PHX METRO » APRIL 2020
SPRING STREAMING New movies leap to online
LIFTING OUR
SPIRITS FROM A DISTANCE
WONDER TRULY
THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
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CONTENTS LIFTING OUR
SPIRITS Places to visit once the stay-at-home mandate is over
WELCOME TO SCOTCHDALE
Scottsdale residents serve whisky the right way
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ON THE COVER
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VIDEO ON DEMAND
First-run movies making it to the small screen
on the cover: Fire Dancer from UnderTow Cover photo by: Grace Stufkosky
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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com
publisher
Steve T. Strickbine
steve@entertainermag.com
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AGAPI PITA
Food made with love in Scottsdale
CITY Video on Demand • Extraordinary Rides
ARTS
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Musical Theatre of Anthem • Desert Foothills • Paul Diedrich
DINING
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designer
Shannon Mead
production manager
Aaron Kolodny
aaron@entertainermag.com
contributing writers
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Connor Dziawura
cdziawura@timespublications.com
circulation director
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Santa Barbara
Assistant Editor
production@timespublications.com
Lifting Spirits • Beer Collaboration • Speakeasies • Scotchdale • Saddle Mountain Brewing Company • Flying Embers
TRAVEL
christina@timespublications.com
Courtney Oldham
CONTENTS
UPFRONT
Executive Editor
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
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NEW BABY
Wildlife World Zoo welcomes an infant giraffe
Joseph Airdo, Alison Bailin Batz, David M. Brown, C.A. Haire, Jordan Houston, Laura Latzko, Haley Lorenzen, Bridgette Redman, Annika Tomlin
Staff Photographers
Chris Mortenson, Pablo Robles
Contributing Photographers LB Photography, Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks, Travis Shinn, Grace Stufkosky ONE COPY PER READER
Toasted Mallow • MeSo • Agapi Pita
BEER AND WINE
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The Entertainer! is circulated throughout the Phoenix Metro area, especially concentrated in entertainment districts. ©2020 Affluent Publishing, LLC. A free online subscription is available to all readers simply by going to entertainermag.com/subscribe.
Beer Pairing Pedal House • Beertenders/ Saddle Mountain Brewing Company • Beer Pairing Peeps
SPORTS
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Nick Ahmed
FAMILY
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Wildlife World Zoo Baby Giraffe
MUSIC
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DED • Wonder Truly • Jack Hues • Promise to Myself
NIGHTLIFE
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Mad Mixologist/Flint by Baltaire
IN CLOSING Celebrity Game Night
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For calendar and news items, the deadline for submission is the 15th of the NOVEMBER prior to publication. Submissions are included based on available space and are used at the discretion of the editor. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations will not be returned unless it is specifically requested and submission is accompanied by a properly addressed envelope and sufficient postage. The Entertainer! makes every effort to authenticate claims and accurate times and event locations. We encourage readers to verify information prior to attending events or purchasing tickets. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY:
RESURRECTING THE DED
Phoenix rock band makes music for the masses
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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
Don’t Just Look Inside
Take a Ride! Museum
Guided Tours, Aircraft Exhibits & Artifacts
Ride B-17, B-25, C-47, C-45, T-6, and Stearman Arizona’s Only Flying Aviation Museum!
Airbase Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum
2017 N GreenďŹ eld Rd. Mesa, AZ 85215
www.azcaf.org
480-924-1940
The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment
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Handcrafted e for meats mak treats delectable
SPOOKY’S SWIRLS
BIG DREAMS
‘Americano!’ is the show of the year
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Supermod Erin Naas el can't live without her Arabians
D-BACKS FAN FEST
slides into Chase Field
Dave Kindig is selling his ‘bitchin’ rides’ at Barrett-Jackson JULIANA HATFIELD
‘BONAFIDE
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Jammin’ Lee runs for Perreira charity SPRING TRAIN NOTHING ING BUT SCHEDULES GOOD NEW S The Black Moods crack the chart s
LA DOL CE
VITA The Italia n comes to Festival Phoenix
MERRILL KELLY
HUNGRY? BEST HIDDEN GEM! COME DINE AT SCOTTSDALE’S
• SOUTHWESTERN CUISINE WITH A MEXICAN TWIST • SERVING 140 PREMIUM TEQUILAS • COMPLIMENTARY HOMEMADE FLAVORED TORTILLAS • MISTED AND HEATED PATIO (480) 945-4567 | 6910 EAST MAIN STREET, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251
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UPFRONT
PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE
LIFTING OUR
UNDERTOW
SPIRITS Where to go when the stay-at-home order is over Haley Lorenzen >> The Entertainer!
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lthough the Valley might not be well-known for its bar scene, there’s no shortage of cocktail lounges, dive bars and eclectic speakeasys. As one of the fastestgrowing cities in the nation, Phoenix has a growing selection of bars and that ensures there are plenty of places to celebrate when the pandemic subsides.
PHOENIX SideBar 1514 N. Seventh Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.1646, sidebarphoenix.com With a unique view of the downtown Phoenix skyline, this retro-futuristic cocktail bar offers over 50 beers, as well as its own assortment of original cocktails, made with its collection of 250 liquors. Check out this swanky lounge on a Sunday and enjoy 20% off everything all day long.
UnderTow 3620 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.753.6504, undertowphx.com One of the most talked-about spots in Phoenix, UnderTow is more than a tiki bar, it’s an experience. This hidden gem is located in the basement of Sip Coffee, where guests enter through an unmarked stairwell. Once inside, enter an intimate island-inspired world and enjoy an assortment of rum-based cocktails, complete with sound effects. Reservations are recommended. Sazerac Phoenix 821 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.334.1626, sazeracphoenix.com Located on Roosevelt Row, Sazerac Phoenix offers one-of-a-kind cocktails and cigars with indoor and outdoor seating. This dimly lit cocktail bar has live music throughout the week and offers a live music and live painting event on the second Thursday of the month. LOW KEY PIANO BAR
The Duce 525 S. Central Avenue, 602.866.3823, theducephx.com Walk inside this Prohibition-themed 1928 warehouse, and you can find almost anything your heart desires. From boxing, to dance classes, to vintage cocktails, the Duce has got it all. The Duce’s drink menu includes classics like whiskey sours and Tom Collins, and for those who don’t drink, this spot also offers an old-fashioned soda fountain. Killer Whale Sex Club 922 N. Sixth Street, facebook.com/KillerWhaleSexClub This swanky, speakeasy-themed cocktail bar’s name is sure to catch your attention. Its array of creative cocktails is impressive, too, like the Gold Digger, made with plum, Cocchi Rosa, Madeira Madeira Malvasia, toasted sesame and whiskey. Stardust Pinbar 401 W. Van Buren Street, Suite C, Phoenix, 601.354.2931, stardustpinbar.com Throw it back to the ’70s at this neon-lit lounge. Inspired by late singer David Bowie, Stardust Pinbar offers a slew of themed pinball machines; a disco dance floor; and plenty of beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Century Grand 3626 E. Indian School Road, 602.739.1388, centurygrandphx.com/century-grand Step into a Prohibition-era train station at this posh, art deco cocktail bar and restaurant that boasts a selection of creative drinks, as well as an ever-
changing food menu. Reservations are recommended. Swizzle Inn 5835 N. 16th Street, Suite A, Phoenix, 602.277.7775 This tiny dive bar is a perfect place for a low-key drink or a game of pool under a ceiling of Christmas lights, which stay lit all year long.
SCOTTSDALE Rusty Spur Saloon 7245 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, 480.425.7787, rustyspursaloon.com For more than 60 years, Rusty Spur Saloon has been one of the most popular watering holes in the Valley, offering classic drinks and live country music throughout the week. Coach House 7011 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, 480.990.3433, coachhousescottsdale.com Coach House’s dazzling, twinkling Christmas light interior makes this dive bar a perfect place to unwind with cheap drinks. On the weekend, there is a bloody mary and omelet bar. Second Story Restaurant & Liquor Bar 4166 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 102, Scottsdale, 480.945.5555, secondstoryaz.com This hip spot is home to more than 300 different whiskeys, but that’s not all they’re known for. Second Story also has $1 oysters all day on Wednesdays, as well as an assortment of fabulous cocktails.
THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
Dirty Dogg Saloon 10409 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.368.8095, dirtydoggsaloon.com Get down and dirty at the Dirty Dogg Saloon, where wet T-shirt contests, body shots and bar dancing are the norm at this biker bar. Happy hour is weekdays 3 to 8 p.m., with plenty of other drink specials throughout the week. Kazimierz Wine and Whiskey Bar 7137 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, 480.946.3004, kazbarscottsdale.com Kazimierz Wine and Whiskey Bar is a trendy speakeasy that has over 200 whiskeys and a wide selection of boutique wines. It also has live music from local musicians every night of the week.
TEMPE El Hefe 640 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 110, Tempe, 480.257.2797, elhefe.com This Mexican restaurant/nightclub has plenty of mouthwatering cocktails that will have you dancing all night, such as the “Mamacita,” made with Patron Silver, lime juice, Cointreau, and strawberry and peach puree. It also has a wide variety of tacos and tortas. Glow Shots & Cocktails 414 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 215, Tempe, 480.329.4090, facebook.com/ GLOWtempeAZ Glow Shots & Cocktails is Mill Avenue’s first shot bar, offering a wide selection of unique shots. It also has theme nights throughout the week, such as R&B music every Sunday. Palo Verde Lounge 1015 W. Broadway Road, Tempe, 480.334.7567, paloverde-lounge.business. site This tiny dive may not look like much on the outside, but step inside and be treated to inexpensive drinks, laid-back vibes, and music straight from a good old-fashioned jukebox. Snakes and Lattes 20 W. Sixth Street, Tempe, 480.361.6644, snakesandlattes.com Grab an aperol spritz, a glass of chardonnay or an iced coffee at Snakes and Lattes, all while kicking back and playing one of the hundreds of available board and card games. There is a $5 fee to play the games. Marauders 6430 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 480.590.0529
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Marauders is a pirate-themed bar and restaurant that serves a slew of tikiinspired cocktails, as well as typical American fare. Low Key Piano Bar 501 S. Mill Avenue, Suite B101, Tempe, 480.355.1705, lowkeypianobar.com This modern take on a typical piano bar makes Low Key the perfect place to grab a cocktail and experience the fun of dueling pianos. It offers drink specials throughout the week, including fishbowls starting at $7. Pedal Haus Brewery 730 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 102, Tempe, 480.314.2337, pedalhausbrewery.com This spacious brewery has an extensive selection of house beers and American eats. Since opening in 2015, Pedal Haus has racked up numerous awards for its selection of ales, including the title of best brewery in the U.S. by Copa Cervezas de Americas. Rodeo Ranch Bar 501 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 101, Tempe, 480.534.8620, therodeoranch.com Test your cowboy skills at Rodeo Ranch Bar, where mechanical bull rides are $5. This Western-themed bar also has arcade games, bottle service and plenty of cold drinks.
GILBERT Level 1 Arcade Bar 60 W. Vaughn Avenue, Suite 107, Gilbert, 480.687.1192, level1arcade.bar From retro arcade games to vintage pinball machines, Level 1 Arcade Bar has plenty of fun for every taste. Along with games, it also has an extensive variety of signature cocktails, beers and small eats. Four Silos Brewery Coffee & Beer House 143 S. Higley Road, Gilbert, 480.210.7456, foursilosbrewery.com This craft coffee and beer spot has over a dozen local beers on tap, such as the Four Silos Duckduck Deuce, which is described as a Double IPA that is “inspired by the duck droppings by the ponds.”
CHANDLER Sleepy Whale 290 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.758.4979, facebook.com/ Sleepywhalebeer This pub boasts a huge selection of craft
FOUR SILOS
beers—on tap and canned—including local brews such as Grapefruit Gose, a grapefruit-inspired ale from Wilderness Brewing Co. The Brickyard 85 W. Boston Street, Chandler, 480.963.1373, brickyarddowntown.com The Brickyard has a massive drink menu; and with an almost 20-page list of cocktails, you’re sure to find something for every taste. It also has a contemporary American food menu, and happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. SanTan Brewing Company 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, 480.917.8700, santanbrewing.com This award-winning distillery believes special occasions are centered around good food and drink. SanTan Brewing Co. cans its brews, offering seasonal and year-round options for fans who crave it even when social distancing.
MESA The Grid: Games & Growlers 525 S. Gilbert Road, Suite A-7, Mesa,
480.621.8088, thegridmesa.com The Grid is a barcade that has old school and new school arcade games and video games, and a wide selection of beers. All games are free to play with the purchase of food or drink. Chupacabra Taproom 14 N. Robson, Mesa, 480.751.5566, chupacabrataproom.com The laid-back atmosphere of Chupacabra Taproom in Downtown Mesa makes this the perfect place to enjoy a cold one, with a wide variety of beers from around the country. Oro Brewing Company 210 W. Main Street, Mesa, 480.398.8247, orobrewing.com Oro Brewing Company is a nanobrewery and taproom with a cozy atmosphere and patio. It has a dozen beers on tap, and has happy hour on Mondays, as well as $1 off all beers on Fridays. 12 West Brewing 12 W. Main Street, Mesa, 480.508.7018, 12westbrewing.com Another popular brewery in Downtown ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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THE DUCE
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Mesa, 12 West has beers and cocktails for every taste, from pale ales to IPAs, as well as a menu filled with shareable appetizers. 12 West also has a location in Gilbert. Cider Corps 31 S. Robson, Suite 103, Mesa, 480.993.3164, cidercorpsaz.com Cider Corps is a family-run craft cidery and taproom with a unique selection of ciders, such as “Sangrin Sangria,” which has notes of prickly pear, strawberry and passion fruit.
AHWATUKEE The Buzzed Goat 4302 E. Ray Road, Suite 106, Phoenix, 480.706.7411, Whether you’re in the mood for an espresso or a cocktail, or a mix of both, such as its namesake cocktail, which is a mix of vodka, cold brew and caramel, The Buzzed Goat has plenty of selections. The Whining Pig 5030 E. Ray Road, Suite J5, Ahwatukee, 480.248.6969, thewhiningpig.com This beer and wine bar has more than 125 craft beers, seasonal meat and cheese plates, and a wide variety of wines. The Whining Pig also has other locations throughout the Valley.
cookandcraftaz.com Cook & Craft is a small American eatery that partners with many local small businesses. Its menu includes a wide selection of draughts, wines and unique cocktails.
