The Entertainer! Magazine - July 2021 by Times Media Group

PHX METRO » JULY 2021

HOMETOWN HEROES

Katastro returns to the stage to play Tempe shows

10 WEEKEND

GETAWAYS

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CONTENTS

10 WEEKEND

ON THE COVER

GETAWAYS Trips that won’t break the bank or the PTO

SECRET GETAWAY

Creekside Lodge & Cabins is a hidden gem

A HIDDEN GEM

Step back in time at The Spicery in Our 1895 Home

on the cover: Lowell Observatory Cover photo courtesy Discover Flagstaff

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

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Executive Editor

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SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT

Cole Swindell expects a good time at Ak-Chin Casino

CONTENTS

UPFRONT

Top 25 • Katastro • Great Arizona Puppet Theater • Record Store Day

CITY

29 30

PIP Coffee + Clay • Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

TRAVEL

Creekside Lodge & Cabins • 10 Weekend Getaways

ARTS

SHOOTING FOR THE TOP

The Valley’s RUF MMA weighs in

28 30 32

Camp Hubbard • Family Calendar

MUSIC

Live Music Calendar • Echo of Alt • Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! • Wade Cota • Pop Evil

IN CLOSING Numbers

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Courtney Oldham

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circulation director Aaron Kolodny

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contributing writers

Alison Bailin Batz, Lila Baltman, Kristine Cannon, Alex Gallagher, Grant Greabell, Kamala Kirk, Joe McHugh, Taylor O’Connor, Kevin Regan, Claire Spinner, Annika Tomlin

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RUF MMA • Sports Calendar

FAMILY

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SPORTS

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Contributing Photographers

Great Beer Pairings • Mad Mixologist • Beer and Wine Calendar

CASINOS

Connor Dziawura

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Pablo Robles

The Preserve Tavern and Grille • The Spicery • Tea Houses • Dining Calendar

BEER AND WINE

Assistant Editor

Staff Photographer

Chandler Center for the Arts • ImprovMania • Arts Calendar

DINING

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CARRYING THE TORCH

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TOP25 By Connor Dziawura

“Daddy Long Legs”

TO JULY 17 Directed by Robbie Harper, this Cinderella story kicked off in June, but there’s still time to see it. An off-Broadway musical, “Daddy Long Legs” follows orphan and aspiring writer Jerusha Abbott as she’s sent to college by a mysterious benefactor. In exchange, however, she must write a monthly progress report for the benefactor. See how the story unfolds in the Hormel Theatre. Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, various dates and times, see website for prices

“Curiouser & Curiouser Too”

TO JULY 23 This isn’t your usual theater show. Described as a blend of an escape room, art installation and performance, this dark, gothic take on “Alice in Wonderland” is 6,500-squarefoot, immersive, multisensory experience. Recommended for ages 16 and older. Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 10580 N. 83rd Drive, Peoria, theaterworks.org, various dates and times, $48

Dwight Yoakam

JULY 8 Famed country singer Dwight Yoakam, who has steadily been releasing music since the 1980s, is back. Whether you’re talking hits that have been heavy in listeners’ rotation or deeper cuts from his many albums, Yoakam will have plenty to draw from when building his Tempe setlist. Christopher Shayne opens. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All ages. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, marqueetheatreaz.com, 8 p.m., $58-$123

“Black Widow”

OPENS JULY 9 Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have been waiting a long time for this one. Aside from over a year of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character made her film debut over a decade ago and hasn’t had a solo starring outfit — until now. While miniseries such as “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Loki” have held fans over so far this year, the Black Widow origin story, co-starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz, is set to finally hit theaters simultaneously with Disney+ Premier Access. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language and thematic material. In theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access, disneyplus.com

Sonoran Sippin’

JULY 9 Spend a night out at the Desert Botanical Garden, sipping on drinks while local DJs and musicians set the mood. The vibes are sure to be laidback at this monthly event, which continues through September. Miscellaneous arrival times are available, but tickets are limited, so be sure to head to the garden’s website to snag yours before they’re all gone. See the website for performers. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., $7.95-$14.95

Deadbeats Arizona

JULY 10 Headlined by Zeds Dead, the varied cast of EDM acts hitting the stage includes special guest Subtronics, not to mention Rusko, Dirt Monkey, Lick, Level Up and Chiief. Originally planned for The Park at Wild Horse Pass last year, this event has been moved to Rawhide — though the original tickets will be honored. Doors open

