appreciation of talented people from distant parts of the world.” Salomon says Musical Instrument Museum’s high-performance culture and founding principles have been the cornerstones of the museum’s success as it strives to be nothing short of the best museum ever. “The team’s commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience drives the decision-making process,” she adds. “[With] a consistent focus on improvements — from exhibits to items in the museum store to technology and more — we want our audiences to be blown away every time they visit.” The executive notes that Musical Instrument Museum’s guest-friendly offerings have fostered repeat visitation from patrons over the last 10 years. She anticipates that trend will continue as the museum expands its collection and offerings even further. “As Phoenix’s No. 1 attraction welcoming more than 3 million guests so far, we are just getting started,” Salomon says. Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix 480-478-6000 mim.org

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STUNNING

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CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART

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Aaron Henry Designs 18-karat gold with diamonds and fine gemstones.

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COMMUNITY

2020 DECEMBER

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Nov. 27–Dec. 20

A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE PLAY Desert Stages Theatre will present its production of “A Christmas Story: The Play” — the first show performed live in its space since the theater company was forced to shut down in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the 1983 motion picture of the same title, the play is based on humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s and a 9-year-old boy’s quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. See website for times and price. Desert Stages Theatre, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org

Oct. 1–Dec. 31

Oct. 3–Jan. 17

Cave Creek Museum has launched

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary

an exciting new educational resource

Art shines a light on aspects of the

through Cave Creek Unified School

Iranian experience normally hidden

District’s Education and Community

from the outside world by focusing on

Services Department. Using the

public and private spaces. Comprised

Roblox gaming platform, the

of 40 photographs and four video

the most up-to-date information

interactive resource allows students

installations, the exhibition features

at press time, some events may be

to explore the Cave Creek area in

the work of 10 essential voices

the 1800s by walking up to various

in contemporary Iranian art who

Keep in mind Although Images Arizona magazine has made every effort to publish

canceled or rescheduled to comply

VIRTUAL HISTORY PLAYGROUND

URBAN MAPPING EXHIBITION

exhibits in a virtual version of the

explore the notion of urban space

with social distancing measures and

museum’s history wing. The exhibits

as a nexus of social communication

other factors associated with the

then transport students to a challenge

and political transformation — a

COVID-19 pandemic. Please use

that assesses their understanding of

place where personal and collective

local history topics, aligning with

identity converge. $10; youth, student

the museum’s mission of preserving

and senior discounts available.

and interpreting the natural

Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

resources and cultural heritage of

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary

the Northern Sonoran Desert. $28.

Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale.

cavecreekmuseum.org

480-874-4666; smoca.org

the contact information provided to confirm dated details.

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Oct. 3–Jan. 31

BEYOND EXHIBITION Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art presents mother and daughter artists Barbara Stauffacher Solomon and Nellie King Solomon in their first joint exhibition. Both artists were trained as architects but were never licensed, which might explain the way they establish rules, grids or frameworks only to challenge their very existence. At the heart of the pair’s artistic practice lies the confident ability to think and explore beyond the norm — or beyond the frame. $10; youth, student and senior discounts available. Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org

Oct. 5–Dec. 31

ARTISTS’ BREAKFAST CLUB EXHIBITION In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Valley-based Artists’ Breakfast Club will be featured in a new exhibition by Scottsdale Public Art. The group will celebrate a spirit of community and support among a collection of professional Arizona artists who meet regularly to exchange ideas, learn about the art world and become friends. Participating Artists’ Breakfast Club members created artworks in a variety of mediums — including painting, photography, glass, ceramics, encaustic, metal, mixed media and printmaking. In addition to the physical exhibition, all artworks will be included in a virtual exhibition. Free. See website for hours. Civic Center Public Gallery, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. scottsdalepublicart.org

Nov. 27–Jan. 3

SNOWLAND CELEBRATION Great Wolf Lodge is celebrating the most festive time of the year with its annual Snowland Celebration, during which families can safely soak up the holiday spirit with daily snow showers, seasonally-themed crafts, stories and songs and a Cocoa Trolley. Families can also escape the chilly winter weather at the resort’s expansive 84-degree indoor water park. Great Wolf Lodge is also selling festive Santa Hat Wolf Ears for $6.99, with $2 from each sale being donated to Make-A-Wish. Great Wolf Lodge, 7333 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. 480-948-9653; greatwolf.com.

Nov. 28–Dec. 23

A CHRISTMAS CAROL One of the Valley’s most celebrated actresses, Katie McFadzen, will bring to life a Charles Dickens’ holiday classic in Childsplay’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” The one-woman performance will deliver the heartwarming story like audiences have never seen or heard it before — under the stars, lights and chandeliers of the new outdoor stage at Herberger Theater Center. $15+. 7 p.m. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 480-9215700; childsplayaz.org

Dec. 1

CELEBRATING BEETHOVEN CONCERT Acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel will celebrate the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven with the beloved “Moonlight Sonata” and Sonata op. 110, written after deafness engulfed the legendary composer. $25+. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org December 2020

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Dec. 4–23

BLACK NATIVITY The Black Theatre Troupe will present its production of “Black Nativity” — a retelling of the Christmas story — maintaining an annual tradition that the theater troupe has shared with the community throughout its 50-year history in the Valley. The show’s first act includes scripted scenes and songs whereas its second act is traditionally a gospel concert that is woven together with playwright Langston Hughes' narrative. See website for times and price. Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-258-8128; blacktheatretroupe.org

Dec. 1

HOLIDAY HERITAGE DINNER

Dec. 2

performed on the theater company’s

Marcellino Ristorante will host an

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY: HOLIDAY SWINGIN’ PARTY

intimate event limited to 12 guests.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy puts a

Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151;

As chef Marcellino Verzino cooks

swing in the holiday season with

phoenixtheatre.com

from his wood-burning oven, he

a Christmas concert. $25+. 7:30

will share stories from his childhood

p.m. Scottsdale Center for the

and describe his inspiration behind

Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second

each course served. Sommelier

St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;

Dario Soldan, owner of Classico

scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Wines, will present and pair wines from Fontanavecchia Vineyards, hailing from Verzino’s hometown

new outdoor stage. See website for times and price. Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N. Central

Dec. 3

3 MAN BLEND BOURBON DINNER Mountain Shadows will host an

Dec. 2–23

intimate dining experience in its Paradise Ballroom and Terrace

exceptional wines. $200. 7 p.m.

UNWRAPPED: AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS REVUE

RSVP. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E.

The Phoenix Theatre Company

event will feature remarks from the

Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-990-

is partnering with Brock Pro

blend creators and an opportunity to

9500; marcellinoristorante.com

Entertainment to bring some

purchase personally engraved bottles.

rock 'n' roll muscle to its holiday

$180. 6:30 p.m. RSVP. Mountain

production titled Unwrapped: An

Shadows, 5445 E. Lincoln Drive,

Original Christmas Revue. Featuring

Paradise Valley. 855-485-1417;

songs from Pentatonix, NSYNC,

mountainshadows.com

in the Campania region. Each course will be paired with these

Hanson and more, the show will be

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with spectacular bourbon cocktail pairings featuring 3 Man Blend, with notes of mocha and spice. The

Dec. 3

CAREFREE ART WALK Stroll, shop, dine and enjoy an evening celebrating the arts in downtown Carefree while helping to support local businesses and local creativity — which makes our Arizona culture a better place to live, work and visit. Begin at any gallery, then continue on to other participating galleries. Enjoy a diverse display of artistic styles and mediums, meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and engage in conversation about art and architecture. Free. 4–8 p.m. See website for participating galleries. visitcarefree.com

Dec. 3–5

ANNE SYLVAIN HANDBAGS Fashion designer Patricia Raskin will debut her one-of-a-kind, investment-worthy handbags –– pieces of art to carry every day and for special occasions — at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree. Along with durability, the naturally occurring beauty of each type of leather pattern is different from bag to bag while the sources that Raskin uses are models of sustainability. Each one is lined with high-quality leather, often in a fun, contrasting color. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road #7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Dec. 4–6

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS Chandler Center for the Arts will bring Tempe Dance Academy's Christian Dance Company’s Spirit of Christmas show to audiences’ living rooms with a recording of last year’s 32nd annual presentation. The show celebrates traditions from around the world with a cast of more than 100 dancers, singers and guest performers. $20. 480-782-2680; chandlercenter.org