My Wine Cellar 5030 Warner Road, Suite 2, Phoenix, 480.598.9463, thecellarphx.com My Wine Cellar is an intimate, classy experience, perfect for relaxing with a class of red, white or rosé. It also has $2 off happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Lincoln Steakhouse & Bar 5402 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, 480.905.7979, Located inside JW Marriott Scottsdale, this contemporary steakhouse has beautiful mountain views, perfectly cooked steaks, wine and plenty of classic cocktails.
PARADISE VALLEY
AVONDALE
Jade Bar 5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, 855.245.2051, sanctuaryoncamelback.com Nestled on top of Camelback Mountain, Jade Bar offers stunning views of the desert, along with expertly crafted cocktails. On weekend nights, this chic bar also has live music.
Scale & Feather Meadery 1050 N. Fairway Drive, Building E, Suite 112, Avondale, 623.440.8931, scaleandfeather.com Whether you’re a “Basic Barbarian” who likes pumpkin spice or a mead purist, Scale & Feather has a drink for you. With fantastical and humorous titles for each brew, this “Dungeons & Dragons” tavern come to life boasts honey wine that’s “not just good, it’s chaotic good.”
Cook & Craft 7306 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
LITCHFIELD PARK Transplant City Beer Co. 107 W. Honeysuckle Street, Litchfield Park, 623.535.3911, tcbcbeer.com From home brewers to craft brewers, Transplant City Beer Co. proudly serves small batch beers with a focus on unique flavors and serving the increasingly diverse West Valley. Tap Savvy 13000 W. Indian School Road, Suite A-6, Litchfield Park, 623.248.85761, tapsavvy.beer The main focus of Tap Savvy’s owners and staff is a laid-back and open environment. Hoping to foster good conversations and better beer, this relaxed bottle shop and bar even allows patrons to bring outside food.
GOODYEAR Saddle Mountain Brewing Company 15651 W. Roosevelt Street, Goodyear, 623.249.5520, saddlemountainbrewing.com The first production brewery in Goodyear, Saddle Mountain is a cozy, family-owned establishment mixes a love of vintage airplanes with good beer.
‘CONSERVE AND PROTECT’ New brew helps Game and Fish support wildlife THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
Connor Dziawura >> The Entertainer!
I
n recent years, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been looking to work with organizations on the ground level to support its conservation efforts. And as it turns out, Flagstaff’s Mother Road Brewing Company had a similar interest. So, last year, the Northern Arizona microbrewery repackaged its kölschstyle ale as the limited-edition Conserve and Protect Kölsch Style Ale, with a portion of the proceeds from draft and can sales going to AZGFD conservation efforts. The collaboration proved so successful—raising $10,000 in 2019—that the Flagstaff brewery and environmental organization have decided to extend their partnership, with plans to sell three different cans across the seasons this year. “The department was looking, and we’ve been looking for some time, for innovative ways to expand our audience and our customer base for wildlife conservation,” explains Laura Canaca, AZGFD division coordinator for information, education and wildlife recreation. “We had been talking about a collaboration like this for some time, probably for more than a couple of years, so when we found out that Mother Road was interested in doing sort of a
conservation collaborative, we jumped at the chance.” The public-private collaboration is the first of the sort, as far as Canaca is aware. She calls it a “win-win for wildlife in Arizona,” because AZGFD receives no tax dollars, with funds generally earned through sales of hunting and fishing licenses, tags or stamps, as well as a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition and sporting equipment. Canaca says the organization also participated with Mother Road at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival. “Mother Road is a local Arizona craft brewery,” explains Oliver Adams, the brewery’s director of people and culture. “One of the things that makes our state, which we take a lot of pride in, so unique is how biodiverse it is and the different outdoor recreation opportunities that we have. “And, as a team here, our team of almost 40 here in Flagstaff, part of the reason why we live here is because we enjoy the outdoors so much. And, the function of beer, our mission, is to build community one pint at a time; and this is a community that we certainly wanted to help build.” Regardless of success, Canaca recalls that the organization knew from the beginning it wanted to use the entirety of the funds donated by Mother Road for on-the-ground wildlife conservation. The department works with over 800 species of wildlife. The three specific areas AZGFD is targeting with Mother
Road are the desert tortoise, the Mount Graham red squirrel, and wildlife corridor research. “We’re actually going to move forward in 2020 with a desert tortoise research project,” Canaca elaborates. “The desert tortoise is important for Game and Fish to monitor and research habitat and understand where their populations are. We want to make sure we keep that species off of the federal threatened and endangered species list. And we’ve been successful in doing that and we want to make sure that we continue to be successful.” Last year’s redesigned can depicts two people fly fishing beside a pickup truck at Lee’s Ferry on the Colorado River. That can will return to shelves from May through August, Adams says. In the meantime, however, consumers can purchase cans depicting two people stepping out of a car, one taking a picture while a desert tortoise sits on the road ahead. This can was unveiled in January and will remain on shelves through the remainder of April. From September through December, the brewery will roll out a third can, the details of which are still being planned. “We’re working on the design right now,” Adams hints of the fall/winter release. “It’s going to be mountains and big game.” Using what Adams calls a talented team of artists, Mother Road had several criteria for the cans: include an iconic Arizona scene showcasing its
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diverse climate; spotlight an activity like hunting, fishing or wildlife viewing; and showcase a “cool car.” “That’s Mother Road. That’s our ethos—is motoring,” Adams says of the latter. “Mother Road means Route 66, the mother of all roads, and each of our cans has a different vehicle on it.” Because Canaca says AZGFD had no expectations for how well the partnership would do with consumers, last year’s success seemed to be a pleasant surprise. So, the company and organization are moving forward for the foreseeable future, she adds. “We realized that people do respond well to this. They understand the win-win,” Canaca says. “Folks are really passionate about on-the-ground conservation and making sure we have these resources for generations to come.” Mother Road delivers statewide through Hensley Beverage Company and its partners. Consumers can find cans of the Conserve and Protect Kölsch Style Ale at all Total Wine & More, BevMo!, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s stores; select Fry’s Food Stores and Safeway locations; and many independent liquor shops.
Mother Road Brewing For more information, visit motherroadbeer.com or azgfd. gov. Become a conservation member at azwildlifehero.com
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The Mystique of Speakeasies These secret bars offer a glimpse into the past Laura Latzko >> The Entertainer!
D
uring the Prohibition era of the 1920s and early ’30s, speakeasies allowed men and women to socialize and drink in secret in underground clubs, backrooms, basements and homes. These establishments often offered live music, such as jazz bands. Although drinking is now legal, speakeasies continue to have a certain mystique. This is why speakeasy bars continue to exist in cities around the country. These local speakeasies take patrons back to another era, with their music, atmosphere, drinks and secret entrances.
HONOR AMONG THIEVES 5538 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix 602.313.1001 Located in the bottom level of Stock and Stable, Honor Among Thieves can be accessed via a staircase behind the restaurant. The dimly lit bar offers comfortable leather seats and a 1950s-style lounge atmosphere. The bar has a selection of well-known cocktails such as martinis, White Russians and Manhattans, as well as specialty drinks such as the sloe gin and rum-based Sunbather, the scotch-based Job for a Cowboy, the tequila-based Arsonists Get All the Girls, the vodka-based Christian Woman, the gin-based E.M.O.J.I. Q.U.E.E.N. and the rye-whiskey-based Sextape. Guests are given a taste of Amaro to start their experience. MELINDA'S ALLEY
MELINDA’S ALLEY Basement of Renaissance Hotel Downtown Hotel, 50 E. Adams Street, Phoenix 602.256.3487 There is no signage leading to Melinda’s Alley, and it can be difficult to find. A patron needs to go into an alley on Central Avenue, between Adams and Monroe streets, to find it. In the alley sits a colorful 70-foot mural of Malinda Curtis, an African American woman who once lived in an apartment in the alley and worked as a courtesan. Part of the allure of the bar is its history. Before the hotel was the Renaissance, the space was occupied by the Adams Hotel, which burned down in 1910. Entering the crimson-lit bar is like entering the past, as it is decorated with old-fashioned mirrors, armchairs and sofas, candleholders and paintings. The establishment regularly changes its menu of five cocktails, although it often offers the Old-Fashioned.
made with whiskeys, vodkas, tequilas and gins and special ingredients such as fresh fruit, the establishment also offers a raw seafood bar.
SANCTUM 718 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 602.795.8552 The Sanctum isn’t readily apparent if one isn’t looking for it. Located on the top floor of The Grand coffeeshop, it is through a staircase at the back of the coffeehouse. To enter the intimate bar, a patron must have a password and be dressed in upscale attire that meets the dress code. The space offers an ambiance similar to speakeasies of the 1920s, but with a twist. The bar has jazz music playing in the background and gothic touches such as skull and gargoyle decorations. The bartenders craft cocktails such as the tequila-based Oaxacan Old-Fashioned, absinthe frappe, Calvados Sidecar and whiskeybased Sazerac.
PIGTAILS COCKTAIL BAR
WHITE RABBIT BAR
Desert Ridge Marketplace Location 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix 480.534.5657 Downtown Phoenix CityScape Location 1 E. Washington Street, Phoenix 602.675.4416 Little details, such walls covered in plants and decorated with copper detailing, make going to the speakeasystyle Pigtails cocktail bar a unique experience. The establishment has locations in Downtown Phoenix in CityScape, and in Desert Ridge Marketplace next to sister restaurant The Whining Pig. At the Desert Ridge Marketplace location, patrons exit the bar through a secret bookshelf door. Along with signature craft cocktails
207 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 480.750.0099 The White Rabbit Bar seeks to capture the essence of a speakeasy of the Roaring ’20s with a secret entrance and password. The bar is located in Downtown Gilbert, on the bottom level of the old Heritage Court building. To get the password to enter, guests must go to the bar’s website, twr.bar. Vintage photographs donated by local people, leather seating, and bartenders dressed in traditional attire can cause guests to feel like they have been transported back to another time. The bar offers an extensive drink menu that includes the pineapple rum-based This Side of Paradise, the vodka-based Flappers and Philosophers, the bourbonbased Star-Crossed Fools, the whiskeyMELINDA'S ALLEY
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WHITE RABBIT BAR
based Irish Stone Sour and the rye and scotch-based Three Lives. Patrons can get enjoy small bites such as skewers, hummus plates, meat and cheese boards, bourbon-infused brie and flatbreads.
MYSTERY ROOM AT THE ARIZONA BILTMORE RESORT
days. At the speakeasy-style bar, patrons can try specialty cocktails such as the Amaro and Sherry-based Career End No. 2, the rye and vermouth-based Boaty McBoatface, the gin-based Aviation Cocktail and the whiskey-based This Conflagration Nation.
cocktails for delivery online.
KAZIMIERZ WINE AND WHISKEY BAR 7137 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale 480.946.3004
Kazimierz Wine and Whiskey Bar is a trendy speakeasy that has over 200 whiskeys and a wide selection of boutique wines. It also has live music from local musicians every night of the week.
MERCBAR
2400 E. Missouri Avenue, Phoenix 602.955.6600 The Mystery Room at the Arizona Biltmore Resort offers a cave-light ambiance with special touches from architect Frank Lloyd Wright. During the Prohibition era, the speakeasy was disguised as a men’s smoking room. The room still has a number of doors, which patrons used to escape during the late 1920s and ’30s. To be given directions to the secret room, guests must know a special password, which changes regularly. A bartender dressed in period attire and music from the Prohibition era help to recreate the original speakeasy atmosphere inside of the historic space.
2525 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix 602.508.9449 Located in The Esplanade, MercBar was inspired by a bar by the same name from New York’s Soho neighborhood. Wood-paneled walls and leather furniture adorn the cocktail bar. The bar isn’t easy to find at first glance. Patrons should look for door lit by a red light, located next to a golden plaque. The bar has a number of specialty cocktails, including the tequila-based Purple Rain, the vodka-based Sophia Loren and the bourbon-based Mercer Sour. The bar also serves food items such as meatballs, stuffed peppers and a cheese board.
THE OSTRICH
KILLER WHALE SEX CLUB
10 N. San Marcos Place, Chandler 480.643.0547 Located below Crust restaurant in Chandler, the craft cocktail lounge The Ostrich is inspired by the history of the Chandler area. The bar can be found in the basement of the former San Marcos Hotel. The bar once served as an ostrich feather storage facility as well as a popular hangout spot for those traveling through Phoenix. The establishment’s vintage furnishings are a nod to bygone
922 N. Sixth Street, Phoenix killerwhalesexclub.com This swanky, speakeasy-themed cocktail bar’s name is sure to catch your attention, if the building’s bright yellowblue-purple mandala and Pegasus murals don’t first. Its array of creative cocktails is impressive, too; like the Gold Digger, made with plum, Cocchi Rosa, Madeira Madeira Malvasia, toasted sesame and whiskey. The unapologetically colorful bar even offers crudely titled bottled
FDR THE FENCE!
VALLEY'S BEST HAPPY HOUR! 1/2 LB GOLD CANYON ANGUS BEEF BURGER SLOW SMOKED WINGS WEEKEND BRUNCH
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WELCOME TO SCOTCHDALE UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
An Airpark pair quench their thirst with spirit Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer
Scotchdale.”
ohn McDonnell and Travis Ranville were watching football and drinking scotch when Ranville asked, “Why isn’t there a brand named Scotchdale? I want to live in Scotchdale.” Immediately, McDonnell trademarked the name online. The former Michigander’s subtle joke led to their latest Scottsdale Airpark-based business venture, which launched a year ago. “It grew from that idea,” Ranville says. “We wanted to get bourbon from Kentucky and barrel age it here. We ran into an issue, though, with the Scotch Whisky Association. Anything with the name ‘scotch’ in it has to originate in Scotland.” They contacted several Scottish distilleries, who sent them samples of three-year, eight-year and 12-year blends. McDonnell and Ranville settled on Angus Dundee as its distillery and an eight-year blended pure malt scotch whisky from the Highland and Speyside regions of Scotland. The spirit was matured in charred American oak bourbon barrels and the result has hints of honey, chocolate, caramel, oak and coffee. “It’s very unique,” Ranville says. “It’s different from almost every whisky out there.” McDonnell adds, “If Macallan 12 and Nikka Japanese whisky had a baby and they had it in the desert, that would be
Neither McDonnell nor Ranville have extensive food and beverage backgrounds, although McDonnell bartended at Hotel Indigo. Ranville is in finance. “Getting into the booze business, I love going to bars and talking to people about whisky and maybe just having a drink,” says Ranville, who has degrees from Western Michigan University and University of Phoenix. A New Hampshire native, McDonnell visited Arizona in March 2004 for vacation and decided to move here. He worked in commercial real estate, renewable energy and now alcohol. “We’ve had every scotch and whisky, other than the ridiculously priced, 60-year-old stuff,” McDonnell says. “Thirty-year-old scotch is like getting into a time machine for us. “Growing up, my mom said, ‘Do what you love.’ When Travis said, ‘Why isn’t there a brand called Scotchdale?’ I thought, ‘Do what we love. We love scotch.’” As of printing, Scotchdale has taken preorders for 40-plus bars and the men were in the process of getting into Total Wine and BevMo! They are licensed as wholesalers so they can self-distribute. “We have a sales guy coming on board. All he does is liquor sales locally. He has a ton of bars that he has great relationships with,” McDonnell says.