UPFRONT

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE at 6:30 p.m. Ages 18 and older. Rawhide Event Center, 5244 N. 48th Street, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide. com, 8 p.m. July 10 to 2 a.m. July 11, $60-$105

“My Pet Dinosaur”

JULY 14 TO JULY 25 This puppet-based show tells the story of a young boy named Arthur who receives quite the unique gift from his uncle — a dinosaur egg. Together with his pet parrot, Arthur and the dinosaur are sure to cause trouble. Recommended for ages 5 and older. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham Street, Phoenix, 602.262.2050, azpuppets. org, various dates and times, $6-$12, or free for infants if accompanied by a paid child

Melissa Villaseñor

JULY 15 TO JULY 18 On the heels of a hosting gig for the Independent Spirit Awards in April, comedian Melissa Villaseñor is bringing her standup routine to the Valley for several shows at CB Live. You’ve probably seen her face or heard her voice, as the “America’s Got Talent” alum and current “Saturday Night Live” cast member, known in part for her impressions, has lent her talents to numerous TV shows and films, both live action and animated. Admission ages vary based on date/time. CB Live, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, 602.910.5161, cblive.com, various dates and times, $22-$25

Tom Papa

JULY 15 TO JULY 17 Comedian, actor, radio host, podcaster, author — Tom Papa is a jack-of-all-trades. You may know him from his recent Netflix standup special. You could be a listener of his new podcast “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa.” Or maybe you know him as a friend of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” He’s also on SiriusXM. Regardless, his resume is deep, and this July, it’s about to get deeper with several shows at Stand Up Live. Admission ages vary based on date/time. Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix.standuplive.com, various dates and times, $22-$25

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs

JULY 16 The D-backs face off against the Chicago Cubs several times this month, both home and away, but it’s this midmonth Phoenix matchup that features a postgame fireworks show, presented by Gila River Hotels & Casinos. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, mlb.com/ dbacks, 6:40 p.m., $29-$225

Maricopa County Home Show

JULY 16 TO JULY 18 Walkup landscape consultations, DIY workshops, citrus bath bombs and lavender botanical bath salt making, wood sign painting, terracotta pot painting, string art, glass etching, honey sampling and beeswax candle making — there’s so much to check out at the upcoming Maricopa County Home Show, and this is just a taste of it! State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 602.485.1691, maricopacountyhomeshows.com, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, $3-$8, or free for children 2 and younger

“Space Jam: A New Legacy”

OPENS JULY 16 Bugs Bunny and his fellow Looney Tunes are back — this time teaming up to help LeBron James rescue his son from a rogue AI (played by Don Cheadle) after they’re sucked into the Serververse. But if James wants his son back, he has to play ball. Zendaya (Lola Bunny) and Gabriel Iglesias (Speedy Gonzalez) join the team of voice actors, in addition to a diverse lineup of throwback Warner Bros. characters. Rated PG for some cartoon violence and some language. In theaters and on HBO Max, hbomax.com

One More Time

JULY 17 The legendary French house duo Daft Punk may have recently called it quits, with fans having been clamoring for new music over the past eight years since the disco throwback album “Random Access Memories,” but this tribute act is still keeping “da funk” going. With replica helmets and a full-scale pyramid stage, it’s probably as close as you'll get to the real thing in 2021. Doors open at 8 p.m. Ages 21 and older.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, thevanburenphx. com, 9 p.m., $15-$20

Phoenix Rising vs. LA Galaxy II

JULY 17 Phoenix Rising Football Club will face off against the LA Galaxy II for the second home game at Phoenix Rising Stadium this month. Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass, 19593 S. 48th Street, Chandler, 623.594.9606, phxrisingfc. com, 7:30 p.m., $20.63-$40.11

Snoop Dogg vs. DJ Snoopadelic JULY 17 Three decades into his career, Snoop Dogg needs no introduction. This latest show is in support of his recently released album “From tha Streets 2 tha Suites,” which, aptly for Snoop, dropped on April 20. But, in addition to rapping and singing, Snoop will show off his other talents as DJ Snoopadelic. Doors open at 6 p.m. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, 602.267.1600, celebritytheatre. com, 8 p.m., $45-$255

