RESEARCH IN THE HIGH COUNTRY POLO FOR THE PEOPLE SPA NOTES APRÈS-SKI
and more
HOMETOWN January 2019 | $5.99
DEBUT
CONTENTS
56 FEATURES 48 P ROBING THE PLATEAU
56 P OLO FOR THE PEOPLE
62 N EW AGE, NEW AHHH
Across from the Museum of
Since 2011, the Bentley Scottsdale
January calls for a fresh start.
Northern Arizona, a 1920s
Polo Championships have focused
It’s time to open our minds to
chicken coop, a medicinal garden,
attention on the “sport of kings.”
possibility and take a warm soak
laboratories and a state-of-the-art
But members of the Arizona Polo
in positive vibes. From lavish
depository of Native American
Club, established in 1982, have
all-inclusive retreats to award-
treasures share 200 acres that
enjoyed the sport for decades.
decorated spas, Arizona is home
were once a dairy farm. In this
Professionals in other areas by
to some of the best spots in the
idyllic setting, scientists perform
day, these riders say polo should
world to unwind and rejuvenate.
high-level research to uncover the
be a natural activity for the state’s
Here’s what’s new at top relaxation
many horse owners.
havens across our state.
secrets of the Colorado Plateau. 2 / The Red Book Magazine
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 Society • Culture • Luxury
MANAGING EDITOR Cindy Miller cmiller@azredbook.com MARKETING DIRECTOR Perrine Adams padams@azredbook.com DESIGN David Imes icdesign1@mac.com PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE Mary Winters CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Dokes Karen Fernau Michelle Glicksman Lisa Kasanicky Jimmy Magahern Deborah Sussman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tina Celle Jill Richards EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy Organizations CONNECT WITH US 910 E. Osborn Road, Suite C Phoenix, AZ 85014 602-445-7168 Email info@azredbook.com Twitter @azredbook.com Instagram @azredbook.com Facebook @azredbook.com
Copyright 2019 by ON Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission. The Red Book Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Statements and opinions printed in The Red Book Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Red Book Magazine.
CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS DISCOVERY 9 T he Royal Palms Resort and Spa Begins Eighth Decade 11 A New Designer 12 A New Book and an Ancient Agave STYLE 15 H igh Gloss 16 Desert Detox 18 Snow White 20 Snow Knight 22 Fashion Meets Fitness SOCIETY 25 Fall Fundraisers PERSONALITY 38 Ten months at the helm of Scottsdale Arts, classical guitarist and serious-minded businessman Gerd Wuestemann plans for his organization to be one of the best-run, best-managed arts organizations in the country 44 Ten years after graduating from Xavier Prep, Vanessa Vasquez returns as a diva. She is set to make her first professional hometown appearance as Violetta in Arizona Opera’s “La traviata” CALENDAR 68 Social Events CULTURE 70 E xhibits, Performances and Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss AFTER-PARTY 72 Scandinavian Pain ON THE COVER Vanessa Vasquez wears diamond circle earrings in 18K white gold with 6.66 total carat weight from Hyde Park, Biltmore Fashion Park. Hair and makeup by Laura Flagler. Photographed by Tina Celle, Studio No 5, at the Optima Camelview Village in Scottsdale
4 / The Red Book Magazine
Refik Anadol, Infinity Room, 2015. Immersive environment, approximately 10 x 10 x 10 feet, previously on display at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
37
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3
Society • Culture • Luxury ADVERTISING SALES
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Cindy Blaisure Copyright 2019 by ON Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission. The Red Book Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Statements and opinions printed in The Red Book Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Red Book Magazine.
Retreat
FROM THE EDITOR
I
f you’re like me, you may never have heard
of the Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center outside Flagstaff. The acclaimed Museum of Northern Arizona, yes, but possibly not its associated Research Center across the highway. As you’re headed to Williams or the Grand Canyon, you drive right past the former 200-acre dairy farm on which it is housed. The idyllic setting belies the high-
level research that is conducted inside by scientists with MNA’s Springs Stewardship Institute. And further, a state-of-the art depository houses nearly 10,000 pieces of Native American artifacts. To learn about it – and maybe plan a visit – read “Probing the Plateau,” p. 48. Vanessa Vasquez is also not a household name. Yet. She graduated from Xavier College Preparatory 10 years ago and chose the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Her plan was to study musical theater. But then, she fell in love, head-over-heels in love, with opera. She returns this month a diva, set to perform the leading role in Arizona Opera’s production of “La traviata” on Jan. 25. What does she love about opera? See “A Diva’s Hometown Debut,” p. 44. We wish you an amazing new year! One way to start 2019 on a positive note is to rejuvenate at an Arizona spa. Ahhh … so many new possibilities, p. 62. Cindy Miller Managing Editor
LORI KRENZEN
cmiller@azredbook.com
6 / The Red Book Magazine
In October, Arizona Assistance in Healthcare presented me with the inaugural Michelle Hastings Empowerment Award at Project Pink. Michelle, who died from colon cancer at age 32, was a fighter – vibrant, courageous and positive. I appreciate AIH for all they do to support cancer patients and their families by helping with their non-medical expenses during treatment. And I consider it a great honor to have received this award that bears Michelle’s name.
THE DAY-DATE 40 The international symbol of performance and success, reinterpreted with a modernized design and a new-generation mechanical movement. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.
OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE 40
rolex
oyster perpetual and day-date are ÂŽ trademarks.
Saturday April 27, 2019 Bid at the unique Garden themed auction, connect with friends and savor sumptuous cuisine all in a magical setting under the stars. After dinner, Electric Desert | A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective will bring the desert alive for an exciting and immersive journey. For information, contact Amber Ramirez at ARamirez@dbg.org | 480-941-3507.
benefitting
Thursday May 16, 2019 Fund the Farm, a festive party with a purpose, features a hosted bar, field fresh hors d’oeuvres and lively music. Your participation and support provides affordable access to healthy food, active living and promotes the vibrant agricultural roots of south Phoenix families. For information, contact Lauren Cassidy at LCassidy@dbg.org | 480-481-8160.
Spaces of Opportunity is a Partnership of:
dbg.org
PHOTOS COURTESY ROYAL PALMS RESORT AND SPA
DISCOVERY
The current entrance to the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. INSET: The entrance as it was in 1950
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019 marks the beginning of the eighth decade the Royal Palms Resort and Spa has been open to the public. But the iconic resort actually dates back to 1929, when it was built as the winter home of
Delos Willard Cooke, a New York industrialist and financier; his wife Florence; and son, Chauncey.
A LIVING LANDMARK
In 1925 at age 62, Cooke, a nephew of banking mogul J.P. Morgan, could look back at a long career in transportation that included executive positions JANUARY 2019 / 9
DISCOVERY
RIGHT: The pool area today. BELOW in descending order: The resort previously sported a heart-shaped pool; T Cook’s original dining room; and T. Cook’s restaurant today
at the Cunard Steamship Line, the Erie Railroad and the state of New York. He was ready to retire. His wife, Florence, was in ill health, and the bitter New York winter had set her back to the point Cooke knew it was time for a real change. They chose a 65-acre parcel near the base of the southern slope of Camelback Mountain. There they built El Vernadero, their winter haven. Travelers, the Cookes wanted to model their home after architecture they had seen on their grand European adventures. They hired the Phoenix architectural firm of Lescher & Mahoney to design the home, a 3,500-square-foot Spanish Revival villa. The mansion, completed in 1929, was built at a cost of $1 million, including the acreage. Delos and Florence enjoyed their new home in Arcadia until Delos passed away in 1931 at age 66. Florence continued wintering at the estate six more years, working on her gardens and maintaining their dream. 10 / The Red Book Magazine
THE NEW ESCADA
E
scada marked its 40th anniversary in 2018 and in celebration, Niall Sloan, new global design director, revived
the brand’s rich heritage in his debut collection. For his first collection, Sloan was inspired by the bold colors and unique textiles of Escada’s tradition. The fall/winter 2018 collection is a combination of sharp tailoring, lustrous fabrics and intricate details. Exciting color combinations come from multi-tonal tweeds, checks and houndstooths. The iconic Escada logo print and double ‘EE’ gold buttons are brought back from the archives, bringing to life the spirit of the 1980s. Escada showed during New York Fashion Week in September. Under the creative vision of Sloan, the spring/ summer 2019 collection pays tribute to the Escada spirit while embracing a bold future. The collection will be available from early 2019 at the boutique at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Welcome to the new Escada.