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OUTSIDE THE BOX
WHISKEY VS. WHISKY McDonnell says the differences between whiskey and whisky are simple. Whisky that originates from Scotland, Canada and Japan do not have an E. Whiskeys are from Ireland and the United States. “I have family who live in Ireland— my sister and three nephews,” Ranville adds. “They learned Gaelic in school. I’ll have to quiz them on E vs. no E.” There are three types: whisky, which is geographically trademarked; bourbon; and Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel’s, which has to be filtered using the Lincoln County process or through sugar maple charcoal. “We were just thirsty for knowledge,” McDonnell says. “We were like sponges. I wanted to know everything about it.” To hone their skills, they “researched” plenty and then started tinkering with videos and test recipes. “We did a mash,” he says. “We put our grains in water for an hour and then let it cool off. What comes from the grain is fermentable sugars. That’s what you want. “You can make booze from anything—anything citrusy. Vodka is made from grapes or potatoes. It’s that starch in the grain that makes fermentable sugars. We made an allbarley mash, which is 25% peated barley and then 75% pale ale barley. We made a scotch, but we couldn’t call it scotch because it’s from America. Single-malt whiskey is what we called it. It was incredible. It was beginner’s luck. The second one we made was a bourbon. It was 55% corn and the rest barley. The flavor profile was there.” Ranville adds, “It comes out clear. Putting it in the barrels of the maturing process is what gives it its flavor and
color and whatnot.” When the mash is done and cooled off, the yeast “goes to town and eats all the fermentable sugars and turns it into alcohol.”
CELEBRATING ARIZONA McDonnell and Ranville designed the label for the bottles, which are adorned with an outline of Arizona with a cowboy smack in the middle. The back of the bottle is the Scotchdale story. “When I’m home, I’ll drink my Scotchdale until it’s gone before I crack open a bottle of other stuff,” Ranville says. “We have a product we will stand behind. I just had a small glass before we came here; a little nip. We’re passionate about it. We drink it. We love it.” But the ultimate question for McDonnell and Ranville: Who do they root for? McDonnell quickly says the New England Patriots, while Ranville admits he’s a former Lions and Cardinals fan, who, instead, cheers for his fantasy football team. Seriously, they’re proud of their company. “It was $225 to trademark it,” McDonnell says. “I registered everything right there. I feel like if we waited, someone would have come up with it. We just grabbed it and had fun with it. “We had no idea this journey would take us down that road to Scotland. At the time, we were just sitting around, drinking three or four different scotches and watching football. Those are our passions.”
Scotchdale For more information, visit scotchdale.net.
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Saddle Up for Craft Beer Award-winning Goodyear brewery is lager than life Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer
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rom homebrewing to Goodyear’s first brewing company, Saddle Mountain Brewing Company has come a long way in six years. But the company’s history goes back 20 years, when owner Laura Hansen bought a homebrew kit for her husband, Jacob. At the time, they owned the small town of Wintersburg, about 15 miles west of Buckeye. After selling Wintersburg, semiretiring and trying to decide what to do with the money, Laura flippantly said to Jacob, “Hey, you like brewing beer. Why don’t we open a brewery?” To her surprise, Jacob took the idea to heart and looked into it. Laura was set on retiring and settling down after having their third child, but the opportunity called her back to start a sixth business. “I wasn’t looking to do that again, but he found this place in Goodyear and it just kind of fell into place,” Laura says. “I said I would come out of retirement and run the business for us and as a legacy for our children.” In October 2014, Saddle Mountain Brewing Company opened for business with the plan to have a drinkable, traditional beer that can be enjoyed by people who like the top-name and craft beers. The Hansens are confident customers will find something that is clean and consistent in taste. Laura says the brewery’s name came from the Tonopah mountain near where the Hansens grew up. “He grew up in Arlington and I grew up in Tonopah,” Hansen says. “Both of us could see Saddle Mountain from basically our backyards, separately but together.” Hansen was originally opposed to the name because of its length. “In my past I have owned so many businesses, and people like long names,” Hansen says. “I am not one of them
because it’s hard for branding.” Jacob is a former pilot and his favorite aircraft was a Taildragger, now a name of one of his beers. “We brew a line of beers—all of which are named Taildragger—and then they have their own individual fun-style name,” Laura says. Other names include Taildragger Moo-n Landing, Taildragger Otter Hop and the three-time Great American Beer Festival award-winning Taildragger Clan-Destine. Laura’s favorite brew was a special patch that head brewer Neal Huttenhow created for her fifth-year wedding anniversary. It was a Belgian quad with plum added to it. “Huttenhow wasn’t super happy with me having to brew it because he’s very traditional and didn’t want to put plum into beer,” Laura says. “But since I had him do it, we named it She Made Me Brew It.” The beer is gone but Laura hopes it will return. Laura credits the brewery’s success to Huttenhow. “He’s extremely clean and diligent on recipes. He will not put something out if it’s not good,” Laura says. “Granted, in the five years that he’s worked for me, we’ve never dumped a batch of his beer.” Last year, Laura began the Taildragger Craft Beer Challenge Coin as a way to offer discounts to returning customers. With the $10 coin, customers can receive that day’s discount. Laura hopes that in addition to serving as a yearlong coupon, the coins will become a collector’s items. “It’s been very well received, selling almost 500 coins in the first year,” Laura says. “I will do it again and will develop a new coin every anniversary in October.”
Saddle Mountain Brewing Company 15651 W. Roosevelt Street, Goodyear, 623.249.5520, saddlemountainbrewing.com
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
Flying Embers brings alcoholic kombucha to Arizona Jordan Houston >> The Entertainer!
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t’s no secret that kombucha has taken the beverage industry by storm. With a golden reputation as a purveyor of health, the fizzy fermented tea can be found at supermarkets and on tap at cafes. The Chinese elixir boasts benefits for digestion, metabolism, liver function and immunity by colonizing the gut with healthy bacteria. And now, it can even get you drunk. Flying Embers, a California-based kombucha company, is upping the ante with its organic hard kombucha—and it’s hit Arizona. “Flying Embers, at its most basic form, stands for ‘better-for-you alcohol,’” says Vice President of Flying Embers Kyle Ingram. “Our hard kombucha features two aspects—we’ve got the absence of things and the addition of things. “The absence is zero sugar, zero carbs, low calories and non-GMO. But we also have the addition of things like live probiotics, adaptagens and other functional ingredients.” Brewed with botanicals, Flying Embers offers six punch-packing flavors, ranging from pineapple chili to black cherry, with a minimum of 4.5% alcohol by volume. Although some blends ring in at 7.2% alcohol by volume, giving most beers a run for their money, the tea’s initial health properties remain, Ingram ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
explains. “It’s still alcohol and it’s still dangerous if it’s not consumed responsibly,” he says. “But I will say the live probiotics have a lot of positive benefits. Here we have the science and the art coming together as one to create what we think is a delicious-tasting beverage.” Working in partnership with distributors like Crescent Crown Distributing and Columbia Distributing, Flying Embers is expanding its reach beyond its Reyes Southern California footprint. The hard kombucha is now sold across 37 states, including Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, New York, Philadelphia and New England.
‘BETTER-FOR-YOU’ BEVERAGE Traditionally, kombucha is made by brewing together sugar; black or green tea; liquid from a previous batch; and SCOBY, which short for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The “tea of immortality” contains B vitamins, antioxidants and probiotics and is believed to have come from China more than 2,000 years ago, according to an excerpt from the Wiley Online Library. Kombucha has evolved into a $475 million industry in the United States, claims American data and measurement firm Nielsen Holdings, nearly quadrupling in the previous four years. Because the tea is already slightly
alcoholic, the decision to create a hard product was just the next step in evolution, Ingram says. “We were looking to expand and take on something new and different,” he tells. “Kombucha naturally is a fermented beverage, and so it was a pretty natural progression. “Typically when making regular kombucha, you have to actively try to keep the alcohol content down because it will continue to ferment in the bottle.” Flying Embers champions a line of unique flavors with powerful ingredients that are low calorie, certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, gluten-free and vegan, with zero sugar and zero carbs. The hand-crafted drinks, developed and launched by Fermented Sciences Inc., are brewed with live cultures, live probiotics and adaptogens and sell for about $2.50 per can. The idea behind the company’s hard products, Ingram says, is to provide thought leadership in transforming the alcohol industry with “better-for-you” products.
A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE Fermented Sciences was born in Ojai, California, in 2016 by a team of passionate entrepreneurs driven to do just that. With the hopes of disrupting the industry through state-of-the-art botanical brews, former CEO of KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drinks Bill
Moses spearheaded the movement in his 100-year-old stone cellar turned fermentation lab. But Mother Nature had other plans. In December 2017, the Thomas Fire ignited in Southern California, ravaging most of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. “It was the most devastating fire in terms of the number of homes that were comprised and acreage,” Ingram says. “There was a point in time where Moses’ property, home and everything he owned were at risk.” Moses and his team refused to abandon their dreams, Ingram continues, and banded together with community members to fight the inferno. Three days later, Flying Embers was conceived. “It was about as close as it gets. You could see the fire coming over the ridge,” Ingram says. “All it had to do was make its way over the hill.” With seconds to spare, a gust of wind pushed the fire into a different direction, Ingram recounts of Moses’ story, saving the lab and property. Grateful and appreciative of nature’s powers, Moses was inspired to rename his operation based on the life-changing experience. “He said he remembers seeing the flying embers floating throughout the sky,” Ingram says. “In that moment, it dawned on him that he was going to call the brand Flying Embers.”
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ROAD TRIPPIN’ WITH MY FRIEND Find 5 Great Day Trips From the Valley
Operating out of a brewery in Ventura, California, Flying Embers is committed to not only creating functional beverages that “illuminate and celebrate the experience of life,” says the company website, but also to give back to its community. The organization donates 1% of its revenue to firefighters and first responder-charitable organizations as a nod to the sacrifice and service of first responders, the website continues. “It has been fantastically received,” Ingram says about the success of the company. “We’ve developed the best of the best with our base kombucha. It’s so pure and delicious.”
FLYING EMBERS IN ARIZONA In Arizona, Flying Embers is distributed across the state at local venues like Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market and Total Wine & More. Tempe’s Bottleshop 48 recently hosted a sampling. Scores of current—and future—kombucha lovers filed into the beer and wine store to learn more about 2020’s hottest beverage trends. “It’s all about meeting people, sampling Flying Embers and getting to know the brand while we get to know our community,” Flying Embers Health and Wellness Publicist Bree Sveinsson says. “We want to let people know about this great product that is offering ‘better-
for-you’ alcohol.” Attendees lounged on cozy couches while sipping on their choice of grapefruit thyme, a mix of grapefruit’s slightly tart sweetness coupled with a hint of the aromatic herb, or lemon orchard, a citrus-forward beverage featuring subtle undertones of lavender, mint and ginger. All while buzzing guilt-free. “Awareness days are really important in public relations,” Sveinsson says. “National Booch Day is all about kombucha and celebrating ‘better-foryou’ alcohol. “It’s about having a healthier alternative that doesn’t make you feel that hard hangover when you wake up in the morning,” she adds. Looking forward, Flying Embers is already brewing plans to tackle beer, hard seltzer and even spirits. “We believe that the ‘better-for-you’ movement is not a trend but it’s really a cultural shift,” Ingram says. “People today—and not just millennials—are more conscious about what they’re putting in their bodies.” Adding, “It doesn’t mean they don’t want to have a good time, but just that they want to be able to show up at work in the morning or be their best selves.”
Flying Embers flyingembers.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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TRAVEL
VACATION » SIGHTS » DAY TRIPS » ADVENTURE » EXPLORE » TRAVEL
Enjoy a sojourn in SoCal stunner Santa Barbara Alison Bailin Batz >>The Entertainer!
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ust over an hour from the Valley by plane—and only about seven by car—lies Santa Barbara. Nicknamed the American Riviera for its similarity to the French Riviera, the region boasts dozens of beaches and offers visitors everything from whale watching, rock climbing, scuba diving and backcountry Jeep tours to eaglewatching tours, sky diving, wind surfing, sailing excursions, fishing charters, a skateboard park and seven 18-hole championship golf courses. Though a mere 90 minutes from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is truly a world apart. Visually, expect more of a Mediterranean vibe as the city bursts with Spanish-, Moorish-, Portugueseand American Indian-inspired architecture. More than 100 years ago, the region was a major player in the film industry, with over 1,200 movies filmed in the area during the silent-film
era. As a result, families including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and DuPonts invested in land in the area, which inspired poets and artists to come see what all the fuss was about. Overwhelmed by Santa Barbara’s splendor, many made the area their permanent home and still do, giving the area a reputation for being as culturally rich as it is beautiful. The world’s biggest names are still frequenting the area, notably Oprah Winfrey, who loves it so much she moved there. Given there is so much to see and do, however, getting it all in on one’s first trip—or first trip in a while—is virtually impossible. Here is a look at where to stay, what to do and how to make the most of a visit.