July Pop Punk Camp

JULY 19 TO JULY 23 Pop punk nostalgia is all the rage as of late, with hip-hop artists and others throwing it back to their influences from the late ’90s through the 2000s. This weeklong camp will pay tribute to the classics of the genre, from Paramore back to blink-182, Green Day, No Doubt and the Offspring. Targeted at students ages 10 to 18, this camp will teach and practice songs, leading up to an end-of-week performance. School of Rock, 13610 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.483.7625, schoolofrock. com, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, $500

“Pump Boys and Dinettes”

JULY 21 TO AUGUST 22 Beginning this July and continuing through mid-to-late August, “Pump Boys and Dinettes” tells the story of L.M and Jim, who run a filling station down Highway 57 in Grand Ole Opry country, and Rhetta and Prudie, who run the nearby diner. Directed by Michael Barnard and set in the Mainstage Theatre, Phoenix Theatre Company promises “a toetapping evening of country western songs on guitar, piano, bass and even a kitchen utensil or two.” Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, various dates and times, see website for prices

Katastro

JULY 23 AND JULY 24 These shows are special for Katastro. Based right here out of Arizona, the eclectic band, which creates a sort of fusion of rock, funk, blues and hip-hop, plans to celebrate the release of its latest album, “Sucker,” at the Marquee on July 23, followed by another performance the next day. Kash’d Out and Barefoot open July 23, while DENM and Cydeways perform July 24. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each night. All ages. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, marqueetheatreaz.com, 8 p.m. both nights, $15-$35

Louis the Child

JULY 24 Chicago duo Louis the Child has already racked up over 3 million Spotify plays of its new single “So What,” a collaboration with A R I Z O N A, and now the pair — Robby Hauldren and Freddy Kennett — is coming to Arizona. The duo has garnered much attention, making hits with the likes of Future and Rae Sremmurd. Jai Wolf, K.Flay and ilo ilo open. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ages 18 and older. Rawhide Event Center, 5244 N. 48th Street, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide. com, 8 p.m. July 24 to 2 a.m. July 25, $51-$91

Whitey Morgan

JULY 24 It’s been a couple years since this Flint, Michigan, honky-tonk country musician came to the Valley, but soon that will change. Whitey Morgan returns to The Van Buren stage this July, bringing with him

an array of the Americana tunes his fans know and love. Doors open at 7 p.m. Ages 18 and older. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, thevanburenphx. com, 8 p.m., $25-$28

“The Princess, the Unicorn, and the Smelly Foot Troll”

JULY 28 TO AUGUST 15 A hit is returning! According to the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, “The Princess, the Unicorn, and the Smelly-Foot Troll” is its most popular original show. But what’s it about? Well, when Princess Harriet celebrates her birthday, she leaves the Smelly Foot Troll out of the invitations, and he’s sure to feel left out. This show can be caught through August 15. Recommended for ages 3 and older. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham Street, Phoenix, 602.262.2050, azpuppets. org, various dates and times, $6-$12, or free for infants if accompanied by a paid child

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

JULY 28 The D-backs are gearing up to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, after which Gila River Hotels & Casino sponsors postgame fireworks. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, mlb.com/ dbacks, 6:40 p.m., $29-$225

“The Green Knight”

OPENS JULY 30 Another victim of COVID-19 delays, director David Lowery’s latest is “The Green Knight,” an Arthurian tale starring Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander

and Joel Edgerton. Originally expected to debut last summer, this A24 adaptation of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” follows Lowery’s previous works, such as “Pete’s Dragon,” “A Ghost Story” and “The Old Man & The Gun.” Already looking like an example of why Lowery could be one of the most versatile working directors, it’s likely to be epic and fantastical if its trailer is anything to go by. Rated R for violence, some sexuality and graphic nudity. In theaters, a24films.com

Cole Swindell

JULY 31 Singer-songwriter Cole Swindell may not have a new album out, but with shows returning, country fans can rejoice at a chance to see Swindell in person. With three full-length studio albums to his name, Swindell has supported country giants like Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean and helmed his own shows, like this one at Harrah’s Ak-Chin. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino, 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 480.802.5000, caesars.com/harrahs-akchin, 8 p.m. $54.50-$363

Phoenix Rising vs. Rio Grande Valley

JULY 31 Phoenix Rising Football Club will face off against the Rio Grande Valley Football Club. Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass, 19593 S. 48th Street, Chandler, 623.594.9606, phxrisingfc.com, 7:30 p.m., $20.63-$40.11 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