As a private residence, the home passed hands three times. Florence sold the property to W.E. Travis, then president of Greyhound Bus Lines. The Travis family added the second story to the west wing of the mansion and lived in the home five years. When his wife died, Travis sold the home to John Ross, president of the Aviola Radio Company. Shortly afterward, Ross sold it to former wellknown band leader Al Stovall. Predicting a boom in tourism to the Southwest following World War II, Stovall and his partners guided the estate’s transition from to the west of the original Cooke home, and converted the main house into several more guest rooms, a reception area and dining room. In the winter of 1949, the first room reservations were recorded for the newly named Royal Palms Inn, a truly living Arizona landmark. ❖
PHOTO COURTESY ESCADA
private residence to inn. They built 15 casitas
JANUARY 2019 / 11
DISCOVERY DREAM ON
A
fitness facility and two nonprofit organizations have been united
through one man’s dream. Tom Hatten, founder and owner of Mountainside Fitness, has released Dream On, his new memoir, and has pledged 100 percent of the proceeds from the book sales will be split evenly between Make-A-Wish Arizona and the Muscular
ANDREW SALYWON
Dystrophy Association.
Agave sanpedroensis
ANCIENT AGAVE D
esert Botanical Garden scientists
1990s. In addition to aggregated rock
Wendy Hodgson and Andrew
features, archaeologists found stone
Salywon, along with William Doelle,
knives people would have used to harvest
president and CEO of Archaeology
and process the agaves, which they used
Southwest, have discovered an agave
for food, fiber, medicine and beverages.
species domesticated and dry-farmed
The cairns would have served as mulch
by O’odham ancestors in Phoenix and
and protection for the “pup” plants
Tucson. They have named the once-
(offshoots) farmers placed in them.
prolific crop Agave sanpedroensis. “The discovery of Agave sanpedroensis
“We know of Agave sanpedroensis from 12 locations and about 200
is significant because it provides living
surviving plants – it is very rare,” Hodgson
proof, backed by archaeological evidence,
says. “The plant seems to reproduce
that the Hohokam were growing agaves
solely by vegetative offsets and not seed,
on a large scale,” says research botanist
and we don’t know of a wild plant that
Wendy Hodgson. “Although it is not
looks similar. This leads us to hypothesize
surprising that farmers were growing
that it was a domesticated crop.”
them near their settlements, the scale at
Salywon believes the surviving plants
which people transformed the landscape
are clones growing in the same fields
to grow these plants by placing available
where Hohokam farmers planted them
rocks into piles and linear terraces is really
more than 600 years ago. The Hohokam
impressive.”
are thought to be the ancestors of the
Archaeologists with Archaeology Southwest started documenting ancient dry-farming fields across 60 miles over the San Pedro River floodplain in the late
12 / The Red Book Magazine
Pima and Tohono O’odham people in southern Arizona. The scientists recently published their discovery in the journal Systematic Botany.
In 1991, Hatten was a 22-year-old student at Arizona State University. He had just $2,000 to his name and a dream to open his own gym. Thirty years and 17 Mountainside Fitness locations later, Dream On reveals his remarkable journey, from the highs of starting his own business to the lows of bankruptcy, jail time and personal tragedy. Hatten started fundraising as a young person, hosting carnivals and collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is the former board chair for Make-A-Wish Arizona. Dream On is available on Amazon and will also be available at various Mountainside Fitness locations.
E NLY C AN . 3 O H T C FEB S L A GH OU R TH
YUA HENRI MATISSE AND THE INNER ARCTIC SPIRIT
Original Works by Henri Matisse and the Alaskan Native Masks that Inspired Him Only at the Heard Museum Through Feb. 3, 2019 | matisse.heard.org
Members enjoy complimentary admission, exclusive events and evening hours, First Friday member lounges and more! Central Yup’ik, Nushagak Village, Bristol Bay, Alaska. Shaman’s dance mask (Nepcetaq) ca. 1890 Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 2-4574 a-d. Photo: Sibila Savage.
23.00 ct. Oval Tanzanite
DESIGNS BY
EDMUND D. MARSHALL
10.03 ct. Kotlar Cushion Cut Diamond GIA Certified
Expert Watch Repair Fine Writing Instruments
Custom Jewelry Design In-house Jewelry Repair
www.edmarshalljewelers.com 10261 North Scottsdale Road (Just South of Shea) Scottsdale, AZ 85253 • 480.922.1968 Monday to Friday 10am-6pm • Saturday 10am-5pm We guarantee to pay the highest possible price when buying or accepting in trade your quality jewelry, gems, diamonds, silver and watches.
STYLE By PERRINE ADAMS ❖ Photos courtesy COMPANIES
Small Vicky bag in patent leather, $1,990, SAINT LAURENT, Scottsdale Fashion Square
HIGH GLOSS Edgy meets glam in the season’s über-polished materials. Saint Laurent has opened the door to a new store at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the first in Arizona. The boutique includes a selection of Saint Laurent’s dreamiest offerings from ready-to-wear, leather goods and sunglasses to shoes for both men and women.
JANUARY 2019 / 15
STYLE
1
DESERT
DETOX These Arizona brands use the simple gifts of nature to treat and pamper our senses
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1. Detox Charcoal Soap by OLIVESPA, $10, Queen Creek Olive Mill, Queen Creek, and Kierland Commons, Scottsdale 2. Antioxidant and electrolyte-rich cactus water by TRUE NOPAL, $2.49 $5.49, truenopal.com 3. Healing amethyst and tillandsia plant by LUCKY AIR PLANT, $375, luckyairplant.com 4. All-natural soy wax lavender aromatherapy candle by OLIVESPA, $60, Queen Creek Olive Mill, Queen Creek, and Kierland Commons, Scottsdale 5. Rose Water Calming Face Toner by HERBAL DYNAMICS BEAUTY, $20, herbaldynamicsbeauty.com 6. Chill Box by CATE DECKER, $125, catedecker.com 7. Cacao & Chamomile Clearing Clay Mask by HERBAL DYNAMICS BEAUTY, $24, herbaldynamicsbeauty.com
JANUARY 2019 / 17
STYLE
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3
SNOW
WHITE Make an on-point, on-piste fashion statement this winter with these après-ski outfits
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1. C at eye sunglasses, $350, SAINT LAURENT, Scottsdale Fashion Square 2. C ashmere and fox fur beanie by LORO PIANA, $725, Neiman Marcus, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 3. W ool cashmere blend cardigan, $895, ST. JOHN, Scottsdale Fashion Square 4. S uede and leather faux fur boots by SOREL, $190, Neiman Marcus, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 5. C ashmere and fox fur gloves by LORO PIANA, $725, Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 6. B ig Bang One Click Frosted Carbon Diamonds watch by HUBLOT, $22,000, Hyde Park, Scottsdale Fashion Square 7. F aux fur throw, $180, Cornelia Park, Biltmore Fashion Park 8. C ashmere knit pants, $695, ST. JOHN, Scottsdale Fashion Square
JANUARY 2019 / 19
STYLE
1
2
SNOW
KNIGHT From the runways to the slopes, iconic quilt and fur will keep you warm – and stylish!