Dec. 5

SPECIALTY WINE DINNER Classic Cooking Academy will host a deluxe dinner featuring fine wines craftily paired with a five-course tasting menu. Each of the wines will complement a menu item prepared by Atlas Bistro’s chef Cory Oppold. $125. 6 p.m. RSVP. Classic Cooking Academy, 10411 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Scottsdale. 480-502-0177; ccacademy.edu

Dec. 5 and 6

CELEBRITY SANTA SOIREE Storybook Entertainment will kick off the holiday season with a soiree during which families may enjoy craft and activity sessions with Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf and the Mean Green One as well as an opportunity to meet Santa himself. $30+. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org

December 2020

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Dec. 4

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Carefree will host its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony as Carefree Desert Gardens gets all dressed up for the holidays. Complimentary popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and water will be available, as well as treats for purchase. A free holiday gift will be distributed to each child/ family in attendance. Free. 5 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. 480-488-3686; visitcarefree.org

Dec. 5–20

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

reflect on 2020 through Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” juxtaposed with composers Florence Price and George

CHANUKAH MENORAH LIGHTING CEREMONY

Arizona Broadway Theatre will

Walker. The program also includes

Congregants from Temple Chai

present a celebration of song

a world-premiere by Brazilian

as well as members of the Jewish

that pays homage to the most

composer and conductor Diogo

Social Group of Cave Creek and

beloved melodies of the holidays.

Pereira. $10. 2 p.m. musicanova.org

Carefree will participate in Carefree’s

reflective works by African American

The mainstage series features the extraordinary vocal talent of esteemed Arizona Broadway Theatre

annual Chanukah menorah

Dec. 6

lighting ceremony. Each evening’s lighting will be led by a different

$99.98 per table of two. See website

HOLIDAYS WITH ORPHEUS

for times. Arizona Broadway Theatre,

The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix

first children to arrive each night.

7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-

will present its Christmas concert in a

Free. 5:30 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln

776-8400; azbroadway.org

virtual format this year via its website.

Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. 480-

Holidays with Orpheus will feature

488-3686; visitcarefree.org

stars of the past, present and future.

Dec. 6

SEASONS FOR THE SEASON

community group or family, with special Chanukah bags gifted to the

an interactive program with new virtual performances of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and “The Hands That

Dec. 11–20

Concertmaster Christiano Rodrigues

classic videos and interviews. Free.

will lead the MusicaNova Orchestra

See website for time. 602-699-4556;

HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS: A HOLIDAY REVUE

Chamber Players in a virtual

orpheus.org

Santa and Mrs. Claus will host a

concert that invites listeners to

Dec. 10–18

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First Held Mary’s Child” as well as

joyous and touching musical walk

down memory lane via Fountain Hill Theater’s new outdoor venue that provides spaced seating and limited parking spots with views of the stage. The show will feature 30 beloved holiday songs — including “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “O, Holy Night,” “Santa Baby” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” $32. See website for times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Dec. 12

HOW THE SUGAR THIEVES STOLE CHRISTMAS The Sugar Thieves will bring its distinct soulful sound to everybody’s favorite holiday tunes in a family-friendly Christmas concert. $10+. 7 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-4998587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Dec. 12

GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION Arizona’s only fully operational tenstamp ore crushing mill will run several outdoor demonstrations at Cave Creek Museum. Watch history come alive as the ten 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized precision and hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills — just as it did more than 140 years ago. Also on exhibit outdoors on the museum campus are various pieces of equipment from the early mining days of Arizona and many agricultural tools used at local farms and ranches. See website for times. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480488-2764; cavecreekmuseum.org

December 2020

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Dec. 12 and 19

NUTCRACKER SUITE Ballet Arizona is ensuring the survival of a cherished and time-honored tradition with its digital presentation of “Nutcracker Suite.” In addition to the beautiful dancing that audiences know and love, the presentations will also feature exclusive behind-thescenes content such as dancer interviews, rehearsal footage and backstage peeks. The dance company will also compliment the virtual viewing experience with optional add-on packages that include sweet treats, activities, mementos and more to help bring home the joy of attending one of its productions of “The Nutcracker” in person. $20. 3 p.m. 602-381-1096; balletaz.org

Dec. 12

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

savoring. December’s event is titled

Paradise Valley. 855-485-1417;

Battle of the Bubbly! France vs.

mountainshadows.com

Oregon. $39. 3 p.m. RSVP. Mountain Shadows, 5445 E. Lincoln Drive,

Sonoran Desert Chorale will

Paradise Valley. 855-485-1417;

present its Christmas concert in

mountainshadows.com

a virtual format this year via its website. Home for the Holidays will feature a selection of beloved

HOLIDAY MUSIC FEATURING PHOENIX BRASS COLLECTIVE

delivered via the beautiful sounds

COCKTAILS UNDER THE COSMOS

for which the ensemble is known.

Mountain Shadows will host a

Brass Collective’s holiday concert,

Free. 7:30 p.m. 480-305-4538;

celebration of all things celestial

which is part of Scottsdale Center for

sonorandesertchorale.org

on its scenic Camelback Overlook

the Performing Arts’ MusicaNova-

rooftop deck with dramatic

curated series Classical Longue that

Camelback Mountain views.

showcases the work of wonderful

Attendees will have an opportunity

Arizona classical musicians in a

to view the Geminid Meteor Shower

casual, informal setting. The concert

with an expert astronomer as their

Hearth '61 at Mountain Shadows

will showcase a brass quintet made

guide — telescope in tow. The event

will host a journey through the

up of two trumpets, one French horn,

will feature an astrology-themed

wonderful world of wine and spirits.

one trombone and one tuba. $24+.

cocktail perfect for sipping under the

Its talented beverage experts will

2 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the

stars. $45. 8 p.m. RSVP. Mountain

guide attendees through a tasting

Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St.,

Shadows, 5445 E. Lincoln Drive,

Scottsdale. phxbrass.com

and joyful songs of the season,

Dec. 12

SPIRITED SIPPING SEMINAR

seminar and history lesson worth

Dec. 13

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m De c e m b e r 2 02 0

In-person and livestream ticketing options are available for Phoenix

Dec. 13

SUNDAY SUPPER CLUB Mountain Shadows will host a Sunday supper featuring an incredible winery, distillery or local purveyor. Guests will savor four courses thoughtfully paired with beverages and enjoy conversation from chef Charles Wiley and a special guest. $109. 6 p.m. RSVP. Mountain Shadows, 5445 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. 855-4851417; mountainshadows.com

Dec. 14

PHOENIX CHORALE’S CHRIS CHATS The Phoenix Chorale’s artistic director Christopher Gabbitas will interview choral masters Anton Armstrong and André J. Thomas during a virtual broadcast. The broadcast is part of a series that features choral luminaries, composers and leaders in the choral field in conversation with one another. Free. 6 p.m. phoenixchorale.org

Dec. 19

A CHORALE CHRISTMAS The Phoenix Chorale will broadcast a virtual holiday concert, featuring highlights from its Christmas programs from the past two years. Hosted by artistic director Christopher Gabbitas, the broadcast will include performances of “Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King,” “The Word was God,” “Silent Night” and “The Christmas Song.” Free. 7 p.m. phoenixchorale.org

December 2020

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Dec. 19

A MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS Maestro José Hernández and his platinum-selling Mariachi Sol de México will perform treasured holiday classics and favorites from the mariachi songbook. The holiday concert will feature a blend of classical, pop, jazz, swing and Broadway tunes. $39. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Dec. 19

CHRISTMAS KALEIDOSCOPE

robust pasta sautéed with Manila clams, olive oil, garlic, white wine and red pepper flakes. $50. 1 p.m.

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

RSVP. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E.

Tempe Dance Academy's Christian

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and

Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-990-

Dance Company will perform a live

Orchestra will present its holiday

9500; marcellinoristorante.com

version of its Spirit of Christmas show, which celebrates traditions from around

concert in a virtual format this year. Christmas Kaleidoscope will feature festive favorites that showcase the

Dec. 19

the world. See website for times and price. Higley Center for the Performing

performing arts organization’s vocal

HOLIDAY CABARET

Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. 480-

and string chamber ensembles. Free.