ACCOMMODATIONS Life’s a journey, not a destination. However, Belmond believes that by exploring destinations and cultures both near and far, one’s journey can be so much richer. A luxury travel and adventure brand with a collection of
46 hotels as well as trains and river cruises in 22 countries, Belmond is no mere travel planner or website, instead considering itself the ultimate travel curator and connoisseur for even the most discerning of travelers. Among its most impressive offerings is Belmond El Encanto. Majestic and regal, the Forbes Five Star award-winning property features 7 acres of gardens and is limited to just 96 rooms, suites and bungalows. Restored in recent years for today’s traveler, it still boasts much of the charm guests like President Franklin D. Roosevelt enjoyed nearly 100 years ago, including its original 1928 wishing well, lily pond and romantically placed wisteria vines that climb up brickcolumned arbor. Its negative-edge pool not only has sweeping views of the entire city, but one of the most impressive views of the miles of beaches and crystal blue oceans you will ever see. The spa is similarly lavish yet cozy, with just seven treatment rooms and intoxicatingly relaxing men’s and women’s lounges as well as treatments
inspired by the California coast. Drinking and dining on property are special treats. The lounge excels at using herbs and citrus grown on property in its cocktails, and the dining room— which has a stunning terrace known for some of the best al fresco dining in the country—not only does the same with its dishes and has a sumptuous caviar service to boot, but the property even makes its own signature cheese, thanks to a hotel cow named Ellie, who lives on-site. For anything it cannot source from on property, every effort is made to support nearby local farmers, ranchers and fishermen by using their vegetables, fruits and sustainable wild seafood.
DINING Of course, Belmond is not the only culinary adventure to be had in Santa Barbara. People come from around the world to enjoy the farms, waters, vineyards, restaurants, farmers and fishermen markets, cooking classes, and food and wine events that create, cultivate and celebrate the region’s distinctive flavors. A true bucket-list experience is Bouchon. Chef Greg Murphy is a flavor wizard. If there was a doctorate available in kitchen science, he would not simply have the degree, but be teaching the graduate courses. The best way to experience his genius is by joining him through his cooking process via his market tour and gourmet dinner package ($125 per person). Through it, twice a week Murphy leads an intimate group through Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market, both giving a tour and showing how he sources ingredients for his award-winning dishes. And then,
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later that evening, the group is invited back for a three-course wine-pairing dinner using the ingredients sourced during the earlier adventure. The Lark, which recently earned the Michelin Plate award, is another must. It is located in a region of Santa Barbara known as the Funk Zone, which is today the epicenter of the thriving arts scene in the city. Urban in design and built using repurposed materials in a nod to the area’s history as an industrial zone in year’s past, the restaurant especially excels at pairing locally sourced dishes with craft cocktails as well as wines grown in the area, with a special focus on the smaller producers. For some of the freshest seafood—not to mention awe-inspiring views—don’t miss Tyde’s at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara. The indoor-outdoor space excels at taking seafood and infusing it with dreamy Mediterranean flavors that melt in one’s month. The olive oil poached halibut, charcoal-roasted black cod and crispy-skin salmon with Israeli cous cous are particularly spectacular. Insider tip: At sunset, just before dinner at Tyde’s, visit the resort’s Coral Reef Bar, where the actual bar itself is a freestanding, 275-gallon saltwater aquarium overlooking the ocean. The drinks are just as good as the view, and that is saying something. One final culinary must: the new, interactive downloadable Julia Child Food Trail Map, which is essentially a do-it-yourself culinary tour that
incorporates long-time Santa Barbara resident and food goddess Julia Child’s favorite places to eat in the area. A quick Google search makes downloading it a snap.
MUST DOS With a place to lay one’s head and dining set, the final piece to the puzzle is finding a way to experience the myriad attractions, or at least as much as possible. The best way to get one’s
bearings while taking in a piece of everything at once is via DeeTours of Santa Barbara. During these open-air tours, which are led in one-of-a-kind, bright-red stretched Jeeps, expert guides share the geographic and architectural beauty of the city as well as delve into its vibrant history and buzz by most of the major cultural attractions. In just over an hour, the wildly entertaining and often funny city tour visits El Presidio, Queen of the Missions, Stearns Wharf, beaches, a bird refuge and zoo areas, the famous old Moreton Bay Fig Tree, elegant Montecito’s Lower Coast Village and Butterfly Beach. Oh, it also gives a faraway glance at Winfrey’s home. Artistic attractions beyond the major sights and sounds abound, as the region is home to more than 200 annual classic and contemporary stage productions, including concerts, drama, comedy, dance and musical theater. Of particular note is the State Street Ballet, the internationally lauded dance company. The company is comprised of 20 dancers representing six countries, and its performances are riveting and beautiful. For those who prefer the beach, there are 25 from which to choose in the area. And nature lovers will be in
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heaven, touring through acres of orchids and native plants at one of the area’s gardens or public parks, including Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, Casa del Herrero, Lotusland, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. The Santa Barbara Zoo as well as the Santa Barbara Aquarium, respectively, offer families as well as animal lovers full days of fun, with giraffe feeding, a rattlesnake quarry, behind-the-scenes tours, play areas and—of course— dozens of exhibits with animals from every pocket of the world. Other sneaky-cool gems: The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum offers an in-depth look at the region’s maritime roots and surf culture; the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center resembles a working marine science laboratory; and the newly opened MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, offers handson ways to explore history, art, culture, technology and science.
Santa Barbara For more, visit santabarbaraca. com.
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CITY
STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN
Spring Streaming
"Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey"
New movies leap to online platforms in light of virus crisis Joseph J. Airdo >>The Entertainer!
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s the world around us transforms into something that we previously only saw in movies like “Carriers” and “Contagion,” people are suddenly finding themselves stuck at home and in desperate need of something to do. Aside from dusting off some old board games, accomplishing every item on your spring cleaning checklist and realizing that—when push comes to shove—you are actually a pretty good cook, your options may at first feel somewhat limited. However, just as people are looking for new ways to have fun in these challenging and very unfamiliar times, movie studios are looking for new ways to get their films to audiences. With movie theaters having to close as a health precaution, many of this spring’s new offerings were left without an outlet incredibly quickly after their release. Fortunately, we live in an age where we do not need to leave our homes to be entertained. Movie studios are helping to cure our cabin fever with some good, old-fashioned escapism, making a
number of those films that debuted in theaters last month available for rent or purchase online. Sure, nothing beats the big screen, but being able to enjoy a new movie with your significant other or family in the comfort of your own home is a pretty appealing thing right about now. So pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch and check out any—or all—of these new releases that were very recently only available in theaters.
"HARLEY QUINN AND THE BIRDS OF PREY" Margot Robbie reprises her role as Harley Quinn from 2016’s “Suicide Squad” in this crime dramedy that exists within the DC superhero universe. Available for digital rental and/or purchase through a variety of services, it is a frantic and fun piece of escapism entertainment with Robbie again proving that this is a character she was born to play. The crazy chaos that ensues is more than enough to take your mind off the real world’s woes for a couple of hours.
"SONIC THE HEDGEHOG" Despite its abbreviated theatrical run, this action-comedy managed to score the title of highest-grossing video game film "Bloodshot"
in U.S. box office history—and now it is available for purchase through a number of different digital platforms. James Marsden stars alongside the computeranimated speedy hedgehog as he tries to evade the clutches of Dr. Robotnik, played with extreme eccentricity by Jim Carrey. You do not need to be familiar with the video game to enjoy the flick’s fast-paced fun.
"THE INVISIBLE MAN" Elisabeth Moss stars as a woman who is terrorized by her abusive ex who has discovered a way to make himself invisible in this psychological thriller. The flick, which is available to rent via several online services, brings the classic Universal monster into the modern age. Moss gives a great performance while the eerie chain of events leaves you on the edge of your seat—clutching your
couch’s armrest—from beginning to end.
"ONWARD" Chris Pratt and Tom Holland voice teenage elf brothers in this animated adventure from Disney/ Pixar, which is not only available for digital purchase from a number of online outlets but is also streaming on Disney+. It is a magical movie that has everything you expect from a Disney/Pixar production— excitement, emotion and a lot of laughs. It also adheres a bit too well to the studio’s “buddy adventure” formula, but fun, fantasy and familiarity are three things families need more than ever at this moment.
"THE WAY BACK" Ben Affleck stars as an alcoholic
"Sonic the Hedgehog"
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“Onward”
“Trolls: World Tour”
construction worker and former high school basketball star who seeks redemption by coaching the same team he used to play for in this uplifting sports drama. Affleck’s performance is better than the sum of the movie’s parts but it is well worth a watch thanks to its emotional weight. The film, which is available for digital purchase on several services, is at times cliche and formulaic but ultimately very moving and liable to make you stand up and cheer.
"BLOODSHOT" You will have to wait a full year to see Vin Diesel’s highly anticipated return to the role of Dominic Torreto in the rescheduled “F9,” but you can catch the actor in all his action-packed glory right now in “Bloodshot.” Available for digital purchase on a plethora of platforms, the film is based on a popular comic book about a soldier who, killed in action, is brought back to life as an unstoppable force with an army of nanotechnology in his veins. The current state of the world has likely left you spending a little too much time in your own head, so this movie’s mind-numbing action may be a godsend.
"THE HUNT" Having had its original release delayed as a result of political controversy and then opening the same week that theaters closed their doors as a health precaution, it appears as though this darkly comedic horror flick cannot catch a break—which is a real shame since it is an enormously entertaining thrill ride of a movie. A semi-hybrid of “The Purge” and “The Oath,” the movie stars Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, Ike Barinholtz and Justin Hartley as strangers who are being hunted for sport. It is now available to rent through a number of online outlets.
"The Hunt"
"I STILL BELIEVE" “Riverdale’s” KJ Apa stars alongside Britt Robertson, Shania Twain and Gary Sinise in this faith-based film. The truelife tale of Christian music star Jeremy Camp’s journey of love and loss, which is now available across multiple streaming platforms, is tremendously touching and filled with an abundance of hope— qualities that we all need in these trying times. Like the filmmakers’ 2018 hit, “I Can Only Imagine,” its appeal extends far beyond its genre.
"TROLLS: WORLD TOUR" In full disclosure, this animated sequel—which is available for digital rental through several services—was not yet made available to critics at press time. But if the original 2016 hit is any indication, this family flick will fill homes across the country with a lively soundtrack, colorful characters and much-needed positivity like only Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) can deliver. And in this time of social distancing, it serves as the perfect reminder that someday soon, we will all get to celebrate hug time again. ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
Lexus LC500 Sport Coupe is an excellent sports machine C.A. Haire >>The Entertainer!
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ne look at the Lexus LC500 and it’s obvious this is something special. Only about 2,000 cars of this make and model are imported from Japan each year, so it’s unique, too. We drove this particular example around the Valley for a week, and it drew plenty of attention from onlookers, whether cruising on the street or parked at a curb. That bright yellow, metallic paint was an eye catcher, too. Under the hood is a sophisticated 5.0-liter V-8 engine cranking a healthy 471 horsepower. It’s attached to a modern 10-speed automatic transmission, and changing gears manually is easy, thanks to paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Fuel economy is listed at 16/25 mpg using premium blend. For drivers more concerned about performance, the claimed 0-60 mph time is 4.4 seconds. The LC500 has six operation modes to pick from: eco, comfort, normal, custom, ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
sport and sport plus. The gauge cluster appearance changes with each program, reminding the driver what was chosen. The latter setting provides more fun, with a louder exhaust note, more aggressive shifting, and the ability to get that 4.4-second claimed time like we did. The cabin is a sea of luxury and, as expected, high-quality leather trim is abundant. There are some drawbacks, though. First, to say the second-row seating is cramped would be an understatement. The only living creatures likely to fit are small children or tiny monkeys. A more likely cargo will be bags of groceries. With only 5 cubic feet of trunk, not many bags will fit in there either. There is no room for a spare tire, so getting a flat won’t be much fun. A second aggravation is the finger touch pad that controls the infotainment/navigation system. Operating it while sitting is far easier than doing so when the car is in motion. Plus, the entire unit has a long learning curve, and reading that super thick owner’s manual doesn’t help. A lot of practice will be required.
The base price is $92,950, but there are plenty of options to take the cash out of your wallet. The Mark Levinson 13-speaker unit is a good buy at $1,220. The sharp-looking yellow paint job is $595. Those larger, 21-inch alloy wheels look nice, but that will be $2,650, please. Then add $5,358 for carbon fiber trim, $275 for a cargo net in the trunk, and more goodies. After all is listed
and done, the total tab comes to a tidy $106,348. It is easy to see why most of these are leased. Once we get past the price of admission, the Lexus LC500 is a pleasure to drive. Once you get in, you don’t want to get out (unless you are sitting in those rear seats!). Overall, this is an excellent sports machine with Lexus reliability as a bonus.
THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
ARTS
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CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION
Sunrise, Sunset The Musical Theatre of Anthem in danger of closing Christina Fuoco-Karasiski >>The Entertainer!
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n December, Musical Theatre of Anthem had reason to celebrate. The company was awarded a $57,000 grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for the purchase of upgraded auto, lighting and microphone equipment. The funds were used to purchase a more sophisticated and unified system that matched the new 110-seat auditorium. “It was a year in the making of getting strict financial reviews and meeting with the Piper foundation on multiple occasions,” says Jackie Hammond, the MTA’s producing artistic director. “We couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be the recipient. “The sound is enhanced. The clarity of the sound in general is 10 times better, if not 100 times better. The lighting really gives us more options for back lighting, and upgraded lighting in general. It gives us more color options. There aren’t any dead spots on stage.” But all of that could change, thanks to COVID-19, or the coronavirus. Musical Theatre of Anthem closed its production of “The Wizard of Oz,” shorting the company of its ticket and merchandise profits. The third-party ticketing system it uses, Brown Paper Tickets, refuses to release $8,300 of its money, Hammond says. “We were doing so great and now we’re in danger of closing,” Hammond says. “After a wonderful grant and an exciting upcoming season, we will close if we can’t get back on our feet. We’ll lose $50,000 if we’re dark for eight weeks.
“We were so excited about this season and one of the shows is our 100th production, which is very special. I’m trying to remain positive, but as you can imagine it’s hard.” Musical Theatre of Anthem is an award-winning, nonprofit theater company that works to develop youth and adults in the performing arts. The MTA trains and educates youth so they can become the artists, patrons and leaders of tomorrow while providing opportunities to adults that empower them and foster their creativity. The MTA is supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. Right now, though, Hammond says she doesn’t have the ability to pay her staff, rent or utilities. “We have no money coming in, except from our donors,” she says. “Our operating expenses are $400,000. If we can’t get kids in the doors, we can’t run our company at all. It’s terrible that it’s happening.” As a result, Musical Theatre of Anthem is looking for donations. “No donation is too small,” she says. “When it’s time to open our doors again—and hopefully we will—hopefully new kids who haven’t participated will come. We need help to get through this time, though.”