HOMETOWN HEROES

Katastro returns to Marquee stage for 2 shows By Claire Spinner

atastro bassist Ryan Weddle is eager to come back to Tempe. Nearly two full years since the genre-bending band last graced the Valley’s stages, Weddle and his bandmates have booked two shows at the Marquee Theatre in July. Weddle expects the shows could be the band’s most exciting to date. “None of us expected to go over a year without playing shows, and it makes you realize how much of your identity goes into touring,” Weddle says. “We’re all ready to get back out there and meet people and have a good time. We’re really excited, and it’s super fitting that our first show back after everything is going to be this massive, hometown Arizona party.” The July 23 and July 24 shows come on the heels of its new album, “Sucker,” which will hit stores on July 16. It’s the full-length follow-up to 2019’s “Tropical Heartbreak.” Weddle says fans can expect a change of pace. “Every time we write an album, we try to change the sound a little bit. We keep our style but explore different versions of it,” Weddle says. “Previously, we were focusing on a lot of really dark and introspective lyrics, but after coronavirus, it didn’t feel right to make another sad, down-in-the-dark album.” Weddle says, initially, the band struggled with finding the correct, positive sound. “We really just ran with writing more in a major key and using more happy, upbeat music and lyrics,” Weddle says. “We actually found it really difficult at first because we were so used to that dark, deep sound we had been doing for years. But once we got the hang of that, it turned out really fun and completely different from what we’d done before.” The pandemic played a pivotal role in the making of “Sucker,” Weddle says. Without a real deadline, Katastro felt less pressure, and with time and freedom, it produced music that is entirely new and imaginative. “This was the first time we were able to make a ton of songs and then have time to sit and listen to them,” Weddle says. “Because we had no deadline and we didn’t have to go on tour, we just had all the time in the world for the four of us to be together and write and really focus on what we wanted and what we thought our fans would enjoy.” Katastro — which also includes vocalist Andy Chaves, drummer Andrew Stravers and guitarist Tanner Riccio — ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

made its music industry debut nearly 15 years ago when it eased into Tempe and Phoenix’s underground reggae scene. However, Katastro isn’t necessarily reggae, blending rock, funk and hip-hop. Katastro drew large crowds opening for Dirty Heads. “We honestly never thought about ourselves as a reggae band at all, but we played with the Dirty Heads and kind of made our way into that scene without playing that type of music,” Weddle says. “We realized that those fans really connected with us even though our music was so different.” Weddle and his crew are still based in the Valley, although they briefly moved to California to expand their fanbase. Ultimately, Weddle says, the band couldn’t stay away from Arizona. “Things are really just different here, and I think it’s something that has influenced our entire careers in some sense, just being part of this community,” he says. “It’s really a melting pot of all these different people and cultures that’s sort of all encompassing. So, with that, you really get a lot of inspiration to work with.” Although it has mostly stayed put, Katastro has been anything but stagnant in its 15-year career. It continues to release innovative music that’s intricate and complex. With “Sucker,” Weddle says the band feels more cohesive than ever. “We’ve been in this band together for half our lives, and we know each other’s

writing styles now,” he says. “We have learned so much from each other in the last 14 years that it’s impossible not to adapt. This new record was a true group effort, and all of it was really intentional, because we’re at a place where we know what we’re going for.” As the country begins to return to some form of normalcy, Weddle says he hopes “Sucker” will help fans relax and take their minds off of the negativity of the last year and a half. “Even though this album was written during a time that was dark and politicized and difficult, it’s more about being fun and upbeat and happy,” Weddle says.

“To release something that has nothing to do with coronavirus feels like the right thing to do at this time. Ultimately, we want people to feel like they can escape with this album, and we’re just really excited to be able to escape with them when we start playing again.”

Katastro w/special guests WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24 WHERE: Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $15 INFO: luckymanonline.com