Desert Foothills Theater’s seasoned

820-0795; tempedance.com

See website for time. 623-326-5172;

entertainers will present a fun, safe and

pmaz.org

joy-filled night of song, dance, laughter and heartwarming fun. Staff and

Dec. 31

including spaced seating, face coverings

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER AND MUSIC

and professional cleaning — and take

Marcellino Ristorante will host a

precautions to ensure a safe and healthy

special holiday dinner featuring

environment. $25. 7 p.m. The Holland

a celebratory menu from chef

Marcellino Ristorante will host a

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

Marcellino Verzino and music from

cooking class during which chef

480-488-1981; dftheater.org

vocalist Monte Procopio. 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 19

LUNCH AND LEARN: CHRISTMAS EVE IN ITALY

Dec. 19–22

performers will observe all mandates —

Marcellino Verzino will teach

RSVP. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E.

participants how to cook Scialatielli

Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-990-

alle Vongole — handcrafted, long,

9500; marcellinoristorante.com

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RESIDENTIAL

Jan. 8–10

SURPRISE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL Thunderbird Artists will host a festival that boasts original pieces of fine art in a variety of mediums and subject matters — including stone sculptors Jerry and Marshall Locke. More than 40 different domestic and imported wines as well as flavored spirits and local microbrews will be available for tasting for a $10 fee, which includes an engraved souvenir

COMMERCIAL

“Parents write on the hearts of their children that which the rough hands of the world cannot rub out.”

wine glass and six tickets. Additional tickets may be purchased for $1. Food booths will also be on-site with a wide variety of delectable sweets, treats and more. Flutist Vibhas Kendzia will provide the entertainment. $3. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mark Coronado Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. 480-837-5637; thunderbirdartists.com

Jan 15–17

CAREFREE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL Thunderbird Artists will host a festival that boasts 150 meticulously juried fine artists exhibiting a wide range of mediums — including ceramic potter Hong Rubinstein. A vast array of domestic and imported wines as well as ice-cold microbrews and flavored spirits will be available for tasting for a $10 fee, which includes an engraved souvenir wine glass and six tickets. Additional tickets may be purchased for $1. AfterGlow, specializing in high-energy contemporary jazz and funk tunes, will provide the entertainment. $3. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown Carefree, 101 Easy Street, Carefree. 480-837-5637; thunderbirdartists.com

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ARIZONA GIVES DAY REGISTRATION OPENS The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and The Arizona Grantmakers Forum have opened registration and re-enrollment for Arizona nonprofit organizations interested in participating in next year’s Arizona Gives Day. The annual 24-hour online fundraising event unites nonprofit organizations — big and small, new and established — to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Arizona. Arizona Gives Day helps to raise awareness about the critical role Arizona nonprofit organizations play in our communities and inspires people to give generously to create a thriving and stronger Arizona for all. azgives.org

Jan. 29 and 30

ARIZONA SAGE ART MARKET

director of Cave Creek Museum. A longtime resident of the area, Johnson is recognized Valley-wide for her dedicated and innovative approach to

The Foothills Community Foundation

civic and nonprofit fundraising as well

will host its 6th annual juried art

as for her documentary filmmaking

show and affordable event featuring

and publishing. Cave Creek Museum,

notable artists from a wide variety of

6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek.

media with purchase prices limited

480-488-2764; cavecreekmuseum.org

to a maximum of $300. The event is sponsored by and shares proceeds with the Foothills Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports art education among

Foothills Caring Corps has elected three members to its board of directors — Cynthia Driskell, owner and physical therapist at Carefree Physical Therapy; Susie Dymoke, Carefree resident and avid community advocate and longtime Foothills Caring Corps volunteer; and Ron Fink, who has been a volunteer for the Foothills

This year’s Arizona Musicfest season

Caring Corps for more than three

will run January through April.

years. Meanwhile, the nonprofit

Featured artists will include Pink

organization has canceled its

Martini, Steve Tyrell, Emanuel Ax,

annual charity golf tournament

The Texas Tenors and Broadway’s

originally scheduled for Dec. 7 at

John Lloyd Young as well as audience

Mirabel Golf Club. The cancelation

CAVE CREEK MUSEUM APPOINTS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

favorites Ann Hampton Callaway

leaves a hole in the budget that

and Tony DeSare. The season will

it hopes to fill with contributions

also feature the Festival Orchestra,

instead of birdies.480-488-1105;

comprised of musicians from some

Suzanne D. Johnson has been

foothillscaringcorps.com

of the nation’s finest orchestras. 480-

appointed the interim executive

422-8449; azmusicfest.org

many other philanthropic programs. Free. Friday 4–7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; azfcf.org

ARIZONA MUSICFEST SETS SEASON

FOOTHILLS CARING CORPS ELECTS BOARD MEMBERS

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OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST

HIGH END, LOW-VOLTAGE, OUTDOOR LIGHTING CHANDLER CULTURAL FOUNDATION GAINS BOARD MEMBER Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke has appointed East Valley resident Candy Yu to the Chandler Cultural Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s managing board. The Honeywell Aerospace Program manager was inspired to join the board after seeing the impact the Chandler Center for the Arts had on her own children. chandlercenter.org

NVSO PRESENTS NEIGHBORHOOD NOELS Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible for its musicians

LIGHTING, IRRIGATION, LANDSCAPE

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

to meet as a full ensemble, North Valley Symphony Orchestra has continued to provide the opportunity for musicians of all ages to learn, rehearse and perform exceptional music. Its three youth ensembles have been meeting virtually each week while its adult musicians were given the opportunity to meet in small chamber ensembles, which recorded repertoire in November for release on YouTube throughout December and January. The orchestra is also encouraging its musicians to perform small chamber concerts of holiday music in private parks, driveways and local ramadas of their immediate neighborhoods. 623-980-4628; northvalleysymphony.org

December 2020

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THE QUINTESSENTIAL DRESS BRIDAL AND FORMAL WEAR 31313 N. Scottsdale Road | Suite 165 | Scottsdale | 480-419-7755 | qbrideandformals.com The Quintessential Dress Bridal and Formal Wear specializes in stylish, cosmopolitan haute couture gowns and accessories. Offering a boutique experience with affordable couture choices, the store has served the Scottsdale and greater Phoenix metropolitan area for more than 20 years. Many clients travel from all over the U.S. to find the perfect gown from The Quintessential Dress Bridal and Formal Wear, which takes pride in the quality American and European designers who work exclusively with the store. Clients are often delighted to discover the affordability of its new up-and-coming designers. Specializing in exquisite, exclusive designs and cocktail couture dresses that have been worn to red carpet gala events in Hollywood. It is the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pleasure to sell American-made clothing. The Quintessential Dress Bridal and Formal Wear has the perfect dress for your own grand entrance at whatever special occasion you are attending or hosting.

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m De c e m b e r 2 02 0

SUMMIT AESTHETICS 32409 N. Scottsdale Road | Suite 103 | Scottsdale | 480-787-0701 | summit-aesthetics.com Summit Aesthetics is a world-class aesthetics clinic established by leading facial surgeon Dr. Thomas W. Kuerschner. Dr. Kuerschner began his practice in Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1987. The following year, he joined two other doctors at Riverview Clinic, with whom he eventually established Premier Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a flourishing practice that grew to three locations across southeastern Wisconsin. In 2019, Dr. Kuerschner sold his partnership interest in Premier Oral Surgery out of his desire to relocate to Arizona for a lifestyle change to the beautiful climate of the Sonoran Desert. His experience establishing and managing his earlier practice gave him the foundation from which to build a practice that reflects his interest in modern cosmetic treatments and technology. At Summit Aesthetics, Dr. Kuerschner and his professional staff provide cutting-edge facial enhancement and anti-aging treatments. With 60 years of combined experience in medical aesthetics, the clinic provides superior service and results with an array of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced facial cosmetic surgery.

December 2020

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Left to Right Front Row: Jen, Carly, Susan Left to Right Back Row: Steve, Erik, Courts, Devon, Alex

TECH 4 LIFE 748 Easy St. | Carefree | 480-488-0773 | techfourlife.com Gratefully supporting the Carefree and Cave Creek area for more than 16 years, Tech 4 Life was born out of a love for this community in which we live. Tech 4 Life is a local, full-service company that provides computer and website solutions in four major areas — home, business, community and personal technologies. No contact drop-off and pickup have been added to its safe on-site, in-office and remote appointments for everyone's convenience. Close, long-standing partnerships with local nonprofit organizations — including Desert Foothills Library, Foothills Caring Corps, Kiwanis Club of Carefree, Cave Creek Museum and Sonoran Arts League — are a key indicator of Tech 4 Life’s community involvement. Tech 4 Life created the online platform on which Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center hosts its Empty Bowls Project — an art auction and bowl sale, held through Oct. 16 on foothillsfoodbank.com, to help feed the hungry in our community. Tech 4 Life integrates the artists, nonprofit organizations, volunteers and donors to make this experience fun and beneficial to our most challenged neighbors. The Tech 4 Life team is built on country doctor service — the model used many years ago when taking care of our neighbor was of the utmost importance. The Tech 4 Life team stresses that loving our neighbors is again the best path through these challenging times.