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1. Velvet fox fur trapper hat by BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, $1,995, Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 2. Cashmere scarf, $540, BURBERRY, Scottsdale Fashion Square 3. Down puffer coat, $1,350, BURBERRY, Scottsdale Fashion Square 4. Leather accented aviator sunglasses by MONCLER, $545, Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 5. Cashmere lined leather gloves, $630, GUCCI, Scottsdale Fashion Square 6. F leece jacket by ARC’TERYX, $179, Nordstrom, Scottsdale Fashion Square 7. Q uilted boots by HUNTER, $265, Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park
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JANUARY 2019 / 21
STYLE
1
FOR HER This gym gear is meant for the woman and man who love to look good just as much as they love to sweat
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CHRISTINE SANCHEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
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FASHION MEETS
FITNESS FOR HIM
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FOR BOTH
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1. Leather gloves by EVERLAST, $200, Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 2. African turquoise and lava beads aromatherapy bracelet by LOVEPRAY JEWELRY, $59, Lelli Shop, Camelback Village Center 3. Bra and legging by VARLEY, $68 and $108, Lelli Shop, Camelback Village Center 4. Bluetooth connected watch by G-SHOCK, $800, Hyde Park, Biltmore Fashion Park 5. Mesh trainer sneakers, $745, PRADA, Scottsdale Fashion Square; Nordstrom, Scottsdale Fashion Square; and Saks Fifth Avenue, Biltmore Fashion Park 6. Nourishing plant protein by WELLECO, $70, Stephanie’s, Old Town Scottsdale 7. The Super Elixir alkalizing greens supplement by WELLECO, $135, Stephanie’s, Old Town Scottsdale 8. Indoor bike, $2,245, PELOTON, Scottsdale Fashion Square
JANUARY 2019 / 23
A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOL ARSHIP
HELP PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM INNER-CITY SCHOOLS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS!
Each year, GCU awards scholarships to seniors who meet academic criteria* and demonstrate financial need**. Scholarship recipients then pay it forward as college students by volunteering in the GCU Learning Lounge® — GCU’s on-campus source of academic assistance for students of all ages — serving as a tutor and mentor to the next generation of students behind them.
DONATE TODAY AT: students.gcu.edu/redbook
*Academic requirement: 3.5 GPA or greater, demonstrate a financial need, attend high school in either Glendale UHSD, Phoenix Union HSD, Bourgade Catholic HS, or Glenview College Prep, acquire 100 study hours in the GCU Learning Lounge by senior year, and receive a recommendation from a GCU LEAD. **Financial need is determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Students must apply for the FAFSA. If eligible, federal and state grants/loans in addition to other need-based aid are subtracted from student’s tuition and fees unless they are being used for costs not covered in the scholarship program such as housing and meal plans. The remaining cost of tuition and fees up to a maximum of $18,000 will be covered by this scholarship package. GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu. edu/titleIX The information printed in this material is accurate as of NOVEMBER 2018. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu ©2018 Grand Canyon University 18GCU0140
SOCIETY
PHOTO COURTESY BARROW NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Fall Fundraisers
Drs. Ina and Abraham Lieberman; Dr. Robert Spetzler and Nancy Spetzler
A PIONEER’S LEGACY Guests from across the state and around the country gathered Oct. 12 at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa to toast Dr. Abraham Lieberman. Muhammad Ali’s doctor, Lieberman was instrumental – along with Ali and his wife, Lonnie – in the development of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow. He will retire this winter after practicing at Barrow Neurological Institute for almost three decades, caring for more than 40,000 patients.
JANUARY 2019 / 25
SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers OCT. 19 PROJECT PINK Arizona Assistance in Healthcare A crowd of 450 attended the fifth annual Project Pink luncheon to benefit Arizona Assistance in Healthcare, raising $130,000 for non-medical expenses of cancer patients during treatment. Molly Stockley, vice president of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, presented the inaugural Michelle Hastings Empowerment Award to Cindy Miller, managing editor of The Red Book. Ashley Ford, community relations and event manager Kendra Scott, and Tracy Hernandez, AAIH president, co-chaired the luncheon, with Carey Pena as emcee. Runway fashions were provided by Dillard’s and Glam Squad Couture.
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1. Martha Wagner 2. Mari Lederman, Katie McIntyre and Molly Stockley 3. Sharon Day, Anne King and Tracy Hernandez 4. Jennifer Arambula, Brandon Bunger and Joy Collier 5. Julia Hastings, Levi Hastings, Kevin Hastings, Jim and Lee Whitehead 6. Ruby Farias, Paula Wichterman and Lorraine Tallman
26 / The Red Book Magazine
PHOTOS BY LORI KRENZEN, COURTESY ARIZONA ASSISTANCE IN HEALTHCARE
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Graydon Foulger, When Life Gives You Lemons
celebration of fine art 2019
Open Daily 10am-6pm | Jan. 12-Mar. 24, 2019 Loop 101 & Hayden rd, Scottsdale, Az 480.443.7695 Tickets Available At
celebrateart.com
For 29 years, the Celebration of Fine Art has been the place where art lovers and artists connect. Meet 100 of the finest artists in the country, watch them work and share in the creative process. Where Art Lovers & Artists Connect
SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers OCT. 20 APPLAUSE! Phoenix Theatre The indoor-outdoor gala to benefit Phoenix Theatre celebrated the accomplishments of the 2018 honorees: The Charro Foundation, Susie Wesley, Char Hubble, Reed Glick and Jennifer Bohnert. A special Award of Excellence was presented to Michael Barnard, producing artistic director, for 20 years of artistic achievement at Phoenix Theatre. Vicki Marce and Jill Garcia co-chaired the gala, which raised more than $440,000 to support programming, including Partners That Heal and Summer Theatre Camp.
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PHOTOS COURTESY PHOENIX THEATRE
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1. The outdoor setting 2. Jonathan and Yessenia Atwood, Caleb Reese, Jennifer Grisham-Dobbs and Robert and Carina Warner 3. Stephen Hardy and Addison Crawford 4. Vicki Marce and Jill Garcia 5. Graham Ensign and Lisa Senese 6. Chris Watts and Lauren Smith
The future is brighter here. Mirabella at ASU combines resortstyle living with an inspiring university environment for an incredible retirement lifestyle. Elevate your continued learning experience in the magnificent auditorium, a haven of knowledge and discovery, or take advantage of your all-access pass to the more than 5 million books in the ASU library system—among many other university campus amenities. Living right on campus—in one of the largest view homes in the valley—puts a world of possibilities at your fingertips.
Our new model home is open! Schedule your personal tour today: 602-777-7701
Opening 2020
1155 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 110 | Tempe, AZ 85281 | 602-777-7701 | mirabellaliving.com/ASU Mirabella at ASU is a nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership with Pacific Retirement Services and Arizona State University. Equal housing opportunity. Apartment homes are unfurnished.
HOLIDAY 2018 / 29
SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers OCT. 27 MOONDANCE The Heard Museum The annual Moondance gala served as an opening party for the PHOTOS COURTESY THE HEARD MUSEUM
Museum’s exhibition “Yua: Henri Matisse and the Inner Arctic Spirit,” which is on view through Feb. 3. The evening included a performance by the Nunamta Yup’ik Singers and Dancers dressed in traditional fur-lined clothing and parkas. Gala honorees were Hopi lapidary artist Verma Nequatewa/Sonwai and Joy M. and Howard R. Berlin. Co-chaired by Janis Lyon and Carol Ann Mackay, the gala raised $750,000 for Heard Museum programs. 1 2 3
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1. Chuna McIntyre and Agnes McIntyre of the Nunamta Yup’ik Eskimo Singers and Dancers 2. Faye and Donald Ford 3. Honoree Verma Nequatewa/Sonwai 4. Beth Pryor and Sharon Cohen 5. Sue Glawe and Patti Hibbeler 6. Joy and Howard Berlin with Jan Hendler
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CORNELIS HOLLANDER JEWELRY DESIGNS
Explore our collection of diamond engagment rings and fine jewelry. It has to be Cornelis Hollander....