Musical Theater of Anthem To donate, visit musicaltheatreofanthem.org/ donate.html or call 623-336-6001.
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
TAKING THE STAGE Terry Temple is ready to usher Desert Foothills into new era Bridgette M. Redman >> The Entertainer!
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t many theaters, the creative and business management are separate and distinct, often locking horns as they challenge each other in what is artistic and what makes managerial sense. Terry Temple’s career has always been a marriage of the two, which is part of what he feels makes him the right person for the job at the helm of Desert Foothills Theater. He’s experienced on both sides of the fence—as a manager of nonprofits and as an artist who has extensive acting and directing credits. It is what snared him the job as managing director of the Scottsdale community theater. Temple earned a music degree from ASU and went on to be a liturgical musician for 25 years for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. He owns and manages Temple Music and Performing Arts, a studio that opened in 2009, and teaches acting, directing and dance. He was a national director of Survival School, an organization that trains leaders of large nonprofit organizations who rely on volunteers. “I understand the artistic side of things—last year I did 10 shows out of my studio at different schools—and I understand the business side,” Temple says. “There has always been this tension between the artistic and management. The business side doesn’t understand the artistic side; the artistic side doesn’t understand that without a business they don’t exist. I come in with both sides and I’m happy to do both now.” He was hired in December by the Desert Foothills Foundation after most of the staff had left. He says he was eager to help an organization where he and his family had performed. “I’m a helper by nature—I want to get in and get my hands dirty in anything that presents itself,” Temple says. “My daughter benefited greatly from her experience at Desert Foothills five years ago and we developed a lot of friendships. It felt like a home that was struggling a little bit and my gifts could help take it to a different level. That’s what propels me. It is such a beautiful arts environment all around there. I’ve always dreamed of running a theater.”
CREATING A PLACE FOR VOLUNTEERS Coming from a long career of working with volunteers, he says he has a nontraditional view of the relationship a ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
nonprofit should have with its volunteer base. “Rather than look at the things we need to get done and tell volunteers, ‘Here, paint this,’ or, ‘Clean this,’ or, ‘Sell tickets,” I’d rather spend the time getting to know the people and their giftedness and what they bring to Desert Hills. Even if something sits undone, that is better than putting someone in a position that their giftedness isn’t being used to the fullest extent,” Temple says. He says it’s important to look at the organization as being there for the volunteers, not the volunteers being there for the organization. At its core, it’s an organization that exists for the people involved—to meet their needs and give them a place where they can grow and flourish. “I say at meetings that I don’t think that volunteers exist to get the work of Desert Foothills done,” Temple says. “I think the work of Desert Foothills exists to get the volunteers done so they can use their years of experience to become all that they can be. The work exists for them, not the other way around.”
NURTURING THE SPIRIT Temple values community theater and the role it plays in the lifeblood of a community. He wants to ensure Desert Foothills, which has been around since 1975, continues to be a place where people gather and make connections to others. “I would like to nurture the enormous spirit that is already at Desert Foothills. There are people who love Desert Hills Theater and would do anything for it,” Temple says. “I want to find more of these people and treat them well, treat them as sources, not resources, to get our work done, to make them really feel a part of it. The amount of people who have stepped up and said, ‘What do you need from me?’ is really humbling.” He wants to see Desert Hills go beyond just a place where plays and musicals are performed and become a destination—a home for people. While he knows ticket buyers are needed and that they are important, he also values having a community that is engaged in what is going on. He would love to see students come to the theater, regardless of whether they are working on a show. “My ideal thing is an art YMCA where kids can come by after school and do their homework, get help with it, do creative one-act plays, have a healthy snack and go to dance rehearsal or music class or theater rehearsal,” Temple says. “It would just be a place for artisticminded people young and old.”
MOVING FORWARD For now, the theater’s staff is being rebuilt, starting with Temple’s position. He cites the excellent support from the Foothills Community Foundation in keeping the theater running and helping him get started as the managing director. The theater is now identifying its most pressing needs as it builds from the ground up. In the long term, it hopes to hire a development director, education director, community outreach person and artistic director. All this is happening while making sure the next show goes on. In Temple’s first months on the job, he oversaw the productions of “And Then There Were None,” “Honk Jr.” and “Freud’s Last Session.” He plans to tilt toward more children’s and intergenerational theater in the future. “As I go through the archives and see who the theater has been to the community, and what has worked and what hasn’t, I’m a big proponent of children’s theater and educational opportunities,” Temple says. “I want to get back to that, to add more children’s shows and also intergenerational shows where parents
and kids can participate together. That’s the community aspect, but never letting go of the artistic stuff. We have to push to sell tickets, but the theater must intrinsically add to the artistic element of the community.” He’s not creating something new. He wants to tap into Desert Foothills’ more than four-decade existence. “There are marvelous things that have happened in our past,” Temple says. “I want to pick and choose what works best.” For now, he has hit the ground running and is doing his best to keep Desert Foothills an active and engaging theater. He describes himself as a work in progress involved in a work in progress and acknowledges that not everything he tries will work. “I fully intend on failing occasionally and learning from it and moving on,” Temple says. “I would hope people would give me that opportunity to experiment a little, trust me a little bit that I know what I’m doing, but that I don’t have all the answers and I’m open to the wisdom of the community.”
Desert Foothills Theater 480.488.1981, dftheater.org
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A Second Act Full of Laughs Comedian Paul Diedrich’s road has been littered with detours Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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uring the past few years, local teacher-turnedcomedian Paul Diedrich has thrilled audiences at every comedy club in Arizona as well as on the road, touring through Washington, Nevada, California, New Mexico and Colorado. This month, he will release his first comedy album, “Teachable Moments.” We sat down with him to learn a little more about his winding road to the funny. Ironically, his early life wasn’t much of a laughing matter. “I am the third of four children. For a large part of the 1970s, we were gypsies (well, homeless). Plus, when I was a kid, I didn’t understand that we were homeless. I thought other people lived like we did,” Diedrich says. “My dad was a Marine—a veteran of the Bay of Pigs. After he was discharged, he waged a constant battle with undiagnosed mental illness and diagnosed physical disabilities. I spent a lot of time in VA hospital waiting rooms as a kid.” At one point, Diedrich’s dad decided the family of six would live in a car and travel to all 50 states. “By the time I was 8, we’d visited 48 of the 50 states and sort of settled into the quiet little town of Dawson, Minnesota,” Diedrich says. “Through charity, we lived in a house owned by the Catholic Church.” Then his dad had a new dream. Living rent free, he decided to use his Social Security payments to purchase land by a lake in rural Minnesota and build a house—with no electricity or running water. “Dad moved there and lived in a tent while building. I remember mom being miserable, but dad was living his dream,” Diedrich says. “And then he passed away.” Over the next five years, Diedrich’s mother—with no college degree, no sustained work experience and no money—followed her extended family from one city to another, living off their charity and accepting piecemeal jobs. “I started working when I was nine. I graduated high school at 16, moved out at 17 and worked for minimum wage as a night stocker at Toys R Us,” says Diedrich, who worked hourly jobs until he exhaustedly moved to Arizona to join his mom in 1993, where she’d moved a few years prior. Once in the Valley, he began a job at Chili’s, where he met his future wife, Carrick Bray.
“She talked me into attending community college, then Arizona State University. I graduated at 28 with a degree in marketing and took a job in corporate sales,” Diedrich says. “But it didn’t feed my soul.” At 35, after seeking help for mental health issues inherited from his father, he decided to make a change and went to school to become a teacher. By 39, he owned a home, was happily raising two children with Carrick, and was working as a P.E. teacher at a local school. “It was then, when I finally felt settled, I figured it was time to face my greatest fear: putting myself out there for public judgment,” Diedrich says. “I had always thought I could write and be clever, so I decided to cross stand-up comedy off my bucket list before I turned 40.” He took a workshop at a small comedy club and basically freaked the heck out doing it the first seven weeks. “The underarm sweat I produced during that time would fill a children’s play pool. I got through it with the essential help of Dee Ann Kinkaid. If it weren’t for Dee Ann, I would have probably tried an open mic one time, curled up into a fetal position and cried,” Diedrich says.
The eighth week of the workshop was a student showcase show, and Diedrich shined. Based on his performance, he was hired by the club owner to perform in a real, professional show. “That was the greatest $20 I had ever earned, because I earned it by facing something that scared me,” Diedrich says, noting that work at other clubs across the Valley soon followed. “Some nights I felt like Superman with illusions of greatness. Other nights I felt like I did when I was 10, thinking I was worthless and that nobody liked me.” But he was hooked and kept at it. Diedrich settled into a groove of performing at the same club regularly and worked his way up to doing longer sets. Then, he met Frank Caliendo in 2015. “We actually coached flag football together for our kids. I didn’t mention to Frank that I did stand-up for over a year of knowing him. I thought it would be like telling Michael Jordan, ‘Hey, I played a little ball in seventh grade.’ Eventually, we became friends and I shared it with him,” Diedrich says. Caliendo then helped Diedrich write some jokes and paved the way for Diedrich to cross a couple more items off
his comedy bucket list. “Some things I didn’t even know were on my list until I did them, like flying in a private jet to a show in Seattle. Or, what became a passion: producing fundraising comedy shows to benefit nonprofit organizations via a company called Comedy Roadshows.” While working as a full-time teacher, Diedrich performed at a casino show in California when the headliner asked Diedrich why he hadn’t yet made an album. “I ended up wondering the same thing. Why not me? So, I recorded my first comedy album, ‘Teachable Moments,’ which comes out in April.” Diedrich describes the album as “highbrow naughty.” “I deal with adult themes in a clever, funny way without straying into obscenity. I discuss marriage, parenting, owning rescue dogs, teaching and other random stuff I think is funny, including my unique childhood,” Diedrich says.
Paul Diedrich comedyroadshows.com, amazon.com, itunes.com
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DINING
EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH
Sweet Nostalgia
Gilbert marshmallow shop, Toasted Mallow, is America’s first David M. Brown >> The Entertainer!
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ere’s a suite for sweets in North Gilbert. Celebrating six years in August, Toasted Mallow: Gourmet S’mores & Marshmallows has found hundreds of ways to inspire smiles. At America’s first Marshmallow Café and S’mores Bar, guests will see custom marshmallows, s’mores, milkshakes, hot chocolate, Costa Rican cold-brewed coffee, specialty lemonade, mallow pies, sugar cookies and lots more. Owned by Gilbert residents Tricia and Hazel Earce, the shop is in the Encinas Plaza at 1034 N. Gilbert Road, just south of Houston Avenue. Nine employees assist the owners in baking, designing and tending to party sales and customers online and in person. “If you can think of a dessert, we’re going to put a marshmallow underneath it or on top of it,” Tricia says. Here customers plan children’s theme parties around unicorns, rabbits, superheroes or other characters. “We were originally called Fluff It Marshmallows, but people would tell us they thought we were a dog groomer or a laundromat and didn’t stop by, so we changed the name to Toasted Mallow,” Tricia explains. “That branding has really changed our walk-in traffic.” A few friends recently helped with the interior color woodwork and signage, such as one depicting a smiling marshmallow that urges, “Dance in the rain; eat a cupcake; and smell the roses.” Only here, one intoxicating inhalation brings back customers’ first campfire; other childhood memories return in smells, colors and textures. That’s the way the owners planned it. Nostalgia drives Toasted Mallow’s success as well as the quality of and creativity behind the products. “You roast a marshmallow, and you remember your childhood,” she says. “Whatever makes your heart content, whatever works the nostalgia for you, however you want us to make it, we will make it for you.”
The 30-plus varieties of marshmallows include red velvet and strawberry cheesecake, cherry bombs and chocolate chip cookie dough. Offerings regularly change; and when a patron requests custom marshmallows, it’s a snap. “I love to do those,” Tricia says. Many variations on the basic marshmallow are available and the store is always creating new ones. There are marshmallow pops are on a stick, à la lollipop. Other goodies contain nonalcoholic cherry cordials or ganache. And, cones, of the marshmallow kind, are dipped in chocolate. S’mores are another menu item, adding a crispy graham cracker bowl and toppings to the marshmallow. “We started s’mores one summer because it was so hot outside, and we knew people would come indoors and we could make a s’more for them,” Tricia explains. Varieties include birthday cake with sprinkles, Brownie Bomb, cherry pie filling, cookies and cream, Oreo bits, Butterfinger with the candy bar crumbs, a Fluffernutter, Snickers, Fruity Pebbles, a Nutty Professor, peanut butter cup or ice cream s’more with Blue Bell ice cream. The marshmallows are made fresh at the store, using ingredients such as fresh egg whites for the meringue-like fluffiness, coconut, pineapple juice, peanut butter and simple syrup. Gluten-free marshmallows are on the menu, and they can also be ordered without egg whites and artificial colors. “We don’t use corn syrup because of children’s allergies, and the simple syrup works just fine,” she says. Families are regular visitors. “I love when they bring in the grandkids,” Tricia says. Most of the business is afternoons and after work. “People don’t want marshmallows at 8 in the morning,” she says, noting that the shop opens Tuesday to Saturday at noon and stays open until 9 p.m.—except Sundays at 5 p.m.—to accommodate the demand peak. After church on Sundays is popular. And customers flock to the shop on Valentine’s Day and Easter. The holiday leader, though, is Christmas, for items
such as table treats and stocking stuffers. You can find some of the store’s products in other East Valley stores, such as Sweet Daddy Cupcakes in Chandler, Canyon Market in the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, Soda Rush in Gilbert and Pura Vida Grinds in Mesa. During the cooler months through April, the store participates in a variety of farmers markets Valleywide. Tricia took to marshmallows in a roundabout fashion. She helped open Bass Pro Shop in Mesa Riverview. Here, she regularly took part in the store baking contest among employees, with changing secret ingredients. The turning point for her was marshmallow month. “I was tending for my grandmother in Glendale, helping her with the doctors’ appointments and groceries; and when I lost her, I lost myself,” Tricia recalls. When the marshmallow became the secret ingredient, she started looking at recipes just out of curiosity. “I wasn’t grieving anymore,” she recalls. “I consider it a gift from my
grandmother, to move on with my life.” Born in Deming, New Mexico, Tricia lived in Albuquerque, where she graduated from high school. A Valley resident for the last 22 years, she earned a business degree from the University of Phoenix. She’s been living in Gilbert for six years. Her cooking interest? She has a “tia,” or aunt, in New Mexico who owns a restaurant called Balboa. “I grew up around that restaurant,” she says, noting that her aunt is 88 and still actively manages the restaurant. Hazel’s family is from Costa Rica. She grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and has a degree in art design. “She manages the web work and graphics and I oversee the baking, so we’re a good team,” Tricia explains.