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m De c e m b e r 2 02 0

HAPPY FEET NAILS AND SPA 31313 N. Scottsdale Road | Suite A145 | Scottsdale | 480-595-5894 | happyfeetnails.com From its love of catering exceptional beauty and nail care services to clients at its first location in the East Valley, Happy Feet Nails and Spa found a perfect location in North Scottsdale into which it could completely pour its heart and soul. Since June 2015, Scottsdale North Marketplace has provided Happy Feet Nails and Spa’s clients an upscale, chic and classic-but-trendy environment. Happy Feet Nails and Spa offers professional nail care, waxing, facials, eyelash extensions and permanent makeup with full beauty services. It is fully staffed with qualified and licensed technicians who are passionate, experienced and eager to give clients the best services. Happy Feet Nails and Spa’s bright, welcoming and clean facility renders a relaxing, revitalizing and refreshing ambiance. All equipment and tools are sanitized in compliance with Arizona State Board of Cosmetology regulations. With the latest technology, products and techniques, Happy Feet Nails and Spa strives to give its clients the best experience. Honored to be a part of the North Scottsdale community, Happy Feet Nails and Spa’s wonderful team of technicians is happy when its clients are happy with their nails and feet.

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There is no doubt that this holiday season will look a little different than those of years past. Once hoped to be just a momentary nuisance robbing us of spring holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic eventually eradicated our summer and put a serious damper on fall festivities associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving. Now, it is threatening to depreciate what Andy Williams so spectacularly proclaimed the most wonderful time of the year. However, Arizona’s performing arts organizations are determined to not allow that to happen by employing yuletide tenacity and holly jolly ingenuity. For example, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is offering its holiday performances this year with multiple different types of ticketing options. The facility’s programming director Abbey Messmer says that 2020 holiday programming is all about a pragmatic balance. “We are thoughtfully upholding mandated COVID-19 protocol; keeping safety, spacing and sanitization as top priority while helping usher in a festive spirit for the holiday season,” Messmer explains. Well aware that families are looking for fun things to do to ensure the winter holidays do not fall by the wayside like those of this year’s other seasons, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present its events indoors — with reduced capacity and spaced seating — as well as outdoors. It will also offer livestreaming options that allow audiences to watch the performances from the comfort of their own home. “We feel passionate about providing opportunities for local artists that have lost income over the summer and we are fortunate to welcome a few national acts to the stage in December,” Messmer adds. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ national acts include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Holiday Swingin’ Party 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 and A Merry-Achi Christmas 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Meanwhile, the local artists who will grace its stage include soulful band The Sugar Thieves, which will present its holiday concert How The Sugar Thieves Stole Christmas 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ plans are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Valley’s various holiday performing arts events, proving Johnny Mathis’ proclamation that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — even this year.

i m aJ.gAirdo esarizona.com Writer Joseph 40

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UNWRAPPED: AN ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS REVUE The Phoenix Theatre Company Dec. 2–23 // See website for times and price Central United Methodist Church 1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 602-254-2151 // phoenixtheatre.com

Photo Courtesy of Tim Trumble

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Childsplay Nov. 28–Dec. 23 // 7 p.m. // $15+ Herberger Theater Center 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix 480-921-5700 // childsplayaz.org One of the Valley’s most celebrated actresses, Katie McFadzen, will bring to life a Charles Dickens’ holiday classic Nov. 28–Dec. 23 in Childsplay’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” The one-woman performance will deliver the heartwarming story like audiences have never seen or heard it before — under the stars, lights and chandeliers of the new outdoor stage at Herberger Theater Center. McFadzen believes that theater-goers are ready to get back to seeing live performances and hopes that the outdoor setting with spaced seating will help make them feel safer about the experience. “Most theater artists have been completely sidelined by this pandemic since midMarch, which has greatly affected morale and obviously income,” she says.

Some of McFadzen’s friends in the performing arts industry have been forced to move away from the cities in which they live because they cannot afford to continue living in them without steady work. “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to tell this story in front of a live audience,” she says. “I look forward to the day that live performances are the norm again and all of the theater artists who have faced months of unemployment get back to work.” In addition to safety, the outdoor setting should propel the production to be extraordinarily special in that the Valley’s chilly December temperatures will complement the story’s seasonal atmosphere. However, the actress advises audiences to come prepared with jackets and blankets. “I hope that by telling this story, people will be reminded of the importance of and need for love and kindness in the world we live in and that change is possible — and that with change, comes hope,” McFadzen says.

The Phoenix Theatre Company, which is taking its entire season outdoors, is partnering with Brock Pro Entertainment to bring some rock 'n' roll muscle to its holiday production titled Unwrapped: An Original Christmas Revue. Featuring songs from Pentatonix, NSYNC, Hanson and more, the show will be performed Dec. 2–23 on the theater company’s new outdoor stage at Central United Methodist Church. Lynzee Foreman, co-owner of Brock Pro Entertainment and artist at The Phoenix Theatre Company, says the live events and performing arts industries have been hit hard during this difficult year. She adds that Arizona’s performing arts companies are far more fortunate than those in other parts of the country in that our weather allows the show to go on during the holiday season — given the proper ingenuity. “The Phoenix Theatre Company has taken on the monumental task of building an outdoor space that safely brings audiences together and puts artists back to work,” Foreman says. She adds that fleshing out the concept of Unwrapped: An Original Christmas Revue gifted her with a greater sense of family and a higher level of teamwork between the cast and staff than she has ever experienced while working on a show. “I have watched the Arizona arts community really come together in a way I

December 2020

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never thought possible,” Foreman explains. “There is something magical about humans gathering together to create art and joy.” Foreman notes that the performers and the band featured in Unwrapped: An Original Christmas Revue are all local artists, having been hand-picked for their amazing talent. “It is a true pleasure to collaborate with them and bring these original arrangements and choreography to life right before your eyes,” she says. “To be part of something like that both as a performer and audience member — in a time when we need art more than ever — will uplift you and give you that holiday spirit we all need so badly.”

was just the remedy for the pandemic blues,” Wallot says. “Singing and dancing to this cheerful beautiful music has been just the antidote for our performers, who have not been on stage for many months.” Noting that Fountain Hills Theater assembled some of the best talent in the Valley for the performances, Wallot encourages people to bring blankets and cuddle up with their loved ones for what is certain to be a very memorable night. “Get ready to sing along, tap your toes and escape the madness of the real world for 90 minutes of pure joy,” he explains.

Fountain Hills Theater is taking its seasonal celebration outdoors this year. Santa and Mrs. Claus will host Holly Jolly Christmas: A Holiday Revue Dec. 11–20 via the theater company’s new outdoor venue that provides spaced seating and limited parking spots with views of the stage. The joyous and touching musical walk down memory lane will feature 30 beloved holiday songs — including “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “O, Holy Night,” “Santa Baby” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Fountain Hills Theater’s executive director Michael Wallot — a former Broadway performer — acknowledges that 2020 has been a tough year for everyone. “We felt a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m De c e m b e r 2 02 0

“This year’s Holidays with Orpheus is unique because we will not be performing live,” Larson acknowledges. “But you will enjoy the new virtual videos of the chorus we created along holiday songs from previous performances.”

HOLIDAY CABARET Desert Foothills Theater Saturday, Dec. 19 // 7 p.m. // $25 The Holland Center 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale 480-488-1981 // dftheater.org

HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS: A HOLIDAY REVUE Fountain Hills Theater Dec. 11–20 // See website for times // $32 Fountain Hills Theater 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills 480-837-9661 // fhtaz.org

concert will be presented to the community free of charge as a gift to audiences for their tremendous support of the performing arts organization over the years.