4151 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale AZ 85251
SOCIET Y PHOTOS BY HAUTE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY PHOENIX ART MUSEUM
Fall Fundraisers NOV. 3 THE pARTy IN THE GARDEN Phoenix Art Museum Phoenix Art Museum raised more than $1 million for exhibitions and arts education at the revival of its annual gala. The fundraiser featured a viewing of works by Ragnar Kjartansson. Following cocktails in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden, a seated dinner took place in Cummings Great Hall. Michael Crow, Arizona State University president was honored for his commitment to arts and culture. Amy Cohn, Ellen Katz, Margot Knight and Meredith von Arentschildt co-chaired the evening.
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1. Photo by Margaree Bigler 2. Marcus Lerman, Heather Moore Lerman, Karen and Jim Sebbens, and Rachelle and Mark Chambers 3. Lisa and Blair Portigal 4. Jordin Harrison and Matt Klassen 5. Michael Crow, Ellen Katz and Stephen Tepper 6. Brianna Bakke, Grace Bakke and Illya Smith
32 / The Red Book Magazine
SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers NOV. 3 AUTHORS LUNCHEON Arizona Women’s Board The Annual Friends of Erma Bombeck Authors Luncheon celebrated its 39th year at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa to a sold-out ballroom of 850 guests. The event, chaired by Kathleen McClain, netted approximately $500,000 for Arizona kidney patients and their families. The day includes a private book signing, followed by sales and signing for other guests, the luncheon, five author presentations, and additional book sales and signing. 1
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PHOTOS BY COLLEEN KATZ PICTURES IN PIXELS, COURTESY ARIZONA WOMEN’S BOARD
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1. Tables by Dennis Thompson, White House Design Studio 2. Tyler Brackin, Tim Louis and Madeline Louis 3. Author Paula McLain 4. Natalie Gaylord and Leonard McDonald 5. Amanda Garmany, Erin Gogolak, Harriet Friedland and Radha Nieburgs 6. Sydney Dye and Kathleen McClain
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SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers NOV. 3 KNUCKLE BALL The Joe Niekro Foundation The 177 guests at Knuckle Ball raised more than $100,000 to support research and awareness of brain aneurysm, AVM and hemorrhagic stroke. The annual fundraising gala hosted by the Joe Niekro Foundation was held at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Proceeds go toward the advancement and expansion of the Foundation’s Patient Services and Education Program, as well as the establishment of a localized clinical research grant for applicants in the Phoenix Area.
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1. The Purdy Family 2. Dr. Kerry Knievel and guest with Dr. Peter and Jaimie Sunenshine 3. Carey Peña 4. Jim and Sandy Foor 5. Dr. Bendok and his wife, Karen Bendock, with Natalie Niekro 6. Michael Maez and Diana Fischer
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[CREDIT] PHOTOS COURTESY JOE NIEKRO FOUNDATION
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SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers NOV. 9 DINNER WITH KENNEDY The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute honored President John F. Kennedy at its Annual History Dinner at the Phoenician Resort. Dinner with Kennedy – An Evening in Camelot featured Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, 1
who spoke of her father’s message “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Co-chaired by Jacquie Dorrance and Penny Gunning, the event was attended by 950 guests and generated more than $800,000 for the Institute and its educational programs.
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1. The table settings 2. Penny Gunning, Kolby Moffat, Jacquie Dorrance, Jennifer Cushing, Katie Mueller, Dr. Armity Simon and Catherine Jacobson 3. Caroline Kennedy 4. Sandy Pierson, Major General Richard Pierson, Rebecca Pierson, Doug Young and Fred Pakis 5. Caroline Kennedy and Barbara Barrett 6. Jan and Tom Lewis, Gay Wray and Harriet Friedland
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JANUARY 2019 / 35
SOCIET Y Fall Fundraisers NOV. 17 59TH ANNUAL PHOENIX HEART BALL The American Heart Association The 750 guests at the 59th Annual Phoenix Heart Ball enjoyed the evening surrounded by elegant décor created by Avant-Garde, William and Company Floral Design Studio. Racing red with accents of black and chrome complemented this year’s “Driven Hearts” theme. Carolyn Jackson chaired the event, with Nan and C.A. Howlett as honorary chairs. Beth McRae was this year’s Sweetheart. Sylvia Shoen and Dr. Ingrid Haas, along with chair-elect Kristine Thompson, comprised the executive committee.
1 2 3
6
1. The Phoenician ballroom 2. Aaron and Kelly Grose 3. Dr. Robert McCulloch and Camerone Parker McCulloch 4. Dancing throughout the evening to the music of West Coast Music’s Impulse accompanied by the Contemporary Rainbow Room Dance Orchestra 5. Governor Doug Ducey, Craig and Carolyn Jackson, and Senator Jon Kyl 6. Christian and Tracy Serena
36 / The Red Book Magazine
PHOTOS BY TIM HELT
4 5
PERSONALITY
ON THE ARTS MAP Scottsdale Arts’ CEO and president Gerd Wuestemann and Scottsdale-raised soprano Vanessa Vasquez boost the city’s presence on the national arts scene.
JANUARY 2019 / 37
Lydia Okumura, Labyrinth. First realized at the Museu de Arte Moderna, SĂŁo Paulo, 1984. Stainless steel wire mesh and acrylic paint. Previously on display at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, courtesy The Hall Collection
38 / The Red Book Magazine
PERSONALITY
Man
RENAISSANCE
Scottsdale Arts CEO puts all he’s got (and it’s a lot) into new role Text by JENNIFER DOKES ❖ Photos by TINA CELLE
JANUARY 2019 / 39
Randy Slack, Seventeen Pussy Cat Cover-up by Banana Still Life, 2002. Enamel, acrylic, oil on canvas. Gift of Riley and Rachel Slack to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
40 / The Red Book Magazine
PERSONALIT Y
is past caught up with
him. That’s a succinct explanation for how Gerd Wuestemann – a German-born classical guitarist and serious-minded businessman who loves Zydeco dance and the Sonoran Desert – became CEO and president of Scottsdale Arts. It’s also why the future of Valley arts and culture, with Wuestemann added to the mix, seems brighter in this dawn of a new year. It helps to see what he sees. “I really believe we’re at the beginning of a new renaissance for culture in Scottsdale and in the Valley in general,” says Wuestemann, who has been at the helm of Scottsdale Arts for 10 months. “And I feel very strongly about some of the amazing colleagues I’ve met here already and what we can do together. I think the Valley is one of the new great arts destinations in the country.” As is his habit, Wuestemann carries a rich past with him to his new job. That’s what he did when he led the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) in Lafayette, Louisiana, to award-winning success. (For his move to the Valley, he also brought his artist wife of nearly two years, Cece Cole, four dogs and a cat, who rules the roost.) Scottsdale Arts was the next logical step after 10 years at AcA, Wuestemann says. “I hit my ceiling and I wanted to have a bigger playground,” he says. Good things happen when Wuestemann comes out to play. At 5 years old, he was handed a guitar; by 12, he was performing professionally in Europe. As a child from a working-class family in which no one had gone to college, he earned graduate degrees in Germany and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and spent a post-graduate year at the Julliard School in New York City. In 1998, he earned a doctoral degree in musical arts from The University of Arizona. “I spent three years (in Tucson) and genuinely fell in love with the desert,” he says. “That was my first stint in Arizona, and I think it changed my life more than JANUARY 2019 / 41
BRIAN PASSEY, SCOTTSDALE PUBLIC ART
Nancy McIntosh’s Mosaic Mountains, a steel and glass sculpture installed at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Oak Street by Scottsdale Public Art as part of IN FLUX, a temporary public art program
One-Eyed Jack is a 26-foothigh, 20,000-pound jackrabbit sculpture at the corner of Marshall Way and Indian School Road. Jack is the creation of Tempe-based artist John Randall Nelson, brought to realization by Scottsdale Public Art
anything. I always harbored some thoughts that I would like to come back here.” After UA, he became a professor at the University
us to reinvent ourselves and get on solid footing. On the
of Louisiana, where he built a guitar program.
other hand, I think it only works when it is completely
“Accidents and vagaries,” he says, forced a career
connected to the mission and the primary reason for
transition in 2005 to entrepreneurialism and
us to be here – that is, to provide great art and cultural
business executive roles. In 2008, he became
experiences to our community. … If you’re serving a
executive director of AcA, which quadrupled in size
broad range of your community, you tend to sell more
and built two new facilities under his leadership.
tickets, which makes you economically viable. It’s
Building up Scottsdale Arts, a multidisciplinary community arts organization with an $11.5 million
pretty funny how that works. “ Wuestemann is excited about possible
annual operating budget and a well-known history of
improvements on and around the cultural campus,
leadership turmoil, began almost immediately with
including creating an attractive gateway on Second
Wuestemann’s arrival in March.