Toasted Mallow: Gourmet S’mores & Marshmallows 1034 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 3, Gilbert, 480.686.9071, thetoastedmallow.com.
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Café MeSo chef Juan Vasquez-Santos brings the heat to the Marriott Jordan Houston >> The Entertainer!
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rom an early age, Juan Vasquez-Santos knew he wanted to spend his life behind kitchen doors. He cherished working at his family’s restaurant, El Toro, while growing up in
Spain. The renowned chef recalls washing dishes and watching his grandmother cook beside him, admiring her devotion to the craft. Taking the time to perfect each dish, his grandma approached cooking with a deep sense of pride, Santos explains. And it wasn’t long before he did, too. “I remember one time I saw my grandma making paella, and to me everything was looking so easy,” Santo remembers. “I started looking at how she was cutting the vegetables, and I could see she had a passion to do the cooking. “Little by little, she incorporated all these flavors and ingredients until she got the final product,” he continues. “It really hit me right in my heart—from that moment on, I wanted to cook.” With more than 30 national and global culinary jobs under his belt— including a stint at Colorado’s legendary Stanley Hotel and an apprenticeship in Brazil—Santos is now bringing his talents to Chandler. The food aficionado is the executive chef at Cafe MeSo, a Mediterraneanand Southwesterninspired restaurant tucked inside the new Marriott Phoenix Chandler. The eatery, which opened last November, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, combining flavors of mouth-watering
Mexican spices with tastes from Italy and Spain, among other blends. Signature menu items include flatbread pizza, seared salmon quinoa and pan-roasted filet. The average dinner entree rings in between $24 and $36. “It’s a higher-end place, so we appeal to the Marriott’s Award Traveler and typically that type of person who has some disposable income,” says Paul Church, Marriott Phoenix Chandler’s food and beverage director. “We want to appeal to that type of person that is going to enjoy some of the finer things when it comes to beer, wine and liquor,” he continues. “The higherend food will complement that as well.” The cafe sources local ingredients from companies like Sterns Produce and Santa Monica Seafood, and offers baked goods from scratch. Although the menu is simple, Church says, it doesn’t sacrifice in quality. “You don’t want to overcomplicate quality food,” he expresses. “We have fresh ingredients made by people who have a passion for food.” The cool-toned dining area exudes an inviting, casual atmosphere with a Southwestern flare, boasting mountain views and a cozy fireplace. But what really drives in the traffic, the food and beverage director says, is the bar. “Many of the small bites, plates and tapas items at the bar have been really popular,” Church reveals. “It is in the center and a grand impression.” The full-service bar features an L-shaped, stone countertop with ceilinghigh cabinets. It offers more than 30 different types of tequilas, high-end bourbons, vodka, gin and scotch.
For those preferring something slightly more low-key, have no fear. The bar also sells local tap beers and several tap wines, including Arizona Stronghold red and white blends, SanTan Brewing Company beverages and Grand Canyon Brewing Company IPAs. Santos, who has been onboard since before the restaurant’s construction, says the cafe is a point of pride for the new hotel—thanks to the dedication of its employees. “I think the secret ingredient will be our people,” the chef says. “They are devoted, they’re excited and they want to take it to the next level. “I can share my passion with my kitchen crew,” he adds. “I’ve been a chef for almost 30 years, but I really enjoy what I do for a living. “We’re looking forward to doing something new every day and pleasing our customers,” he states. The restaurant is adjusting a few menu items, Santos conveys, including adding new quinoa salad variations and grilled chicken quesadillas. For now, the Spanish native says he is looking forward to serving the people of Chandler while continuing to fine tune his skill. “It can be stressful, but I like to teach people and share the passion,” he says. “I always tell my employees that with cooking, you need to just embrace it because it’s common sense. “Don’t be afraid to cook,” he adds. “Because the only way you’re going to learn is to make mistakes.”
Cafe MeSo 1600 S. Price Road, Chandler, 480.732.1600, bit.ly/2wYoPXl
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
Scottsdale is enamored with Agapi Pita Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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shur Zai’s dream was to open a restaurant. So, when he married his wife, Nikki, in May 2018, the two embarked on a culinary journey with Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill in Scottsdale. “We love this kind of food and we hope others do as well,” Nikki says. “Ashur always wants to add more to the menu. I have to tell him to slow down. He has so many recipes. He does it out of love. He loves to cook.” “Love” is the operative word here, as “agapi” is Greek for “love.” “When you do it from love, everything turns out good,” she says. “I think it’s the energy. Every day we’re getting return customers.”
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The Glendale couple have won over the Scottsdale Airpark businesses with their steak and chicken shawarma and their gyros. The chicken shawarma ($10.50) comes with marinated dark and white chicken, served with rice, pita bread, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce. Steak can be added for $3.50. The steak plate is marinated beef, broiled on a vertical skewer, thinly sliced and served with rice, pita bread, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce for $10.75. Chicken can be added for $3.50. Gyros, pork, salmon, steak and hummus, and chicken and hummus plates, are available, too, for $10.50 to $12.75. Nikki hails from Chicago, while Ashur, who is Syrian, moved here from Sweden. Nikki’s Windy City influence comes through via pizza puffs ($7 for two). The pastries are filled with pork
sausage, mozzarella and pizza sauce. Ashur puts a Mexican spin on hummus by adding cilantro and jalapeno ($5.25, includes two pitas). The hummus is house-blended chickpeas, tahini olive oil, fresh garlic and lemon juice. Traditional hummus is available, too, as is baba ghanouj (eggplant). Lentil soup ($3.50), dolmas ($5.50), a vegetarian platter ($10.25) and falafel and hummus ($9.75) round out the appetizers. Salads—Greek, Mediterranean and Caesar—are available with or without protein. Unsure about Mediterranean food? There are chicken tenders, fish and chips, and hamburgers on the menu, too. Ashur makes everything from scratch with natural ingredients without MSG or chemicals. He keeps a keen eye on what customers order and what they toss because, perhaps, they didn’t care for the dish. “I try to find what’s going on,” he says. “I’m very observant with customers.” Food has a heavy hand in both of their lives. Ashur’s family cooked together, while Nikki’s brother owns restaurants around the Valley, including Olive Mediterranean in Phoenix and Pita Heaven in Chandler. He helped the couple start Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill. “He helped us with the back-end stuff,” says Nikki, whose father cooked in private residences in his home country of Iraq. “All the recipes are my husband’s, though.” The Scottsdale Airpark location was perfect for them, as Nikki’s sister has a
salon in the same shopping center. The location is a former hot dog restaurant. Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill has proven the couple can be successful, but there’s another benefit. “It helps with his English,” Nikki says with a smile. “He speaks pretty good for only moving here in 2016.” Ashur adds, “When I moved here, it was very hard for me. I wanted to find a good wife and family. It’s hard to move to a new country and start with zero. I was very, very upset with my life when I moved here—then I met Nikki.” The Zais help each other accomplish their dreams. “His dream was to open a restaurant, and when we moved in, we couldn’t believe it was ours,” Nikki says. “It was so surreal. I wanted him to just pinch me. He was very excited, and for both of us it’s been a new adventure.”
Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 130, Scottsdale, 480.626.9224, agapipita.com, agapifood@gmail.com
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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
BEER AND WINE
SIP Âť BREW Âť RELAX Âť EXPERIMENT Âť REFRESH Âť TOAST
GREAT BEER PAIRINGS
PEDAL HAUS BREWERY
Alison Bailin Batz >> The Entertainer!
“Pedal Haus Brewery has been gaining notoriety in the local craft beer scene since 2015, when we opened the Mill Avenue location in Tempe. Since then, we’ve won more than 32 medals and awards, including a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2018 and Best Brewery in the United States at the 2019 Copa Cerveza de Americas. With the recent addition of Pedal Haus Chandler, Brewmaster Derek Osborne is managing the beer lineup at both locations. And we don’t just stop at beer. Our menu is incredible, with such favorites as our signature Haus smoked salmon ($12.25), the sausage and charcuterie board ($16.25) and our famous chicken pot pie ($14.25). As we head into spring in Arizona, our smoked wings served with honey hot sauce are a popular item, and we recommend pairing it with our Pedal Haus Pils.� —Julian Wright of Fork & Dagger Hospitality and owner of Pedal Haus Brewery
BEER
BREWERY: PEDAL HAUS (TEMPE/CHANDLER) STYLE: GERMAN-STYLE PILSNER NAME: PEDAL HAUS PILS A refreshing option during the warm spring season, the Pedal Haus Pils is medium bodied and crisp with a hoppy finish. This is one of our most popular brews.
DISH
DISH: SMOKED WINGS SERVED WITH HONEY HOT SAUCE Our wings are double smoked and then fried to order. You can order them in half dozen or a full dozen. Our slightly hoppy pilsner has bitterness to complement the heat of the honey hot sauce, yet is crisp enough to cleanse
The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment
the palate. The effect creates a perfect combination that makes you go back for more!
Pedal Haus Brewery 95 W. Boston Street, Chandler 730 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe pedalhaubrewery.com PHX METRO Âť JANUARY 2020
PHX METRO
2019 Âť AUGUST PHX METRO
PHX METRO
2019 Âť MAY
Âť FEBRUA RY
2020
PHX METRO
Harlem rs Globetrotte e bounc into town
entertainermag.com
Summer
nce Let's Da . Ç gh goes Derek Hou tour solo on new
MERRILL KELLY
SPOOKY’S SWIRLS
Handcrafted e for meats mak treats delectable
BIG DREAMS
‘Americano!’ is the show of the year
Âť MARC H
2020
A Inside
Supermod Erin Naas el can't live without her Arabians
D-BACKS FAN FEST
slides into Chase Field
Dave Kindig is selling his ‘bitchin’ rides’ at Barrett-Jackson JULIANA HATFIELD
‘BONAFIDE
Star ’
Jammin’ Lee runs for Perreira charity SPRING TRAIN NOTHING ING BUT SCHEDULES GOOD NEW S The Black Moods crack the chart s
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VITA The Italia n comes to Festival Phoenix
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
Bartenders who really know their beer Annika Tomlin >> The Entertainer!
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ailey Quinn didn’t know much about beer until she started working at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company. Quinn was one of the original employees and grew into her position of bartender, learning the passion behind craft beer. We had the chance to sit down with Quinn and learn how she got into the beer business and what makes Saddle Mountain Brewing Company so special.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE CRAFT BEER BUSINESS? I started here as a hostess wanting to serve and I moved up within a month. The company offers multiple trainings on the craft beer with our brewers to keep us educated and aware of what we’re serving to our customers. Of course, we do tastings of all the beers—especially when new rotationals come out and we need to be pretty well educated on them. Our brewers give us a pretty detailed description. Over the course of the five years working here, I’ve become pretty well versed in the craft beer realm.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES THE CRAFT BEER HERE SPECIAL? Well, first and foremost, it’s a
small business. I think that makes it pretty unique. There are a lot of other breweries that are family owned and local. It’s pretty impressive for us to go to the Great American Beer Festival and win three consecutive gold medals coming out of a small brewery in Goodyear. Our brewers do a great job, while being very educated and passionate about their work. Also, the
owners are involved and passionate. Jacob Hansen does help brew things here and there, which adds that little touch of love in the beers.
TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE BREWERIES YOU THINK ARE DOING IT RIGHT AND WHY. I feel like we’re doing it right because we are at a smaller scale and we all are passionate about craft beer and the restaurant. I live in Downtown Phoenix, so there’s an abundance of good breweries down there, like Wilderness Brewing and O.H.S.O., that have a different business model than us but are still running really well.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEER CULTURE IN ARIZONA? Awesome hats. They have great merch. I would say the social gatherings make it great. Obviously, when the weather is nice and everyone wants to be outside, they want to be on the patio at a brewery, having a good time, drinking a good beer. Then, of course, beer festivals. I feel like there’s a pretty good amount of beer festivals here. We’re all coming together and hanging out, enjoying what everyone’s passionate about. ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
TELL US ABOUT THE BEER PROGRAM. We have this thing called “Challenge Coins.” Laura, the owner, will post on Facebook that if you bring in your Challenge Coin you have purchased, you’ll get deals for the day. It has brought in a lot of people. We also do beer tours. People come in large groups, which is especially fun. Any beer holiday like Oktoberfest we do something. Oktoberfest is a great time because it’s very busy and lots of fun.
WHAT’S ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEERS? Oddly enough, I really like the Taildragger 300 Foot Steve. I’m not much of a beer drinker, but that beer has a bit of bite in the front end, but then it’s kind of smooth, like a sweet finish that I really enjoy. That is one of our more popular ones. But we had to make a little room for our seasonal ones. I’ll be excited when it comes back, because it is more of a fall or winter beer. I’d say that one or any of stouts I like, too, because I’m a coffee drinker.
Saddle Mountain Brewing Company 15651 W. Roosevelt Street, Goodyear, 623.249.5520, saddlemountainbrewing.com
GREAT BEER PAIRINGS
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PHX BEER CO.’S TAP ROOM PHX Beer Co.’s Tap Room and Brewery 3002 E. Washington Street, Phoenix PHX Beer Co. Restaurant 8300 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale phxbeerco.com
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
“Adults can get in on the Easter fun this year, and all for a good cause. We started this in 2017, and the Peeps really do pair well with our craft beer.
The fourth annual Peeps BEER BREWERY: PHX BEER CO. & Pints4Pups Pairing STYLE: IRON HORSE PORTER; runs through Sunday, ARIZONA GOLD; SUNSET SOUR April 5, with a portion of AND FLAGSHIP IPA the proceeds benefiting NAME: FLIGHT OF CRAFT BEER Arizona Small Dog Rescue.” SOLD FOR $10 —Rich Stark, director of hospitality operations at PHX Beer Co.
DISH
DISH: PEEPS—CHOCOLATE
CARAMEL SWIRL; PARTY CAKE; SOUR WATERMELON AND TRADITIONAL BLUE, RESPECTIVELY Flavored marshmallow chicks are paired with a flight of craft beer sold for $10 at PHX Beer Co.’s two locations. For each flight sold, $3 goes to Arizona Small Dog Rescue. Event is subject to bars reopening.