Desert Foothills Theater’s seasoned entertainers will present a fun, safe and joy-filled night of song, dance, laughter and heartwarming fun 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 at The Holland Center. Photo Courtesy of Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix

HOLIDAYS WITH ORPHEUS The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix Sunday, Dec. 6 // See website for time Free // 602-699-4556 // orpheus.org The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix will present its Christmas concert — Holidays with Orpheus — in a virtual format this year. The chorus will make the concert available Sunday, Dec. 6 via its website. Holidays with Orpheus will feature an interactive program with new virtual performances of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and “The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child” as well as classic videos and interviews. The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix’s artistic director Brook Larson says that the

Desert Foothills Theater’s managing director Terry Temple says that staff and performers will observe all mandates — including spaced seating, face coverings and professional cleaning — and take precautions to ensure a safe and healthy environment for Holiday Cabaret. “The new protocols are challenging but worth it,” Temple says. “And doing a holiday performance seems to be just what the doctor ordered for our patrons and performers who miss not only live theater but each other. The holidays give us the perfect reason to gather and we are honored to create an evening of music and storytelling that lightens the heart and soothes the soul.” He adds that Desert Foothills Theater’s staff has been overwhelmed by the gratitude expressed by patrons for the opportunity to experience live theater in a safe, health-conscious environment.

Photo Courtesy of Sonoran Desert Chorale

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Sonoran Desert Chorale Saturday, Dec. 12 // 7:30 p.m. // Free 480-305-4538 // sonorandesertchorale.org Like the other three concerts in its performance season, Sonoran Desert Chorale will present its Christmas concert — Home for the Holidays — in a virtual format this year. Audiences need only find a comfortable spot in their home 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 and visit the chorale’s website to watch, hear and enjoy the concert free of charge.

Wishing you a season of joy. May the magic of the season bring you peace, love and joy. Happy holidays to an incredible community! Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Home for the Holidays will feature a selection of beloved and joyful songs of the season, delivered via the beautiful sounds for which the ensemble is known. Sonoran Desert Chorale’s artistic director Carric Smolnik says one of the reasons the performing arts organization selected Home for the Holidays as the title of its Christmas concert is that most people will be celebrating the holidays at home this year as a result of social distancing efforts. “But as it says in Michael McGlynn’s ‘Christmas Memories,’ ‘We’re coming home for Christmas Day to our sweetest memories,’” Smolnik adds. “The Sonoran Desert Chorale hopes to give our audience members sweet holiday memories through our virtual, holiday performance ... [which] will include two virtual performances — learned and recorded at home, but mastered together into a brand new performance.”

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Photo Courtesy of Nancy and Earl of Still 'n Motion Picture Company

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS Christian Dance Company Dec. 19–22 // See website for times and price Higley Center for the Performing Arts 4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert 480-820-0795 // tempedance.com Audiences have two opportunities to experience the Spirit of Christmas show presented by Tempe Dance Academy's Christian Dance Company this year. First, Chandler Center for the Arts will bring the show — which celebrates traditions from around the world with a cast of more than 100 dancers, singers and guest performers — to audiences’ living rooms with a recording of last year’s 32nd annual presentation Dec. 4–6. Chandler Center for the Arts’ general manager Michelle Mac Lennan says the show is one presentation in a wide array of holiday programming that the facility is offering in an attempt to lift the spirits of families this holiday season. Other shows — including holiday performances by Chandler Symphony and Chandler Children's Chorus — will boast both virtual and in-person ticketing options. “Keeping performances happening assures our artists keep dancing, singing and performing,” Lennan says.

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Christian Dance Company will then perform a live version of the show Dec. 19–22 at Higley Center for the Performing Arts. Tempe Dance Academy’s owner Wanda Manville hopes that the 33rd annual presentation will provide audiences with a little bit of normalcy after having experienced such an excessively stressful year. “No matter your age, you will find joy in this show,” Manville says. “Our dancers have worked very hard, taking all of the necessary precautions to be able to provide this wonderful show to our community.”

NUTCRACKER SUITE Ballet Arizona Dec. 12 and 19 // 3 p.m. $20 // 602-381-1096 // balletaz.org For many, the holiday season simply would not be complete without attending a production of “The Nutcracker.” Although seeing it live at Symphony Hall is not an option this year, Ballet Arizona is ensuring the survival of the cherished and time-honored tradition with its digital presentation of “Nutcracker Suite.” Streaming 3 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19 — and available to view on-demand for

24 hours after each performance — the new digital format allows the dance company to be creative and engaging in fresh and different ways. In addition to the beautiful dancing that audiences know and love, the presentations will also feature exclusive behindthe-scenes content such as dancer interviews, rehearsal footage and backstage peeks. Ballet Arizona’s director of marketing Leslie Marquez says that the dance company will also compliment the virtual viewing experience with optional add-on packages that include sweet treats, activities, mementos and more to help bring home the joy of attending one of its productions of “The Nutcracker” in person. “[The] Nutcracker is such a wonderful and enduring holiday tradition,” Marquez says. “Our dancers and staff are incredibly excited and thankful to share it with viewers this season. For our dancers — and really the whole Ballet Arizona family — being able to perform and produce performances during these challenging times is so meaningful, rewarding and hope-giving.”

Photo Courtesy of North Valley Symphony Orchestra

NEIGHBORHOOD NOELS North Valley Symphony Orchestra See website for details 623-980-4628 // northvalleysymphony.org There truly is no shortage of tenacity or ingenuity across Arizona’s performing arts industry. The past year has undoubtedly been tough, but our performing arts organizations are proving that they are even tougher — benefitting not only performers but also audiences. North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s music director Kevin Kozacek echoes the sentiments of so many others in the performing arts industry, saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult for his organization. However, the orchestra has continued to provide the opportunity for its musicians to learn, rehearse and perform in small chamber ensembles. In addition to weekly virtual performances on YouTube, North Valley Symphony Orchestra will keep the spirit of the season aglow through a program that brings the music directly to the audience rather than the other way around. “Musicians will be providing a program called Neighborhood Noels, where small groups of our instrumentalists perform everyone’s favorite holiday music throughout our communities in private parks, driveways and local ramadas,” Kozacek explains. Thanks to the Valley’s incredible performing arts organizations, there really is no reason to have anything but a joyous holiday season this year. As Bill Nighy’s “Love Actually” character Billy Mack proclaimed, Christmas is all around — maybe more so this year than ever before.

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Artist Loren Yagoda is known for her graphic, often large-scale canvases in neutral tones that communicate the spirit of space.

Writer Amanda Christmann

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Architectonic #400, 48 by 48 inches

Loren Yagoda inhales, noticing the sensation as air fills her lungs. Her face, framed by beautiful white-silver hair, is filled with peace. The intensity of her eyes is concealed behind closed lids, and her focus shifts to the gentle rise in her chest and the expansion in her belly. Pausing for a moment, she feels a soft tension before allowing the air to escape from her nose. For a few seconds, she savors the sensation of feeling rather than thinking, and of being empty yet complete, before taking in another cleansing breath.

Gone is the clutter of the mind. In this moment, there is only breath and the lucid clarity of a connection to nature, creation, and the universe. For those who have discovered Yagodaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striking works, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that each of her paintings begins with meditation and intuition. Her monochromatic palettes, assertive lines and stirring layers elicit an intrinsically emotional response.

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Desert Dreams #101, 60 by 48 inches

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like the bone structure of a skeleton, the construct of our character leaves footprints of those who have shared our time and space. My hope is that my paintings will remind you of your own history and its importance in your existence.â&#x20AC;? 48

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Loren Yagoda

Her creations seem to bypass the mind and its desire to create sense and order, and connect instead to the spaces that can only be reached by focusing within. Sitting comfortably in her Phoenix home, Yagoda is the picture of a woman content within her own skin. She looks smart in her trademark black, and her words and expressions are kind yet absent of hyperbole. Like most true artists whose thoughts and emotions are told through their mediums, she falls short in her search for words to describe her creative process. “For many years, I was a dancer,” she says after a pause. “I still say that I dance my lines onto the canvas. Sometimes those lines are big, bold strokes, and other times they’re subdued and quiet. I have different moods. You know they’re all me even though they’re different. “I’ve always used the term ‘textural existence’ to describe what I do,” she added. “I love the concept of texture, and of creating things within things. ‘Character’ is probably more the word for it.” In both life and art, Yagoda embraces the Japanese concept of wabi sabi, cherishing perceived imperfections. Inexact lines, misaligned layers, and free form creations are all part of the character, and the draw, of her art. Like glimpses into separate elements of her inner psyche, Yagoda has spent years developing four series of original paintings: Meditation Thought, Enigma, Architectonic, and Stripes. In each, she uses bold black strokes combined with earthy taupe, tobacco and gray undertones, some subtle and some more prolific. Each series has its own persona and allure.