Street, and he’s confident about financial stability.
Director-level changes occurred. Scottsdale Arts
42 / The Red Book Magazine
“Business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking are important to an arts organization,” he says. “It allows
“In three to five years time, I want to be at a place
Education and Outreach became a fourth branch
where we have one of the best-run, best-managed arts
of the organization, along with Scottsdale Center
organizations in the country, one that stands on three
for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of
roughly even-sized pillars of public dollars, earned
Contemporary Art and Scottsdale Public Art.
revenue and contributed revenue,” Wuestemann
Wuestemann’s plans for culture change at
says. “That would really make us an outstanding
Scottsdale Arts also have program, physical and
organization, and I know we can get there. It will take
fiscal aspects.
us a few years, but we will get there.” ❖
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A Diva’s
Hometown Debut Scottsdale soprano returns to the Valley as Violetta in ‘La traviata’
G
Text by DEBORAH SUSSMAN
rowing up in Scottsdale, Vanessa Vasquez was surrounded by music. “My parents always had music playing,” the ColombianAmerican soprano recalls, from the classics to lots of Latin music: Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Gypsy Kings. “My parents told me I was singing along even before I could speak.”
Vasquez’s parents recognized their daughter’s gift and set her up with voice
lessons at age 6.
She was fortunate to have support at school, too, including an elementary
school teacher the students called Mr. B. “He and I had a special bond,” Vasquez says. “All the kids would run out to recess and he would say, ‘Do you want to sing?’ And I’d say, ‘Yeah!’ He was really influential, even from the third grade. He would play the guitar and sing a melody and ask me to echo him and repeat it. We did a performance together at Spaghetti Vasquez’s drama teacher at Xavier College Preparatory, who cast her as Eliza in “My Fair Lady,” was “very influential,” Vasquez says. “That experience was the moment I realized I wanted to perform for a living.” Vasquez chose the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., for college, intending to go into musical theater; her voice teacher there had other ideas.
44 / The Red Book Magazine
PHOTO BY DONATO VALENTINO
Night. Little moments like that build your love of music and your confidence.”
PERSONALIT Y
Vanessa Vasquez as Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni” at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia
JANUARY 2019 / 45
46 / The Red Book Magazine
PERSONALIT Y PHOTO BY TINA CELLE
“My first year, she said, ‘You have a great facility for opera. Are you sure you don’t want to go into that?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t know anything about that.’ And she said, ‘Give it a shot. I want to teach you classical technique anyway – you need it for musical theater. Why not just try it out?’” “I had the stereotypical idea of opera, of what they portray in the cartoons: the big lady with the horns, and loud singing,” Vasquez says. But when her teacher sent her clips of great opera singers like Maria Callas, Teresa Stratas and Licia Albanese, “I just fell in love. I was taken by the art form almost instantly.” A role in Puccini’s “La bohème” her first semester at college sealed the deal. As a voice major, she was required to be part of the chorus. “Puccini has an incredible way of creating an experience that’s unforgettable,” she says. “I’d never seen an opera, I’d never been part of one. I remember standing backstage, in the wings, and my colleagues singing the leads. It was Mimi’s death scene at the end of the opera, and I just remember tears coming down my face, and I knew this was it.” Today, almost 10 years later, Vasquez is poised to make her hometown debut Jan. 25 with the Arizona Opera in the role of Violetta, the tragic star of Verdi’s “La traviata.” “I’m excited to invite all these teachers who’ve had such a big influence on my life,” Vasquez says. “I can’t wait for them to see it. And my parents are especially excited because they’re going to invite all their friends and coworkers.” From Arizona, she’ll go on to sing Fiordiligi in “Così fan tutte” for Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and to debut engagements with The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia as Mimi in “La bohème,” full circle back to the opera she first fell in love with. And for those people who haven’t already fallen in love with the art form, she has a message: Opera is “current and relevant; it’s alive and important.” “Especially in a world where we’re becoming more dependent on technology for our experiences, I feel that opera can offer true emotion and gifts to your spirit that can’t be found anywhere else, honestly,” Vasquez says. “It has everything: spectacle, drama, action, laughter, tears. It checks all the boxes. It’s not boring, I promise.” ❖
JANUARY 2019 / 47
The 17,283-square-foot Easton Collection Center boasts a living rooftop garden of native grasses and wildflowers.
48 / The Red Book Magazine
Probing the
Plateau
A low-profile facility yields high-level science at the Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center Text by KAREN FERNAU â?– Photos courtesy MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA
A
cross Highway 180 from the Museum of Northern Arizona outside Flagstaff, a 1920s chicken coop, a medicinal garden, laboratories and a state-of-the-art depository of ancient Native American treasures
share a rambling 200 acres that were once a dairy farm. In Flagstaff, there are no signs pointing to the Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center. And only a hint of its apartments for visiting scholars, insect collections, prairie dog colonies, wooden barns and rambling meadows can be seen from the road. Although lesser known than the Museum, this research campus is no less an impressive showcase of the people, land and wildlife of the Colorado Plateau, 240,000 square miles of plateaus, canyons, high desserts and forests that make up the landscape of the Four Corners, where Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico meet. “We are a thriving part of the Museum, but not quite as visible.
JANUARY 2019 / 49
THIS PAGE: The Easton stores nearly 10,000 pieces of Native American artifacts, including jewelry, pottery, Kachina dolls and more. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dr. Harold Colton and his wife, Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton
This is where we conduct the research to learn all
Built with native Coconino sandstone, Easton is
we can about the Plateau and keep the collections
topped with a living rooftop garden of native grasses
we display in the Museum safely stored,” says Carrie
and wildflowers to insulate the building. It also serves
Heinonen, MNA director and CEO.
as a classroom for tribal members curious to learn
Today, the Easton Collection Center, a standout
more about their ancestors.
among the Center’s 40 buildings, stores nearly
The Hopis come to learn from the 1,400 Kachina
10,000 pieces of Native American artifacts in
dolls, wooden carvings depicting the spiritual beings
drawers protected from the assault of sunlight.
central to their tribe. The Navajo, Zuni, Hualapai,
Beyond the sheer size of the collection is its range,
Havasupai, Ute, Apache and Southern Paiute people
from centuries-old ceramic vessels, Hopi Kachina
travel to study the traditional symbols for clues to
dolls carved out of cottonwood root, sterling silver
their past.
necklaces and tightly-woven baskets to paintings. Designed with guidance from tribal leaders, the 17,283-square-foot Easton is an environmental wonder with a design that reflects Native American
And, on special occasions, tribal members borrow the artifacts for ceremonies in a prayer circle steps away from Easton. “It’s where we keep the history of the people of
traditions. The Center faces to the east to capture
the Plateau,” Heinonen explains. “We learn about
the rising sun through a solar aperture that marks
the tribes, and tribal members learn about their
the summer and winter solstices. To the north in the
ancestors.”
lobby are dramatic views of the San Francisco Peaks, considered sacred by the region’s tribes. 50 / The Red Book Magazine
This was exactly what museum founders Dr. Harold Colton and his wife, Mary-Russell Ferrell
JANUARY 2019 / 51
52 / The Red Book Magazine
The Easton Collection Center faces east to capture the rising sun
Colton, envisioned after World War II when they
with MNA’s Springs Stewardship Institute have
folded Antelope Valley Ranch and donated the land to
mapped 10,500 streams and counting. Once done,
the Northern Arizona Society for Science and Art,
scientists will use their findings to protect a vital
converting dairy buildings into research offices,
source of water in a region that straddles the Four
laboratory space and the growing collection for the
Corners from the destructive forces of global
Museum across the road.
warming, humans and livestock.