A TABLE FOR TWO? Phind it
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SPORTS
CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE
STAYING POSITIVE
Shortstop Nick Ahmed combats isolation by being present Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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rizona Diamondbacks fans are missing baseball and it’s good to know players like Nick Ahmed are as well. “We’re six days into what would have been our 2020 season,” Ahmed says at the end of March. “That doesn’t compare to missing 162 of them, but hopefully that doesn’t happen. Everybody wants to play baseball. We’re going to get back out there sometime, but there’s nothing we can do right now. We can’t control it. We just have to take it as it comes, day by day, and see where they go. “I think there are a lot of discussions right now about baseball. I don’t ‘think’—I know—but ultimately, we want to play.” That could be with or without fans in the stands. “The players are open to that,” he says, about playing in empty stadiums. “We just want to play. If it comes to playing with no fans for a little while, as much as that would be extremely weird and strange, we’d be open to it. Hopefully, it wouldn’t have to last for a long time. It would get more games in and get more games on TV for fans to watch. We’re all for that.” Ahmed and his younger brother, infield prospect Mike, are staying in shape at the D-backs’ shortstop’s home in the Valley. Ahmed has a makeshift gym in his backyard with a “random assortment” of dumbbells, weights and medicine balls. Mike is living with him. “We do baseball stuff a few days a week,” Ahmed says. “We’re doing some hiking, doing some swimming, and just some cross-training stuff as well. We’re just staying in shape during this weird time.” At his off-season home in Massachusetts, Ahmed has everything he needs, but when Ahmed saw a possible delay to the start of the season, he quickly ordered workout equipment from Amazon. Ahmed also runs sprints and uses a
batting cage at a nearby high school. “They stayed open for us, so we have the opportunity to stay in shape baseball-wise,” Ahmed says. “I feel ready to go whenever we get back on the field. I think early in my career, I would have been a little bit more frustrated with things. I think I’ve come to a place right now where I’m a little more mature as far as just knowing what I need, and knowing that I don’t have to have every single thing structured on a daily basis to get myself ready.” Aside from Mike, Ahmed hasn’t been in regular touch with his teammates, due to social isolation. “We’re all pretty much isolated so we can’t really get together, unfortunately, but we’re all thankful for technology and for the opportunity to Facetime and make phone calls and text and things like that. “It is just weird. I feel thankful that I have my wife and kids with me. For the guys who are single or the guys who don’t have their families with them, that’s tough.” Ahmed keeps his morale up by staying present. Every day he journals about the things for which he’s grateful. If he focused on what he didn’t have, it would make him crazy. “If I do focus on the things I have and the things I am grateful for—my health and my family and everything else I can think of on a daily basis—my mind is in a much better place,” Ahmed says. “So, I just practice it and try to get that under control.” Ahmed is looking forward to the day when coronavirus and the world are under control. “I can’t wait to get together with people, just having those relationships where you can invite friends over for dinner, go out to dinner and do things like that,” he says. “I look forward to our kids being able to have their friends over. I’m thankful we have our family together and we have these relationships now. If this goes on, I’m going to miss that camaraderie and that fellowship.”
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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
FAMILY
FROLIC Âť DISCOVER Âť IMAGINE Âť FAMILY Âť FUN Âť CONNECT
TIME TO CELEBRATE Wildlife World Zoo finds time to fete a new friend Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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he Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is putting a new twist on an old school tradition—sending out birth announcements for new additions to the park through social media. The Litchfield Park attraction is temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but the facility is introducing giraffe No. 3— Jackie, who made her debut on March 7. At a few weeks old, she’s already over 6 feet tall. “We are excited to share updates of baby Jackie through our social media platforms, so families can still be inspired and involved from the safety of their homes,� says Kristy Morcom, the facility’s media relations director. In the wild, the giraffe population is under a lot of pressure. This is largely due to habitat loss, fragmentation, degradation, poaching and ultimately the growth of the human population. Giraffes are declared vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Joining in the fight to save the giraffe population from extinction, Wildlife World has donated to worthy organizations working to preserve these gentle giants and has
raised 12 giraffes in the last 18 years. The Wildlife World’s giraffes are ambassadors for their species and inspire visitors to conserve and protect their wild counterparts. Mickey Ollson, founder of the Wildlife World Zoo, believes the success of the zoo’s internationally recognized giraffe breeding program is due to the expertise and dedication from its management, keepers, veterinary team and Arizona’s ideal climate conditions, which are similar to Africa’s savannas. Wildlife World’s keepers and veterinarians have raised dozens of species of wild and endangered animals over the past quarter century. Wildlife World strives to maximize genetic diversity in the zoological population with its breeding programs. As a USDA-licensed, private institution, accredited by the Zoological Association of America and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park doesn’t receive taxpayer funding. The park will reopen when deemed safe.
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park 16501 W. Northern Avenue, Litchfield Park, 623.935.9453, wildlifeworld.com.
The Insider’s Guide to Arizona Entertainment
PHX METRO Âť JANUARY 2020
PHX METRO
2019 Âť AUGUST PHX METRO
PHX METRO
2019 Âť MAY
Âť FEBRUA RY
2020
PHX METRO
Harlem rs Globetrotte e bounc into town
entertainermag.com
Summer
nce Let's Da . Ç gh goes Derek Hou tour solo on new
MERRILL KELLY
SPOOKY’S SWIRLS
Handcrafted e for meats mak treats delectable
BIG DREAMS
‘Americano!’ is the show of the year
Âť MARC H
2020
A Inside
Supermod Erin Naas el can't live without her Arabians
D-BACKS FAN FEST
slides into Chase Field
Dave Kindig is selling his ‘bitchin’ rides’ at Barrett-Jackson JULIANA HATFIELD
‘BONAFIDE
Star ’
Jammin’ Lee runs for Perreira charity SPRING TRAIN NOTHING ING BUT SCHEDULES GOOD NEW S The Black Moods crack the chart s
LA DOL CE
VITA The Italia n comes to Festival Phoenix
ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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MUSIC
LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING
Valley rock band DED resurrects its eerie sound for ‘Idol’ Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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ED vocalist Joe Cotela contends he’s a workaholic, just like his bandmates guitarist David Ludlow, bassist Kyle Koelsch and drummer Matt Reinhard. It’s the Valley hard rock band’s drive that kept it in the forefront of fans’ minds while it relentlessly worked on the follow up to its debut album, “Mis-AnThrope.” On March 12, DED launched its new single, “A Mannequin Idol (Lullaby),” packaged with a second song, “Eyes Sewn Shut,” as an EP, It’s paving a path to a new album later this year, the first release under Suretone Records’ renewed, multi-year deal with ADA Worldwide for exclusive distribution. “We were going back and forth from Vegas to work on this album,” Cotela says. “We’d go out on tour. We toured with In This Moment, went to Europe with Wage War. We played Shiprock and all kinds of things like that. “It was a great, busy time, but there was no stopping for us. We didn’t want to go away just because we were working on the album. We wanted to stay relevant and stay in people’s faces. It was exhausting but worthwhile.”
DED has something to say, and the new music, helmed by rock producer Kevin Churko (Five Finger Death Punch, Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed) is the vehicle for that. “I hope the lyrics connect even more so than the last album,” Cotela says. “That was the big thing with the last record— the people connected with the lyrics. We hope we fulfilled what people want but, not to be selfish, it fulfills what we want. If it connects with fans, too, that’s a win in my opinion. “I’m proud to be making music that hopefully makes people think, pulls them out of ruts or makes them feel empowered, makes them better themselves, or want to start their own band or use their own voice or express themselves in their own way. It’s a circle, and I know because I got caught in that circle because of the people who were doing it before.” Cotela says “Mis-An-Thrope” came from a place of anger and disappointment with life. This time, he felt compelled to choose his words carefully. “The new music is about clarity through suffering, positivity through negativity, and the frustration that comes with knowing that everyone can be better than they are—that I can be better than I am, because change starts with yourself. We want people to strive
and try and be conscious of the things they consume, the way they act, the things they share and celebrate, and the way they live their life—to understand how that all affects their soul and what their legacy is going to be. And that goes for myself as well.” Churko had a lot to do with that. “Sonically, he’s untouchable,” Cotela says of Churko. “I think he makes enormous-sounding albums. There’s a lot of melody to the album. He’s very good with piano. We fall on the side of unconventional creativity more than music theory. We don’t know a lot of that stuff. We just know how to make the sounds that follow the sound. He pushed us to embrace ourselves and our influences and where we’re at right now. He’s just a great person. We had a great time together.” The EP kicks off with Churko’s haunting piano sounds leading to the fury of “A Mannequin Idol.” “It’s not something we would have necessarily done by ourselves,” Cotela contends. “He’s a shredder drummer and pianist and songwriter. We loved how it sounded. It’s so haunting and different for us. We wanted to embrace new ideas.” Those new ideas are shared by DED, who had planned to tour with In This Moment, Black Veil Brides and Raven
Black through May 17 before the pandemic. The package was slated to visit the Arizona Federal Theatre on Monday, April 27. Now living in New York, Cotela is in a relationship with In This Moment singer Maria Brink. “Hometown shows are special,” says Cotela, a former Ahwatukee resident. “(Arizona Federal Theatre) is special. That’s a place I’ve gone to see so many shows—the Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Crosby Stills and Nash. I’ve played most of the venues in Arizona. “Our families and our friends are in (local) bands and it’s a cool camaraderie when we all come home. We’re proud of each other. We’re glowing with that upward trajectory. When I see another band from home at a sold-out show, it’s a win for me, even though it wasn’t me. I want to see other bands succeed. I’m imagining the sentiment is the same with others.”
In This Moment and Black Veil Brides, w/DED and Raven Black Arizona Federal Theatre (formerly Comerica Theatre), 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, arizonafederaltheatre.com, 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 27, tickets start at $50. Show is postponed.
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Wonder finds herself on her new EP ‘Clumsy Dancer’ Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
W
onder was 9 years old when singer Kenny Loggins played her grandfather’s acoustic guitar during a Portland, Oregon, concert. Despite an “embarrassing photo” with the “Danger Zone” performer, the moment further piqued her musical interest. “He put out a need for a guitar for that particular show,” she says. “My dad was connected and brought my grandpa’s guitar. Everybody on my dad’s side is super musical. My grandma introduced me to Elvis when I was really, really young. We listened to his gospel songs. My mom is very appreciative of music.” Moving from Seattle to Scottsdale a year ago, Wonder—with her band known as Wonder Truly—plays around the Valley, focusing on her new EP “Clumsy Dancers.” Wonder calls it a true collaboration between her and producer Gavin Reign. “He was really able to appreciate the vision I had for it and make it a true collaboration,” she says. “He was invested and connected to my music and my songs and what I wanted to say with them. It was exactly what I would have done if I knew how to do it (production).” Surprisingly, music wasn’t her first love. That is art. “I never wanted to be a musician,” Wonder says. “I’ve always been adept in art and I thought maybe I could cheat my rule by going into musical theater or writing, but I certainly never wanted to
be a touring solo artist. That was a dream my dad pursued, and he squandered my childhood doing it. If being a musician meant I was anything like my dad, I wanted nothing to do with it.” She eventually turned to music. In 2013, she sustained an injury that pinched a nerve in her neck and left her unable to grasp anything in her left arm. “I couldn’t type, hold a spoon or play guitar,” she says. “The reality of a finite body crashed into focus, and I was finally honest with myself: There is one thing I want to be doing with my life, and it’s to be a musician. I am wasting my breakable, impermanent physical body doing things that aren’t what I most desperately want to be doing, and all because I’m afraid of following in my father’s footsteps.” Wonder regained the use of her arm through physical therapy and dedicated the summer of 2013 to music. Her first release, “The Minotaur,” is a collection of faith-based songs. Moving to Seattle in 2014 from Olympia, Washington, she threw herself into every open mic, showcase and gig she could land within a 50-mile radius, released her first self-produced EP, “Lungs,” and convinced the music department at Carnival Cruise Lines to hire her as a guitar soloist. However, she didn’t have the chops to do so. Soon, she realized the Seattle scene was oversaturated with musicians who will play for free. So Wonder packed up and moved to Old Town, where she could be paid for her performances, especially with the Valley’s patio culture. “Here, most of the restaurants do live music,” Wonder says. “All the resorts and hospitality focus on entertainment. You
don’t see that in other places. “Plus, performing is such a powerful way to connect with other people who have been in the same boat I’ve been in so many times. We think, ‘I’m having this experience and I feel like I’m all alone in this experience.’ Then an artist comes along and you’re not so alone. It’s an amazing way of bridging the divide between individuals and the way that we all feel alienated.” Her first commercially distributed collection, “Clumsy Dancers,” mixes electronic music with acoustic guitar sounds. “From January 2017 to June 2019, it was a long road to getting these six songs out into the world, but I have never been one to let waiting get in the way of doing what I want to do or making what I want to make,” Wonder says. “It’s sonically very different from previous releases, but the earnestness and honesty of the songs still shines through unobstructed because of Gavin’s attention to the core of each song as it was written.” One of her
Wonder Truly iamwonder.net
favorite lyrics on the album is from the cinematic “The Awakening,” which finds Wonder coming full circle, reviving a song from “The Minotaur.” In “The Awakening,” Wonder sings, “I want to write a story about mercy moving a man. Is my honesty just a hollow seed? Is there courage where I stand?” The song was revived from “The Minotaur” EP when Reign heard it and asked for the story behind it. “The line ‘I want to write a story about mercy moving a man’ was originally about wanting to use my platform and my music for the church, and God, and the gospel of grace,” she says. “Less than a year after the release of ‘The Minotaur,’ I had a series of life experiences that shook me out of my faith and left me resigned to start at square one: in the pursuit of asking questions, and knowing that oftentimes there are no answers for them.” The album’s lead single, which spawned a music video, “Kids Like Us,” tells the story of underdogs who find the last ounce of strength they have to haul themselves off the dirt and start fighting back, she says. “‘Kids Like Us’ resonated across audiences since I first premiered it live in 2015, and it’s definitely the most anthemic message of the EP,” Wonder says. “Along with ‘The Awakening’ and ‘Stay Put,’ it sets the stage to a loud, unashamed, arms-wide statement.”