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Artist Loren Yagoda goes back to each piece time and again until she is satisfied — adding and subtracting, using a palette knife to scrape away what she wants to remove, and enhancing the sections she wants to keep.

MEDITATION THOUGHT

Yagoda’s Meditation Thought series is a collection of layered textures. Distractions disappear and the mind is encouraged to look into its voids. With these paintings—as with all of her work—she’s not interested in inspiring thought; rather, she wishes to invoke the absence of thinking and the entrance into something much deeper.

ENIGMA

This series was borne out of Yagoda’s own duality. While her quiet, calm energy is most obvious, paintings within her Enigma collection exude a decidedly masculine energy. Bold abstract lines and colors define this series, and each has an element of whimsy and liveliness unique to her creative perspective.

ARCHITECTONIC

Architecture and nature are the inspiration for this series. Rather than capturing the structure of a house, Yagoda has instead recreated the soul of a structure in this vivid collection.

STRIPES

To create the paintings in this series, Yagoda uses steady repetition and intuition as a guide to create lines ranging from crisp and precise to spontaneous and improvised.

THE MAKING OF AN ARTIST

Some artists are born while others are created. Yagoda’s path has been a combination of both. As the story goes, her mother had an unusual craving for the smell of

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turpentine while she was pregnantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; so much that she dabbed it on her wrists as perfume. From the time Loren was born, she was surrounded by collectors, designers and architects. In addition, her mother collected art, and she shared her passion with her daughter. Yagoda was encouraged to express herself through color and form, pacifying herself with art supplies. As a child, she spent many hours with crayons, paper, scissors and paints, silently creating new worlds from the corners of her imagination. Her parents designed homes during her early childhood, leaving her enamored with building, creating, and the use of artistic materials. Through their work, architecture became an early love. As she got older, she began to explore expression through dance, eventually studying under renowned instructor Barbara Mettler. As she moved her body within Mettlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully designed space, she began to appreciate the complexities, function, and form of architecture, which led to a life-long affinity for design. She began to understand the relationship between design and expression, and explored that kinship in many ways. She taught dance to special education students, created jewelry and ceramics, painted, raised three children, and earned her BFA from Memphis College of Art.

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Desert Dreams #102, 60 by 48 inches

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Throughout her life, Yagoda has evolved and transformed, exploring passions, discovering new pieces of herself, and leaving behind that which did not serve her. For many years, she fell naturally into interior design. She enjoyed the challenge of understanding the energy of a space and of its inhabitants, then visually expressing that energy. All the while, it was creative expression that pressed her forward. What she hadn’t realized at the time was that, with each challenge and every victory, she was building a palette of experiences from which she could draw inspiration. “It’s like reading a long book,” she explained. “The character development becomes more interesting as you turn the pages, and that’s what has happened to me in my life and in my art.” She still finds herself combining art with interior design, often creating commissioned works for clients and their homes, offices, or other spaces.

SPECIALLY FEATURED

Yagoda’s work is meant to be experienced, and several of her original works are currently on display at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree. She and gallery owner Shelly Spence have put together a collection of stunning works that reflect a subdued sophistication.

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Architectonic #401, 48 by 48 inches

EXPERIENCE

The Art of Loren Yagoda a g e s a rGallery i z o n a . c |o7212 m DeE. c e Ho m b eHum r 2 02Road 0 #7 | Carefree | 480-575-8080 | gracereneegallery.com 54Gracei mRenee

Artist Loren Yagoda’s meditative acrylic paintings, inspired by modern architecture, can now be seen at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree.

She has also been chosen for an exciting new project. Actress Portia de Rossi, who owns a company called General Public, has developed a 3-D printing technology called the synograph that will allow her to realistically recreate the depth and texture of Yagoda’s work. She’s put together the Yagoda Series of prints, which is being sold through decor giant Restoration Hardware beginning December 2020. “My goal is to create rooms that feel good,” she said. “I want to create art that touches the senses, and that helps to relax the mind. With each painting, my goal is to create a place to rest from our constant daily tasks and distractions.” gracereneegallery.com

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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There have been countless stories over the years about the various animals that have stepped into reindeer’s shoes — or should I say hooves — when the seasonally iconic creatures have been unavailable to lead Santa’s sleigh. The Grinch had his loyal dog Max begrudgingly help him steal Christmas; a miniature horse saved the day in “Elliot the Littlest Reindeer;” and “Animaniacs” even saw a flock of wiseguy pigeons fill in for Rudolph and his crew. Our planet is filled with so many spectacular species of wildlife that St. Nick need never worry about how to deliver toys to all of the children around the world each Dec. 24. However, if we are speaking solely from an aesthetic perspective, there would be no better substitute than elk. The handsome creatures are every bit as majestic as reindeer, resembling them right down to their attractive, velvet-covered antlers. Moreover, as photographer Craig Miller attests, Santa need not look farther than the streets, parks and backyards of Arizona’s Rim Country in order to find plenty of elk from which to choose. “If you walk, bike or drive anywhere around Payson or the surrounding area, you have a good chance to see one to a half-dozen big-antlered elk munching on bushes, trees, grasses, leaves or bark,” Miller says. “You might also see [them] moseying through a residential neighborhood, splashing in Green Valley Park or even strutting right down Main Street — almost like they own the town.” Images Arizona hopes that this month’s photo essay — which features a festive collection of Miller’s enchanting elk photography — illustrates that although most of our state may not have snow, there are plenty of seasonal symbols that surround us. It is up to us to notice them and to put them in the right context that will make our spirits bright.

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Getting up close and personal with one or more of the big bulls with their huge racks is an eye-popping treat. Older bulls have antlers that can weigh as much as 40 pounds and have a length and spread of four feet. The older bulls can weigh over half a ton. Craig Miller

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Elk consume between 9 and 16 pounds of vegetation daily, necessary to support their 800- to 1,200-pound frames. Craig Miller

VANISHING VELVET Prior to the early 1900s, one could not find even a single elk roaming the entire territory of Arizona. “But that changed in 1913 — one year after Arizona achieved statehood — when 83 elk were brought by rail from Yellowstone Park and released in Cabin Draw near Chevelon Creek,” photographer Craig Miller says. Oh, how the times have changed over the past century. Arizona Game and Fish now estimates Arizona’s elk population at about 45,000 post-hunt adults. Miller notes that said number is expected to continue rising as cow (female) elk produce at least one calf each year for their lifetime of 10 to 12 years. Miller adds that bull (male) elk can appear very different in appearance depending on the time of the year that one visits Arizona’s Rim Country. “They grow and shed their antlers each year,” he explains. “In the summer months, the bulls will have nearly completed their antler growth, with their racks covered with nutrient-providing ‘velvet.’ By August, with the rut (mating) season quickly approaching, the bull’s rising testosterone levels will harden its antlers. The dried-up velvet will be shed through raking — the rubbing of the bull’s antlers against trees, bushes and brush.” December 2020

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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER Craig Miller grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. After graduating from Aurora University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and physical education and a master’s degree in education, he enjoyed a fulfilling career as a public school teacher and counselor. The lifelong community volunteer and long-time runner moved to Payson in 2002 to enjoy semi-retirement and the weather. Although Miller had grown up with photography as a hobby, he became serious about the craft about 10 years ago. Miller casts a wide net when it comes to the art form, enjoying everything from wildlife, night and astrophotography to community events, sports and wedding photography. He currently teaches advanced photography at Eastern Arizona College in Payson. Today, Miller still resides in Payson with his wife, Ann — his partner in both his disc jockey and professional photography businesses. The pair has been voted “Payson’s Best Photographers” and “Payson’s Best DJs” by the readers of Payson Roundup for each of the last seven years. Miller takes most of his photography in Payson but also enjoys traveling throughout Arizona for his craft. His work has been featured in several books, magazines, newspapers and calendars as well as on business websites and on the walls of many homes and businesses. djcraiginpayson.com

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In late February through the middle of March of each year, with declining testosterone levels, the bull elk shed their antlers and immediately start growing new ones. Their velvet-covered new rack will become fully mature by the middle of August, when their velvet is shed in time for the mating (rut) season to follow in September and October. Craig Miller December 2020

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It seems that nary a day goes by that we do not see elk strolling down the middle of our streets, helping themselves to birdseed and floral bushes in our backyards and sometimes romping through our town parks. Craig Miller

ELK PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Craig Miller says that photographing elk can be a lot of fun — regardless if one uses professional camera gear or simply their smartphone. But he cautions that elk are wild animals that do not have humans’ reasoning capacity. “Always give the elk their space and make sure you have a safety plan in place should the elk decide to charge you,” the photographer advises. “Always have a tree or other structure between you and the bull or have your vehicle within a safe distance. And be aware that bulls can run much faster than you can.” Miller adds that it has been reported that people have been seriously injured by an elk’s sharp hooves. Some have even been trampled or gored to death. “Better safe than sorry,” the photographer says. “No picture is worth your life.”