By 1953, the MNA Research Center was up and
“These streams provide an evolutionary story of
running. Sixty-five years later, it’s an epicenter of
a complex, beautiful land,” says Dr. Larry Stevens,
culture and science, with nearly 44 federally funded
Springs director and biologist with MNA’s Research
research projects underway, from documenting the
Center. “They help us understand climate change
region’s vast species of insects to preserving the
and how we’ve depleted a groundwater supply that
plants Native Americans used to cure the sick.
1,500 species cannot live without. They also tell
One of MNA’s most ambitious research projects involves a group of scientists who have spent two decades scouring the Colorado Plateau, pouring
us an important story of the land, how pioneers followed the streams and settled in the West.” Stevens joins a handful of full-time and 30
over centuries-old maps and talking to ranchers
retired, volunteer scientists who call the Colorado
familiar with every nook and cranny of their land.
Plateau – home to the Grand Canyon and the
The goal of their exhaustive research is to
largest ponderosa forest in the U.S. – a one-of-
document all the streams, whether running or dry,
a-kind biodiverse laboratory. Whether botanist
zigzagging through the Plateau. So far, scientists
or archeologist, their research is helping unravel JANUARY 2019 / 53
The Easton Collection Center houses drawers and drawers of carefully preserved insects
mysteries of evolution, preserving ancient cultures,
plant specimens, some dating back to the 1930s,
solving a host of problems from drought to food
that have been pressed, dried and kept in boxes.
shortages, advancing space travel and leading to
Once documented, they will be stored with
medical breakthroughs.
nearly 40,000 others in the Walter B. McDougall
“Our researchers work to help us preserve the
Herbarium, a dried garden offering concrete
past and face the future. Our purpose is to learn
evidence of the evolution of plants and the changing
all we can about the Colorado Plateau, and use this
environment.
knowledge to make a difference in science, make a difference in the world,” Heinonen says. They already have made a difference in
Phillips, at the same time, is working to identify the scientists who collected the samples, such as Louisa Wetherill, a pioneer scientist who spoke
significant ways. For example, Research Center
Navajo and learned from a traditional healer,
scientists uncovered the validating piece of
Wolfkiller, about their medicinal uses.
evidence for the Continental Divide, the Rocky
“We are telling the story of the plants, and the
Mountain line of summits that separate streams
stories of those who collected them,” Phillips
flowing toward Pacific Ocean from those flowing
says. “Together they tell the complete story of an
toward the Atlantic Ocean.
incredibly biodiverse region.”
And then there’s the work of Kirstin Olmon Phillips, botany collections manager. She is methodically identifying a backlog of
54 / The Red Book Magazine
To learn more about the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Research Center, visit musnaz.org. The Center also hosts special events, tours and classes. ❖
THE RED BOOK
For more informaaon or to adverrse, call 602-445-7168 or email info@azredbook.com.
Natalie Grancharov Camacho and Andres Camacho Castilla
Polo for the
56 / The Red Book Magazine
Text by JIMMY MAGAHERN ❖ Photos by JILL RICHARDS
on
a barren stretch of desert land about 15 miles southwest of Casa
Grande, roughly a half-hour drive from the junction where the I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson meets with the I-8 extending west to San Diego, sits a 10-acre patch of lime green Bermuda grass on a property called the Caballeros Field & International Art Park. It’s here where, on most weekends, members of the Arizona Polo Club haul their horses in from all around the state to practice their chukkas, fencing, dribbling, sparring and all of the other intricacies that go into the age-old “sport of kings.” “This is the only full-size field in Arizona for polo,” says Diego Fernando Florez, who spends his weekdays as the owner and chief veterinarian at Aztec Animal Hospital and his weekends instructing beginners’ clinics at the field. “It’s hard to develop a polo club if members don’t have a place to enjoy playing.” Florez is one of about 20 members of the club, which was established in 1982 and is perhaps best known as the host club for the annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships each November at WestWorld in Scottsdale. The annual extravaganza, with its lively atmosphere, star players and eclectic sideshow attractions
People
(this year the fare ranged from a Mozart
Arizona Polo Club is striving to democratize the ‘sport of kings’ for everyday desert dwellers FallJANUARY 2018 / 57 2019 / 57
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: Diego Fernando Florez
performance by The Phoenix Symphony
cartels controlled many cities – signaled
to DJ-hosted party tents and a dog fashion
wealth that could make the horse owners
Finding a horse that actually enjoys
show), aims to be the Phoenix Open of polo
(and the horses themselves) targets. “But
the sport is important. “The horse alone
events.This year, the championships drew
really, the biggest expense is buying a
is responsible for about 80 percent of the
almost 12,000 fans.
horse, so if you already have a horse in the
game,” Florez says. “You give the horse cues
But the club’s year-round goal is to
where to go.”
backyard, you can probably afford to play
with your legs, knees and body position, but
attract more Arizonans to participating in
polo. And in Arizona, you see people with
it’s basically like dancing: The horse should
polo, which Florez feels should be a natural
three, five horses in the backyard that aren’t
follow your lead like a dance partner.”
activity for the state’s many horse owners.
doing anything,” he says, with a laugh.
Natalie Grancharov Camacho, an avid
“The biggest misconception people have
“They could easily enjoy playing polo.”
polo player who serves as the Arizona Polo
about polo is that it’s only for rich people,”
That goes for the horses as well as their
Club’s secretary, says it helps beginning
says Florez, who grew up riding horses
owners. “A lot of horses do enjoy playing
players if they already know how to ride a
in Colombia, South America, where polo
the game,” the veterinarian says. “They
horse, but that’s not a requirement to join
was popular but where owning horses –
know where the ball is and they most likely
the club.
particularly in the mid-90s, when the drug
can anticipate some plays, so they know
58 / The Red Book Magazine
“I grew up in California around Silicon
JANUARY 2019 / 59
Valley, and I didn’t grow up around horses,”
polo-playing weekends. “We have three
players can play alongside the sport’s top
says Camacho, who now works as an
veterinarians who play in our club, but the
professionals, as long as they have the
engineering manager at Intel’s Chandler
rest of us are all in sales, engineering, real
talent (and often the money) to enter a
campus. “But I went to UC Davis, which
estate or other fields.”
tournament. Recently the United States
had a big agriculture school, and they had a
Camacho also points out that the
Polo Association finalized an agreement
polo team there. I just tried out for fun, and
polo-playing community has become
for the 2019 tournament series that will
I discovered I really loved playing.”
much more diverse than people generally
offer a potential prize of $1 million. This
assume. “One of the great things about the
will actually mark the first time prize
sought out the polo community and
Scottsdale Polo Championships event is
money is offered for a polo competition.
discovered the Arizona Polo Club – along
that it showcases so many different players
For the most part, polo has always been
with her future husband, Andres Camacho
and talent from all over,” she says.
played for honor rather than for a prize
After moving to Arizona, Camacho
Castilla, another polo enthusiast from
Polo is one of the most inclusive sports
purse.