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‘PRIMITIF’ RADIO GOD 34
UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
Wang Chung’s Jack Hues goes solo Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
W
ang Chung lead singer Jack Hues considers himself a “late starter.” He has spent 40 years leading Wang Chung, but it took that long for him to release his debut solo record, the double LP “Primitif,” which hit streaming services on March 20. Now was the right time because he finally had the confidence to say something. “I felt like I had a lot to say,” Hues says. “It just started coming out of me.” Due to a series of personal losses, Hues focused on music. In the first three months of 2018, he wrote and recorded most of “Primitif.” “Some of the best songwriting comes out of personal experience,” Hues says. “I worked on the album through 201819 with another intensive period of writing and recording at the beginning of 2019. “The resulting double album is my first solo release and is, for me, the culmination of nearly 60 years of fascination and, ultimately, obsession with music and recordings.” Hues wouldn’t elaborate on the personal losses, other than to say he’s in his 60s and the events were typical of one in that decade. “A lot of it had to do with that,” he says. “Sort of being in a new world and new relationships.” “Primitif” was an exciting project for Hues, who is a new empty nester. “For the first time in my life, I had a lot of time on my own,” he says. “My children have their own lives and families. That gave me the freedom to write and record whenever I wanted.” The fourth track, “Cut,” was the result of an idea he had over breakfast. “I thought, ‘This is great! I can just record it right now,’” Hues says about the benefits of recording close to home. It was 11 a.m. I drew the curtains like it was 11 at night and recorded this piece in one take, really. It was really spontaneous.” Hues is a longtime musician. He grew up in Gillingham in the Medway Towns about 40 miles southeast of London. He was interested in music from an early age. “My dad was a saxophone player and ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
my grandfather was a musician, too, but it was hearing ‘Please Please Me’ by The Beatles on the radio when I was about 8 years old that made me wake up and think, ‘Ahhh, so this is my music.’” Hues asked for a guitar that Christmas, and while his parents agreed, they insisted he have proper lessons. Twice weekly he was taught classical and folk guitar and, unusually, how to read music, a skill that would serve him well many years later. “By the time I was 18, I had passed grade 8 guitar and got a place at Goldsmiths College, London, to study for a music degree. At this stage I knew very little about classical music. It was David Bowie and early ’70s prog that was my focus. The lines between genres were about as loose as they have ever been. Classical music didn’t seem remote, although I was turned down by four out of the five universities that I applied to, as rock music was considered worthless by academics at that time.” Hues earned his degree and won a BBC Composers Competition, which
enabled him to take a year at the Royal College of Music studying composition and electronic music. “Those four years immersed in classical music, particularly modern classical music, were very important and expanded my musical horizons immensely. However, when I came out of college the musical language I ‘spoke’ was rock music, albeit a highly seasoned vernacular.” Hues played in a variety of bands until he met bassist Nick Feldman through a musicians wanted ad in the Melody Maker. They formed a couple of bands before finally distilling their talents into Huang Chung. The band later renamed itself Wang Chung at the suggestion of the head of their record label, David Geffen. “The name still comes up now. It was even on ‘Saturday Night Live’ a couple weeks ago. I guess David was right.” Hues wrote the future hit-to-be “Dance Hall Days” while still teaching guitar at various schools around London. The song proved pivotal in the band’s development and established Wang
Chung as an international success. The group was signed direct to Geffen Records in the United States, so Hues’ career was based in LA throughout the ’80s. “I was fortunate to work on movie soundtracks during this time. William Friedkin (director of ‘The French Connection’ and ‘The Exorcist’) commissioned us to score his movie, ‘To Live and Die in LA,’ which was an incredible opportunity,” Hues says. “We contributed songs to ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Inner Space.’ In 1986 we had a Billboard No. 2 (Cashbox No. 1) hit in the U.S. with “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” whose chorus line, ‘Everybody have fun tonight, Everybody Wang Chung tonight,’ continues to capture the public imagination 30 years later.” In 1987, Wang Chung went on a world tour with Tina Turner, but by 1989, music leaned toward grunge and hiphop. The band didn’t embrace either of those genres and eventually split in 1990. The band reformed in 2012 and released its first new album in 20 years
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called “Tazer Up!” Summer tours in the United States followed, but after a couple of years Hues stepped back from gigs to consider what he really wanted to do as he entered his seventh decade. “I released a trilogy of collaborative albums between 2013 and 2018. My ‘jazz’ work tended to be instrumental, focusing on my guitar playing, but meeting and working with poets revived my interest in words and music.” Now, Hues says, “Wang Chung is in fairly good shape. “Nick and I see each other quite a lot,” he adds. “We’re planning on re-releasing all of the back catalog. We just sorted out a deal. They’ll be released in the autumn, or the ‘fall’ as you call it. “I’m really looking forward to that. People will reassess Wang Chung in a way, instead of being singled out for particular songs—which is the nature of the business. I don’t mind being singled out for one song. When you hear the first album, you can hear the arc of the development. Like in my record, you can hear a certain ‘Wang Chung-ness’ to it. I can hear my DNA in it.” ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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UPFRONT | TRAVEL | CITY | ARTS | DINING | BEER AND WINE | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
’ Y Z A R C ‘ GOING Promise to Myself can’t wait to unleash when pandemic subsides Christina Fuoco-Karasinski >> The Entertainer!
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op-rockers Promise to Myself have a hard time keeping a secret. Before the North Phoenixbased band released its sophomore EP, “I Might Be Crazy,” the quartet was told to keep mum about the new music. Sometimes it was a little harder than its members thought. “Our manager and our label, 80/20, said we couldn’t tell anyone,” rhythm guitarist Zack Bruge says. “I would tell all of my friends, of course. On stage, I’d say we had an album coming out and our manager would tell me to shut up.” The band—which also includes lead singer/bassist Karl Nagy, guitarist Brad Stockton and drummer Tony Galvan— could spill about it on February 18, when “I Might Be Crazy” hit streaming services.
“It’s been a long work in progress,” Bruge says. “Now that it’s out, it’s super thrilling and exciting. We were anxious to finally release it after working on it. Some of the songs were written two years ago.” Nagy adds, “I felt like we were in limbo, in a way. We had all of this content we were sitting on. But we’ve been performing it, creating other content with it—like music videos— and deciding what singles we want to release.” Signed to 80/20 Records in 2019, Promise to Myself has been described as if Fall Out Boy, All Time Low and Waterparks had a fight to the death in a game of dodgeball, and the winner ended up being Big Time Rush. From playing the Vans Warped Tour to an appearance on AZTV and radio stations such as Alt AZ 93.3 and KWSS, Promise to Myself played the Whisky A Go Go and opened for national touring
acts in various venues. “I think we’re really fun live,” Bruge says. “We talk to the crowd, but we’re really focused on the music. At the end of the day, it’s entertainment. We’re very fun and we jump on stage. I’ve broken bones on stage. “I’ve broken them a lot. I fractured a bone in my foot and kept playing shows and jumping around on it. I went to the doctor and what was a little crack was now a complete break.” The EP was produced by Grammynominated engineer Jeremy Parker at Premier Studios. Bruge says Parker was a “super chill dude” who was inspirational. “The first time we went in there and we were doing pre-production on the songs, we were all super nervous,” Bruge says. “We walked in the studio and there were gold records all around. We just said, ‘Well, here are our songs.’ He asked us if we believed in aliens and we got into this huge conversation about it. That
aside, he’s good at making bands sound exactly like the band sounds.” Galvan says with “I Might Be Crazy” the band tried to infuse pop elements into its sound. Nagy calls “I Might Be Crazy” a collection that slowly transitions to Promise to Myself’s “new era.” “We’re trying to maintain our roots and reach new fans at the same time,” Galvan adds. “We’re trying to be innovative a bit more and add new sounds to it.” Bruge describes it as such. “Our first EP (2018’s ‘One for the Runaways’), we wrote when we were 14 or 15 and it was released when we were in high school,” Bruge says. “This one is a huge step in a sense. It’s more mature sounding. We’re growing up a little bit. It’s interesting to see how far we’ve come.” When the COVID-19 pandemic subsides a bit, Promise to Myself will go full force into promoting the seven-song EP. The lack of shows and promotion has been “heartbreaking” for the band. “We had a lot of stuff planned,” Nagy says. “We had an EP release show planned, and just a lot of shows in general. We just keep busy. Our main priority is to make sure fans are safe. “Having to postpone and potentially cancel these shows is heartbreaking. At the end of the day, we’re all healthy and safe and we hope our fans are, too.” Some have asked if the musicians wish they could have released the EP at a different time. The answer is a resounding “no.” “We just have to adapt to what’s going on,” Bruge says. “We’re still having a positive outlook and doing what we can.”
Promise to Myself promisetomyself.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE APRIL 2020
NIGHTLIFE
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SIP » UNLEASH » MIX » MINGLE » PULSE » SHAKE
MAD MIXOLOGIST F Alison Bailin Batz >> The Entertainer!
ifth-generation Arizona native and metalsmith Stevie Raeann leads two impressive drink programs in the Valley. The cocktails at Flint by Baltaire features contemporary American fare and premium drinks accented with coastal Mediterranean and bold Middle Eastern flavors. The ultra-sleek mixology program at Upstairs at Baltaire—a stylish rooftop bar and lounge featuring postcardperfect views—puts modern twists on Prohibition-era cocktails and chef-crafted bar bites. We recently sat down with Raeann to learn a little more about her backstory, as well as her approach to drink menus at both establishments.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DRINKS, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU. I was born in Show Low, but moved to the Valley with my mom at 7. Creative from a young age, my passions before getting into the hospitality field were drawing and painting. My first bartending job was at the iconic dive bar (which has since closed, sadly) Rogue in Tempe. Talk about trial by fire! We opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 2 a.m. It was loud, fun and the secret hangout for several celebrities and musicians when they stopped in Phoenix for shows or work in the early 2000s. An early mentor while there was Layla Linn, today known as one of the founders of Arizona
Cocktail Weekend. Back then, she worked for Alliance Beverage (now Breakthru Beverage) and encouraged me to hone my craft and seek out opportunities to grow in my knowledge of spirits. From there, I moved on to Orange Table, and then to The Beverly, where I got a second mentor in Chris Hardin. He helped me really understand seasonality of ingredients in relation to spirits and introduced me to pairing cocktails with food, today one of my passions. I accepted the new role with Flint when they opened in 2019, and then with Upstairs in 2020, and my team and I are ready to show the world what we can do.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST COCKTAIL ADVENTURE STORY? I once spent a summer harvesting fresh juniper berries and making gin in the forests and wooded regions of Washington Island in Wisconsin.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST COCKTAIL YOU EVER MADE? A brandy and Coke. Barely 21 at the time, I didn’t even know what brandy was yet.
WHAT IS THE ODDEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN? I had a guest ask me to combine a 40 of Mickey’s malt liquor with a Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill wine cooler. As in, make it into a cocktail. While I would have obliged, alas, I had to tell him he would need to go to the grocery store or a liquor store for those ingredients, as we didn’t stock them behind the bar.
WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE WHEN WORKING BEHIND THE BAR? Not asking questions. Even the best bartenders are allowed to not know something.
GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT 1 1/2 ounces Drumshambo Gunpowder Irish Gin 3/4 ounces St. George Spiced Pear • 3/4 ounces lemon juice 1/2 ounces orgeat • 1 ounce moscato • sage Shake and serve up in a coupe
WHAT DOES ORDERING A VODKA SODA SAY ABOUT A PERSON? I am actually known for ordering a tequila soda from a bar when I see the staff is super busy. I like to keep things simple for those behind the bar on busy nights. So, it could be that. It could also mean that there may be a drink menu that you know one ingredient or spirit that is listed and they go in panic mode, so they stick with what is safe. Or, it could just mean they aren’t into mixers or other flavors. People like what they like.
WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO DRINK—OR DRINKS— WHEN YOU’RE AT A BAR OTHER THAN YOUR OWN? When I finish a shift, I love a shot of Fernet, which is an Italian aromatic spirit, along with a glass of bubbles.
TELL US ABOUT THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM AT EACH OF THE FLINT CONCEPTS. At Flint by Baltaire, our aim is to pair the cocktails with the upscale menu, using globally inspired ingredients just as the dishes do. Expect things like charred lemon, turmeric and coconut in some of our seasonally inspired offerings, all exploding with flavor and in respect to the high-end spirits we use. Upstairs at Flint is open Tuesday through Saturday and located directly
above Flint. The 1,200-square-foot penthouse space open to the public seats 80 and has one of the best views of Arizona sunsets I’ve ever seen. Up there our focus is offering modern twists on classic cocktails featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. The cocktail menu is evenly divided between 1920s-style cocktails and 2020-style twists.
WHAT IS ONE COCKTAIL YOU WOULD LOVE FOR US TO FEATURE IN THE MAGAZINE THIS MONTH? Good Things Come to Those Who Wait ($13)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT IT? I am a huge fan of gin, and the gin we use here—Drumshambo Gunpowder Irish gin—is a stunner. Its story alone is a stunner—Irish spirit makers who went adventuring to find the ingredients for it. I get massive notes of citrus, juniper, cardamom, candied grapefruit and even orange blossom when I smell and sip it, which are all perfect for spring. I also love that by combining the gin with Moscato, sage, lemon and Orgeat, we get this tangy, slightly sweet and very floral cocktail. You have to taste it to see how truly original it is on the palate.
Flint by Baltaire 2425 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.812.4818, flintbybaltaire.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM
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IN CLOSING
FUN » FACTS » LEARN » SHARE » PLAY
Celebrity Game Night
Photos by Chris Mortenson
C
elebrities and more than 600 attendees converged on Scottsdale Hangar One for Brenda aned Kurt Warner’s Celebrity Game Night on February 22. The list of celebrities and athletes in attendance included actress Melissa Peterman; Chandler Jones, NFL Defensive Player of the Year; NFL All-Pro Defensive Lineman Calais Campbell; Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks manager; Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher, and David Johnson, then-Arizona Cardinals running back. The benefit, which featured Luis Gonzalez, supported Treasure House, a community in Glendale founded by the Warners to provide a home for young adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
1. Treasure House; 2. Bobby Freeman, Dizzie Ramsey; 3. Brittney Kozeliski, Sophia Schaffer, Jessica Nichols; 4. Rob West, Nate Wenneker, Neil Williams; 5. Charlie Koznick, Kensey Koznick; 6. Archie Bradley, Alex Guerrero, Dennis Guerrero, Alex Gardeck; 7. Justin Rushlow, Sherri Duarte, David Duarte; 8. Steven Walden; 9. Gabriel Krantz, Victoria Krantz, John Krantz; 10. Lyndsey Taylor, Barbie White, James Adams
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