December 2020

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As founders of Exploradora Coffee, Alison Anderson (pictured) and her daughter, Wade Johnson, decided to create a company and product that connects the people who drink it with the people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; specifically women â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who grow it and to those in need right here in the United States. Photo Courtesy of Ryan Cordwell

Writer Shannon Severson

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Coffee is more than just a hot, delicious drink to sip while wearing pajamas in the kitchen or while fashionably dressed at a Parisian sidewalk café. Coffee is connection. It brings together friends, family and even strangers. As founders of Exploradora Coffee, Alison Anderson and her daughter, Wade Johnson, decided to create a company and product that connects the people who drink it with the people — specifically women — who grow it and to those in need right here in the United States. “Even in tough times, people tend to hold onto small indulgences like coffee and now they are brewing more at home,” Anderson says. “Coffee fosters a sense of community and connection with family, co-workers and friends. In a time of polarization, we are drawn to it and place extra value on things we may have taken for granted before.” As the COVID-19 pandemic set in this past spring and Americans began to live life in a smaller sphere, Anderson felt a creative spark had been ignited and she began discussing it with her daughters. “We felt like, because coffee is primarily grown in countries that are male-dominated [and] there was no coffee brand with a singular focus on female coffee growers, there was an opportunity,” Anderson says. “Wade was on board right away. My other daughter, Hollis, a pre-med college student, stays pretty busy but still supports us with photography, editing, the website and social media.” Anderson and Johnson named their venture Explorada Coffee after their beloved wire fox terrier, Scout. (Exploradora is the feminine version of the word scout in Spanish.) Though Anderson and Johnson have their own fulltime jobs, the venture quickly became their passion project and has been brewing up a dedicated following in local businesses, on their website and at their kiosk at Roastery of Cave Creek. Johnson says that her mother’s idea for Explorada Coffee stemmed from her desire to connect with people. They then began to brainstorm how they could use coffee to accomplish that.

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Photo Courtesy of Sustainable Harvest

“We knew we could create a successful company and we wanted to then share that opportunity,” says Johnson, who currently lives in North Carolina. “We want to share that privilege with other folks. We are fortunate to have resources and feel it is a responsibility to give back.” This is why Exploradora Coffee has partnered with nonprofit organization Springboard to Opportunity, donating $1 from every purchase to support economic development and to help provide resources for underserved communities here in the U.S.

PREMIUM PARTNERSHIPS YIELD PREMIUM PRODUCT

Coffee is ubiquitous, but it’s also a highly competitive industry. Americans enjoy their java to the tune of 2.7 cups per day, on average, amounting to 140 billion cups per year, according to The Motley Fool. With knowledge of the terrain and a heart for community and quality, Johnson and Anderson have found a previously untapped niche. Anderson’s husband, Dave, is the founder and owner of Roastery of Cave Creek. While it is a totally separate business, that connection provided an avenue for Exploradora Coffee to source small samples and to roast the beans. Partnering with the Roastery of Cave Creek kept all employees working through the COVID-19 pandemic and excited about a fresh, new challenge. Anderson says that Explorada Coffee benefits from its amazing import partner — Sustainable Harvest out of Portland — and its lead sourcing agent, Monica Terveer. “She has been an incredible resource for what product is available from specialty women growers, has provided samples and ultimately helped us design our first product launch,” Anderson explains. “As a

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“

Even in tough times, people tend to hold onto small indulgences like coffee and now they are brewing more at home. Coffee fosters a sense of community and connection with family, co-workers and friends. Alison Anderson

startup, piggybacking on Dave’s infrastructure has also been a great benefit and provided the backbone of our operation.” Exploradora works with women co-ops in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Rwanda and presently offers six different coffees — Organic Guatemalan Bold Roast, Fair Trade, Organic Mexico Light Roast, Fair Trade, Organic Honduran Medium Roast, Fair Trade Rwandan Medium Roast, Around the World Blend Medium Roast and Blue Foot Decaf. The company is looking to add product from Peru, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the future. “As a buyer, we pay a premium for these coffees,” Anderson says. “The specialty coffee market depends on this fair rate. Our per-pound rate is higher than is typical and that additional money goes back to the communities for things like water systems and schools. Our criteria for who we work with is that they use their expertise to support these farmers.” Coffee production is labor-intensive because the “cherries” on each bush ripen at different times. Women are better pickers because they are more precise. The beans then must be dried, milled and placed in burlap bags for shipping. At Explorada Coffee’s Cave Creek facility, Anderson and her lead roaster, Keith Bohne, experiment with

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different roasting temperatures, the entire process plotted carefully on specialized computer software. “We roast in small batches and have cuppings to determine where the coffee shows up the best,” she explains. “We don’t want an underdone, grassy flavor or an over-roasted, burnt flavor.”

BREWING COFFEE, COMMUNITY AND GOODWILL

Locally, Exploradora is sold at Le Grande Orange in Phoenix and Sweet Dee’s Bakery in Scottsdale. As consumers enjoy connecting over these perfectly roasted beans, they can feel good about the source and that a portion of the proceeds are going to financially empower women and families here in the U.S. An essential and permanent part of Exploradora Coffee is its charitable Blue Foot Fund, named for the rare blue-footed booby. The bird, which also serves as the brand’s logo, is only found in the Galapagos Islands and is symbolic of adventure and resilience. Having taken the lead to find just the right cause to support, Johnson discovered Springboard To Opportunities — a nonprofit organization that works with lowincome families and gives cash to African American mothers who need a helping hand to alleviate their own situations, start a business or go back to school. “They donate $1,000 per month for an entire year,” Johnson says. “This is a radically resident-driven program that truly empowers women and works with them to create programs that they decide will benefit their

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Photo Courtesy of Ryan Cordwell

An essential and permanent part of Exploradora Coffee is its charitable Blue Foot Fund. Having taken the lead to find just the right cause to support, Wade Johnson discovered nonprofit organization Springboard To Opportunities. Photo Courtesy of Bev Gray

community the most. When we found them, we knew it was exactly what we wanted. And it is based in Mississippi, where my mom and I were born. It is a perfect fit.” With this feel-good combination of coffee, community and goodwill, Exploradora Coffee has created ready-to-gift packages that include an assortment of coffees and merchandise — like logo drink tumblers, totes and cozy socks adorned with the blue-footed booby — that can be sustainably wrapped in the style of Japanese Furoshiki. “Since we don’t get to shop in stores as much these days, having a proper unveiling is a fun and unique experience for people,” says Anderson, whose career is in the packaging industry. These packages can be customized for individual or corporate gifts and shipped anywhere in the country. It’s just another way that Exploradora Coffee uses its unique perspective to connect and delight consumers with a top-quality brew that makes a difference in the world. Explorada Coffee 7017 E. Bella Vista Drive, Cave Creek 480-235-3407 exploradoracoffee.com

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Mark Tate was inspired to open an art gallery/studio adjacent to his Cave Creek residential architecture and interior design firm that will feature artists who might not otherwise be seen, multicultural exhibits and artists who began their pursuits later in life.

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Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Steven Thompson

Throughout his life, architect Mark Tate has worked with individuals who have inspired and influenced him. The Oklahoma native and father of nine is the rare combination of artist and engineer. He has allowed every experience to propel him to the next adventure. Just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate was inspired to open an art gallery/studio adjacent to Tate-Studio — his Cave Creek residential architecture and interior design firm. It’s an exhilarating addition to his thriving career. “The universe is speaking to all of us,” Tate says. “I thought, ‘How can I make a difference?’ The idea I had over a year ago for the art gallery that’s an extension of our studio is getting legs and defining itself. I want to be the anti-gallery gallery. It’s not about commercial success. I want it to be meaningful.