Colombia who over the years has become
for women, with the two sexes competing
Arizona’s top-ranked player. “He’s actually
together on an even playing field. “That’s
polo that it’s almost an unknown and
a fifth-generation player,” Camacho says.
something not a lot of other sports can
untapped sport, especially for young
“His family is one of the founding families
lay claim to,” Camacho says. “Most sports
people,” says Camacho. “We have a
of the club in Bogota, so everybody in his
will deliberately create separate women’s
teenage girl in the club who played in a
family rides and plays polo.”
leagues to make the sport more co-ed,
Polo Party event two or three years ago – a
Like Camacho, Castilla also has a
“There are so many opportunities in
but in polo, men and women naturally
15-year-old girl running up and down the
demanding day job, working as a sales
play together. We’ll hold special women’s
field with all these professional guys. You
executive at Honeywell Aerospace.
tournaments just to break things up
never know who the next polo player will
“For us, this is purely a hobby,” she says,
because otherwise we would be playing
be. That’s one of the coolest things we’ve
noting that many in the club also juggle
with the men all the time!”
learned with our club.” ❖
professional careers along with their
60 / The Red Book Magazine
Also unique to polo is that amateur
JANUARY 2019 / 61
Men’s Vitality Pool at the Phoenician Spa
New Age, New Ahhh Unleash your new year potential with a spa experience steeped in positivity Text by LISA KASANICKY ❖ Photos courtesy ORGANIZATIONS
T
is the season to take a deep, cleansing sigh of relief. The new year calls on us to close our eyes, breathe in,
open our minds to possibility and take a warm soak in positive vibes. Where could you possibly do that? At a spa near you, of course. From lavish all-inclusive retreats to awarddecorated spas in our own backyard, Arizona is home to arguably the best spots in the world to thoughtfully and introspectively welcome the new year. Here’s what’s new at top relaxation havens across our state and how to get your piece of positivity.
62 / The Red Book Magazine
Dream On The Phoenician Spa, Scottsdale
T
he Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale steps into 2019 draped in newness,
including a new name, expanded offerings and an architecturally stunning renovation. The three-story, nearly 40,000 square-foot Phoenician Spa, formerly the Centre for
Civana Spa’s hydrotherapy thermae circuit
Well-Being, transcends time and space with a nap-inducing relaxation room, a rooftop pool complete with outdoor rain showers and
Wade in the Water
fireplace-lit gathering area, and private men’s
A
and women’s changing lounges with Vitality Pool hot tubs and Finnish-inspired saunas among other amenities. Notable on the expanded spa menu are new signature offerings focused on nurturing the individual spirit. Among them, the Sleep Ritual Massage is an 80-minute experience interweaving dreamy music and intoxicating body potions with expert massage therapy for an incredibly calming, stress-banishing journey. Tense muscles are relaxed while the mind is quieted, creating the ideal state of sleep readiness. And it doesn’t end there. The treatment includes a take-home DreamKit complete with face cream, pillow mist, foot oil, a nighttime instruction booklet and a download link to specially designed music.
480-423-2452
lso enshrined in newness is the 22,000-square-foot spa at Carefree’s recently unveiled sustainable wellness property,
Civana. At the heart of Spa Civana is a hydrotherapy thermae circuit of hot and cold pools, cold shower and a saunarium with adjustable humidity levels. This ritual of “taking the waters” helps to ground the mind and body before and after treatments. Spa Civana’s signature treatments incorporate the healing power of water and the earth’s elements. Case in point is the 90-minute Sonoran Sea Facial, where the skin-care provider uses fast and slow hand movements, percussive strokes and varied pressure to mimic the ever-changing rhythms experienced in the once-ancient-sea desert. Ethically sourced rose quartz crystals, protective turquoise and calming obsidian are incorporated throughout the facial to energize and balance the skin. Suitable for all skin types, this treatment is especially ideal for those experiencing jaw tension, headaches and anxiety. Spa Civana at Civana Carefree
The Phoenician Spa at The Phoenician Resort 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Spa Civana, Carefree
37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree 480-653-9000 civanacarefree.com
thephoenician.com
The south exterior of the Phoenician Spa
JANUARY 2019 / 63
Aim for the Moon Mii Amo, Sedona
A
dorned in accolades, including the No. 1 spot in the Top 10 Domestic Destination Spas
category on Travel + Leisure’s 2018 World’s Best Awards list, Mi Amo is every bit as magnificent as it is magical. At every turn, windows framed by brilliant sky and the vivid hues of Boynton Canyon call on Mii Amo’s visitors to release negative thoughts and embrace possibility. Before you make your own visit, you may want to consider the moon. Mii Amo’s 90-minute Spirit of the Moon rituals will realign your new year intentions depending on what you feel you need most. The full moon is the best time for letting go what no longer serves us. In that spirit, the Spirit of the Moon journey begins with you writing down what you would like to release. This activity is followed by a warm oil scalp massage to clear the mind. A foot bath then soaks in your intentions, and that is followed by a full body massage. Each ritual is offered only during the days surrounding the full or new moon, respectively. Mii Amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment 525 Boynton Canyon Road, Sedona 928-203-8500 miiamo.com
Reflective of Native American ceremony and ritual, Inner Quest at Mii Amo utilizes elements sacred to Native Americans
64 / The Red Book Magazine
La Vidorra offers living room-like comfort
Fan the Flames La Vidorra Spa at The Scott, Scottsdale
W
side-by-side massages in one of the spa’s two spacious
ith its recently completed $15 million resort-
couple’s suites, guests receive a take-home gift of a
wide renovation, The Scott Resort & Spa
Creative Energy Soy Lotion Candle. When burned, the
hides a secluded escape amid its balmy foliage and
cosmetic-grade soybean wax melts to create a sensual
lively social vibe. The Scott’s La Vidorra Spa wraps
fragrance along with a soothing body lotion. When
guests in charming living room-like comfort and gives
booking your service, be sure to check with the spa about
credence to the adage that big things come in small
the resort’s monthly well-being workshops, including a
packages. Punctuated by a Sonoran bungalow-style
couple’s massage workshop planned for February.
decor, the spa’s hardwood floors and unique features such as a copper soaking tub, La Vidorra offers
La Vidorra Spa at The Scott Resort & Spa
treatments that embrace ease and simplicity.
4925 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
If rekindling your relationship tops your resolutions list, La Vidorra’s Couples Massage will do the trick. After
480-945-7666 thescottresort.com JANUARY 2019 / 65
Sanctuary’s Women’s Quiet Room is dimly lit by William Leslie’s art piece “Wave After Wave”
Take a Breath Sanctuary Spa, Paradise Valley
Y
height to encourage students to experience the
et another haven worthy of your New Year
benefits of yoga in new ways. A good night’s sleep
reflections, the spa at the terrain-embracing
is the goal of the new Yoga Nidra class. During this
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain has unveiled
class, the instructor guides students through gentle
an expanded women’s spa lounge along with two
yoga postures and easy breathing techniques to
innovative yoga programs – one that challenges your
slow down the mind’s thinking process. The session
inner balance and one that eases you into a blissful
releases stress and toxins from the body naturally.
state of deep relaxation. A new addition to the
Both yoga classes are complimentary on the day of
already tranquil lounge, the Women’s Quiet Room
your spa visit.
offers a cocoon-like design and is dimly lit by “Wave After Wave,” a one-of-a-kind art piece crafted of
Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary on
paper and wood by artist William Leslie.
Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa
Now offered in the adjacent movement studio,
66 / The Red Book Magazine
5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley
the spa’s newly introduced Aerial Yoga class
855-245-2051
incorporates soft fabric slings suspended at waist
sanctuaryoncamelback.com
Walk This Way Miraval Arizona, Tucson
J
for a new year ablaze with possibility.
ust outside metro Tucson, Miraval
Through a series of Chakra-clearing
Arizona has also earned a spot
healing practices led by a Shamanic
on Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 list by
healer, you will be gently guided along
continually challenging its visitors to
a path beyond fear and coaxed to leave
reach for a higher state of relaxation
the past behind and embrace the trail
and introspection. Rooted on 400
ahead. Negative energies are released
acres along the foothills of the Santa
and harmony is restored through energy
Catalina Mountains, this destination
and light body work. You will arise from
retreat for mind and body merges
this experience with a strengthened
the wild Sonoran desertscape with
connection between spirit and self and
programs focused on inspiring balance
with a sense of lightness and renewal.
through mindfulness. Among the many self-affirming
Miraval Arizona
experiences Miraval offers, The Path
5000 E. Via Estancia, Tuscon
of the Jaguar is a transformational
855-234-1672
50-minute journey that clears the way
miravalarizona.com
The Path of the Jaguar utilizes the healing powers of crystals to take guests on a transformational journey
JANUARY 2019 / 67
CALENDAR
JAN
25 Dance With Me JAN. 1 – JAN. 13 ZOOLIGHTS Phoenix Zoo, 5:30 p.m. phoenixzoo.org JAN. 12 Applause 2019: Mad About Musicfest Arizona Musicfest Troon Country Club, 5:30 p.m. azmusicfest.org
JAN. 26 Heart of the West Gala Desert Caballeros Western Museum 6 p.m. westernmuseum.org
FEB. 1 Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon Jewish Family & Children’s Service Arizona Biltmore, 11:45 a.m. jfcsaz.org
Masquerade Gala Back to School Clothing Drive Phoenix Art Museum, 6 p.m. backtoschoolclothingdrive.com
Denim & Diamonds Gala OCJ Kids Ironwood Country Club, 6 p.m. ocjkids.org
JAN. 12 6th Annual ‘I Have a Voice’ Gala GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, 5:30 p.m. gigisplayhouse.org
Barrow Grand Ball Women’s Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation Arizona Biltmore, 6:30 p.m. supportbarrow.org
JAN. 18 Mountain Film Festival The Nature Conservancy in Arizona Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. nature.org
JAN. 28 – FEB. 3 Waste Management Phoenix Open The Thunderbirds TPC of Scottsdale, times vary wmphoenixopen.com
JAN. 25 Dance With Me Ballet Arizona Phoenix Art Museum, 6:30 p.m. balletaz.org
JAN. 30 Parties of Note: International Treasures The Phoenix Symphony Private Residence, 6 p.m. phoenixsymphony.org
JAN
26 Barrow Grand Ball
For continually updated information, visit azredbook.com/calendar 68 / The Red Book Magazine
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FEB
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FEB. 2 Drive the Dream Gala Childhelp The Phoenician, 5:30 p.m. childhelp.org FEB. 8 7th Annual Savor the Symphony The Phoenix Symphony Symphony Hall, 10:30 a.m. phoenixsymphony.org FEB. 9 Galaxy Gala Arizona Science Center, 6 p.m. azscience.org Hearts of Gold Gala & Casino Night Save the Family JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, 6 p.m. savethefamily.org 17th Annual First Press Fine Wine Dinner & Auction Friends of Public Radio Arizona Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, 6 p.m. firstpressarizona.com
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CULTURE ENJOY A CABARET-STYLE SHOW WITH POWERHOUSE PERFORMERS Multi-talented pianist and comedian Seth Rudetsky hosts this cabaret-style concert featuring singer and actress Audra McDonald. McDonald has won six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy. She has been seen on Broadway, in films and on television, as well as on concert and opera stages. “Audra McDonald Featuring Seth Rudetsky as Music Director and Host” Jan. 19 Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
FOLLOW A JOURNEY OF THE HEART Glorious melodies and complex characters are the hallmarks of this opera, which explores true love and impossible choices. Performed by Arizona Opera, the story explores whether Violetta will sacrifice everything she has accomplished for love. “La traviata” Jan. 25-27 Symphony Hall
Things Noted Kick off 2019 with an exploration of the arts Text by MICHELLE GLICKSMAN Photos courtesy ORGANIZATIONS
BE SURROUNDED BY THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE GRAND CANYON In this visual concerto, The Phoenix Symphony features Westwater Arts’ high-definition images of the Grand Canyon projected above the orchestra as it performs Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.” Other pieces showcased include Samuel Barber’s “Second Essay for Orchestra” and Charles Ives’ “Second Symphony.” “Grand Canyon Suite: An HD Experience” Jan. 11-12 Symphony Hall
WATCH ART BEING CREATED While ArtWalks are held monthly in the Arts District of Scottsdale, special Gold Palette ArtWalks elevate the event to another level with a unique theme and engaging elements. This event will feature numerous live art demonstrations across a variety of mediums, donut tastings at several galleries and entertainment from a bagpipe band comprised of members from the Tempe volunteer police. Gold Palette ArtWalk: Demonstrate! … And Doughnuts Jan. 17 Arts District, Scottsdale For more cultural events, visit azredbook.com/calendar
70 / The Red Book Magazine
VIEW JEWELRY MADE BY A LEGENDARY LAPIDARY ARTIST Verma Nequatewa is recognized as one of the leading Native American lapidary artists. Although her jewelry has been featured in both the U.S. and internationally, this exhibit at Heard Museum showcases the most comprehensive showing of her work to date. “Sonwai: The Jewelry of Verma Nequatewa” Through March 10 Heard Museum
SEE ARIZONA THROUGH BARRY GOLDWATER’S LENS Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) was known not only for his politics as a U.S. senator and passion for Arizona, but also for his photography skills. He was one of Arizona Highways magazine’s first and most important photographers, often photographing the Grand Canyon and the Native peoples of northern Arizona. This exhibit showcases a selection of his photos, as seen in Arizona Highways.
PHOTO: CRAIG SMITH
“Photographs by Barry M. Goldwater: The Arizona Highways Collection” Jan. 6 - June 23 Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
BE ENTERTAINED BY THE MUSIC MAN Three of Broadway’s most renowned designers (who all happen to hail from Tucson) work their magic as part of the behind-the-scenes creative team at the Arizona Theatre Company production of this six-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy. Con artist Harold Hill is intent on swindling locals by turning them against the new pool table at the local billiard hall; however, along the way, he must seduce the woman who is smart to see through his scam.
Sonwai — Verma Nequatewa (Hopi, b. 1949), Bolo tie, 2016. Coral, turquoise, lapis lazuli, sugilite, wood, fossilized ivory, abalone, 18k gold. Collection of Quincalee Brown and James P. Simsarian
“The Music Man” Jan. 5 - 27 Herberger Theater Center
JANUARY 2019 / 71
RAGNAR KJARTANSSON, SCANDINAVIAN PAIN, 2006, AT THE HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN. NEON. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST, LUHRING AUGUSTINE, NEW YORK AND I8 GALLERY, REYKJAVIK. PHOTO: CATHY CARVER
AFTER-PARTY
T
SCANDINAVIAN PAIN hrough April 14, Phoenix Art Museum presents the
features nine performers, including Kjartansson, in different rooms
Southwestern U.S. premiere of work by Icelandic artist
of the Rokeby Farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. Each performer
Ragnar Kjartansson in Ragnar Kjartansson: Scandinavian
is shown playing an instrument and singing a song with lyrics by
Pain and Other Myths. Three multisensory works by the celebrated
Kjartansson’s ex-wife. The words are limited and simple, but through
contemporary artist will be on display in the Ellen and Howard C. Katz
repetition, their meaning changes as the installation progresses,
Wing for Modern Art.
resulting in an emotionally charged and moving experience.
Kjartansson was born in Reykjavik, Iceland. His mother was an
The End is also featured. Secluding himself in a 14th century
actress and his father a director and playwright. This theater-centric
palazzo, Kjartansson made one painting per day for six months,
upbringing later informed his artistic practice as he experimented with
each depicting the same friend in a Speedo. The resulting 144-piece
durational and repetitive performance pieces, attempting to discover
installation is both complex and oversimplified. Another standout is
new meaning in simple words and actions through reiteration and time
the 40-foot long neon installation titled Scandinavian Pain.
progression. The art explores themes of Nordic identity, melancholy, repetition
Kjartansson has displayed his works in museums around the world, including the Migros Museum in Switzerland, The Guggenheim in
and popular culture. The Phoenix Art Museum exhibition showcases
New York City, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
three works by the artist, including The Visitors, one of Kjartansson’s
in Washington, D.C. Phoenix Art Museum is one of 10 American
best-known pieces. The hour-long, nine-screen video installation
museums to welcome the addition of The Visitors to their collection.
72 / The Red Book Magazine
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