“What’s so cool is that I have no clue what I’m doing. That’s very liberating. People say that’s the story of my life. I taught myself how to make jewelry in high school, I taught myself CAD, how to run a business; this occurred out of necessity and a determination to stay focused on what I deemed as meaningful for myself and for me, personally, to make a difference.” Tate has always sold art through his practice, which he founded in 2007. This studio, as he prefers to call it, will feature artists who might not otherwise be seen, multicultural exhibits and artists who began their pursuits later in life — pure expressions of art that are meaningful and new. The ideas continue to evolve and he sees it as an extension of his current work.

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ART AND ARCHITECTURE

It’s not as if Tate is a stranger to artistic pursuits. If anything, he is returning to his roots. As a fine art major at Arizona State University, Tate’s concentration was sculpture. He names then department head, sculptor Ben Goo, as the mentor who instilled within him the imperative to create art every day. But as a young married man with two children to feed and another on the way, he left school before graduation. “I didn’t much like the idea of being a starving artist,” he says. Some friends of his had an architecture practice and they needed someone who could draw. For six months, Tate drew for several different architects without pay. He supported his family by selling his art at Scottsdale’s Fifth Avenue galleries, as well as his handmade modern jewelry. “I fell in love with the sculpture of space,” Tate says. “It was a natural transition for me and a natural way to apply my skill sets at the time.” Soon, he was working full-time for Architectural Alliance, a firm owned by Mike Muninger and Rich Fairborn, connecting him to a panoply of Arizonan architectural stars. “Fortunately, Rich Fairborn knew Al Beadle very well and I got to run in that circle,” Tate says. “Rich and Mike were brilliant designers. They partnered for a time with Leonard Parker, a legendary architect out of the University of Minnesota. They hung out with the Desert School architects — Will Bruder

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[and] Michael P. Johnson. The Desert School movement was about good art in general, the tenets of good design and composition. It was just a great experience.” A formative experience was when Tate worked on Native American housing projects all over the Southwest — seeing hidden places in Arizona that most never see, creating small houses and gaining an understanding of what makes a house work, whether small or large. The connection he felt to residential architecture stayed with him. “The relationship you build with someone when you’re designing their home is unlike any relationship in architecture that I have experienced,” Tate explains. “As an artist, you want to feel that connection; that your work resonates with someone.” After 10 years, he had secured his license and launched out on his own.

BEAUTY, DESIGN AND LIVABILITY

Tate’s willingness to do the next thing, take the next risk, learn the new skill and not shy away from the unknown afforded him priceless opportunities. He worked with fellow Oklahomans Eddie and Neil Jones of Jones Studio (where he met his wife, builder Lisa Tate), left architecture for a time to design and build wood furniture, designed golf course clubhouses all over the country with Doug Frederickson, and learned the intricacies of client relationships when he worked on a home at Mirabel with Dan Couturier — a project that solidified his entry into the realm of residential design. “Dan is just a wonderful human being,” Tate says. “In building that house, he taught me the value of detail in homes and I would watch him interface with the clients; he’s just a gentle, intelligent,

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“

The relationship you build with someone when you’re designing their home is unlike any relationship in architecture that I have experienced. As an artist, you want to feel that connection; that your work resonates with someone. Mark Tate

caring human being. It was an extension of what I’d learned working with Doug [Frederickson].” Tate adds that the experience harkened back to the relationships he had working with the Indian nations in the Southwest. “It clarified my journey,” he says. “Some people are fortunate enough to clarify their journey early in life. It took me a little bit longer, but I had great experiences in all the firms I worked with. I realized that this was my calling — to design houses and create relationships that become lifelong.” Tate works closely with his clients to build visually stunning homes in a style and form that embraces core tenets of beauty, good design and livability. He translates their ideas, photos and even sketches into a realized vision. Because Tate-Studio creates the interiors of eight out of every ten homes it designs, it is known for carrying the architectural style throughout the interior to create houses that are complete works of art. He credits his team — and the talented tradespeople he works with — for creating finished products that have homeowners return to him time and again. He says he has purposely avoided staying with one particular style of architecture, though many of his homes clearly trend toward sleek, modern lines. December 2020

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“I want to do architecture that is just honest,” Tate says. “I like all kinds of music and all kinds of art. My favorite musicians are those who can cross genres. Why get pigeonholed? You see that we can’t be placed in one school or theme. The tenets we embrace are about how a home should work and not about the style. We mesh everything together in this great jazz ensemble that comes together and creates a beautiful piece of music. It’s not just my effort; it’s collaborative.”

A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY

Tate and his staff were recently invited to spend the night at a home in Flagstaff that they had designed and built. As evening fell over the majestic Humphreys Peak in the distance, 120 elk emerged from the woods to graze on the golf course. Tate felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation — for the homeowners who chose him to design their dream retirement property, for his team and for the tradespeople who worked tirelessly day after day to manifest the plans of the designers and builders. “We aren’t just creating a building or a structure,” he says. “We are driven by our clients, each of them different, and the relationship we have built with them. We are creating a life and a story, a place for life events — like seeing 120 elk at sunset. In my mind, moments like that give me a sense of personal fulfillment and make the time I have spent feel relevant.” As he surveys his career, his art and his new studio, Tate’s efforts and roads less traveled have all come together as if in a beautiful symphony. “Don’t be afraid of what the music is going to sound like,” he says. “It’s the string of notes you’ve never heard that makes the prettiest music.” tate-studio.com December 2020

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Red Wine and Cider Braised Short Ribs Here is a deliciously festive holiday twist on one of my favorite comfort foods. This dish is easily customizable. All amounts are rough guidelines. Simply use what you have on hand or personalize to your preference. I use Les Petites tri-color carrots from Trader Joe’s to give the dish an extra pop of color, but regular carrots cut into chunks would also work well. Serves: 5–6 Time: 4 hours

Ingredients: 5–6 short ribs 1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup red wine 2 cups apple cider 1–2 cups beef broth 2–3 bay leaves 2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary 2–3 sprigs thyme 1 pound petite carrots 6–8 ounces cranberries

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat a large oven-proof pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pot. Add short ribs to the pot and sear all six sides. Remove short ribs from the pot and set aside. Add onion to the pot and stir, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom. Add wine to finish deglazing. Add short ribs back to the pot, pour in apple cider and enough beef broth to cover the meat. Add herbs, bring to a boil, cover with lid and place in preheated oven for 2.5–3 hours. When there is about 1 hour remaining, add carrots and cranberries to the pot and finish cooking until short ribs are tender. Serve over mashed potatoes drizzled with brown butter.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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Chef’s Notes: To make brown butter, heat a stick of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Watch carefully. As soon as the butter begins to get foamy and slightly browned, remove the skillet from the heat. Drizzle over mashed potatoes — or anything for that matter.

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Cherry Pie Serve your dinner guests this luscious dessert during your holiday gatherings this year and watch as they fight for the last piece. This recipe includes instructions on how to create the perfect lattice top, putting this pie over the edge with a “wow” factor that is certain to make everyone’s spirits bright. Serves: 6–8 Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients: 2 jars Morello cherries 1/4 cup corn starch 2 rolls refrigerated pie dough

3/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drain and reserve the juice from one jar of cherries. Drain the other. Combine sugar and corn starch in a saucepan. Add the reserved cherry juice. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove saucepan from heat. Add cherries and almond extract. Then stir until all cherries are covered in the mixture. Cover pie dish with first pie dough. Pour cherry mixture over dough and set aside. Roll out second pie dough and cut strips about 1/2-inch wide, resulting in eight strips total. Lay the first four strips across the pie. Take the first and third strips and pull them back to lay another strip the opposite way. Bring the first and third strips back to their original positions. Then take the second and fourth strips back to lay another across the opposite way and bring the strips back to their original position. Repeat with remaining strips. Pinch sides of pie to make a fluted edge, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar (if desired). Bake until filling begins to bubble and crust becomes golden, about 35–40 minutes. Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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Chef’s Notes: You may need to use a pie crust shield or aluminum foil for the second half of baking to prevent the outer crust from getting too dark.

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