TOY STORY

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

The Great Arizona Puppet Theater brings magic to the stage By Claire Spinner

ancy Smith has always been fascinated by puppetry. After receiving a set of puppets and a stage when she was 5 years old, the art form quickly became the center of Smith’s life and, later, her career. In 1983, Smith founded a puppeteer touring company, which laid the foundation for the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, the largest puppet theater west of the Mississippi. Reopened after the pandemic, the Great Puppet Theater is triumphant proof of Smith’s determination. “I’ve always done puppets,” she says. “I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t, because it really started during my childhood. There’s so much you can do with them, and if you were to ask me ‘why puppets?’ I wouldn’t even really have an answer. It’s like asking a dancer why they dance — because I have to.” When Smith met her husband, Kenneth Bonar, in 1972, they were destined to go into puppetry. Smith says their combined skills set them up for success. Ten years later, they started a touring puppet company. “I had a lot of knowledge about theater and production, as well as makeup and costumes, and my husband is a really good sculptor and visual artist, so we thought we’d try our hand at doing puppetry professionally,” Smith says. “The two of us together actually made the perfect puppet team.” Smith studied theater and music as an undergraduate and graduate student. Her education nudged her to write her own scripts. “When we started, we discovered that we really are storytellers, and we wanted to do those stories with our puppets,” Smith says. “We wanted to do classic stories that survived and spoke to people for one reason or another and really focus on that. I couldn’t find a good script for puppets, so I thought, ‘I guess I’ll just write one myself,’ and that’s how I started writing scripts.” Success brought on the desire for a permanent location. In 1988, five years after the touring company was created, the Great Arizona Puppet Theater found its first home. “We wanted to open a place that was a venue to the public,” Smith says. “We leased an old fire station and turned it into our puppet theater. Some of the people that brought their children to that theater are now bringing their grandchildren to our current location.”

As a nonprofit, the Great Arizona Puppet Theater struggled to find a longterm home. “It was just too hard trying to lease,” she says. “So, I would drive around every day looking for places. We wanted to be in the center of town to better serve the whole community.” In Downtown Phoenix, Smith found a former Mormon church that had been closed for decades. The building was slated to be torn down for the I-10 in the 1970s, but, as the Valley’s oldest Mormon church, the neighbors rallied for its addition to the National Registry of Historical Places. Smith and Bonar purchased the building in 1996. “No one had really been taking care of the church, so it was in pretty bad shape at the time that we bought it,” Smith says. “It took us three years of renovation before we could open up.” When the theater opened, Smith knew she could truly promote the Great Arizona Puppet Theater’s mission, which is “to advance and promote the art of puppetry, to celebrate the great state of Arizona, to educate children and families, and to enhance Arizona’s cultural climate.” “My goal was always to become so much a part of the community here that people wouldn’t be able to imagine life without it,” Smith says. Since 1999, the puppet theater has staged shows five days a week. Smith and her staff teach kids about the environment, different cultures and history. Smith has a knack for creative storytelling, penning catchy tunes and

sharing magical puppeteering. “I think puppets are really a great way to educate, because it brings a really personal and unique touch to topics that kids can find boring. Making learning fun is something that we have always done at the theater,” Smith says. The Great Arizona Puppet Theater was one of the first in the country to develop curated “puppet slams.” When the pandemic forced the theater to close, Smith says she was unsure if it would bounce back. Schools and organizations prepaid for spring and summer 2020 shows. The theater wasn’t just losing revenue on performances, but it actually owed money. “It was a scary time, but we persevered, because what else were we going to do? So, we came up with drive-in puppet shows,” Smith says. Adult and children drive-in shows were staged in the parking lot, with FM transmitters broadcasting the audio. Smith and her team created three new shows, excluding the puppet slams, from scratch to create lively drive-ins.

“We just wanted to make sure we were still able to bring joy into people’s lives in a way that was fun but also sanitary and safe,” Smith said. The drive-ins were successful. After a year of parking lot shows, the theater is ready to allow patrons in the theater. “We really love our audience, and I’m looking forward to being able to see those genuine reactions on kids’ faces when we bring out the puppets,” she says. Smith encourages families, children and adults to visit the theater at least once a summer. “I think everyone should experience the joy of puppets,” Smith says. “They’re just fun, and it’s something unique and refreshing. It’s also a form of live performance, which I think a lot of people have missed. And I think we are going to put on our best shows yet. Every time I get on that stage, I always think, ‘I want this show to be the best one I’ve ever done.’ And that’s the whole company. We truly love puppets and what we do, and we’re ready to get back to it.”

July shows Here is information on July performances at The Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham Street, Phoenix. “Goldilocks,” through July 11, except July 4. “My Pet Dinosaur,” July 14 to July 25. “The Princess, The Unicorn and the Smelly-Foot Troll,” July 28 to August 15. Showtimes are 10 a.m. Wednesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Advance ticket purchases are required. Tickets are $12 for those 13 and older; $8 for children through age 12. Call 602.262.2050, ext. 0, or visit azpuppets.org to purchase tickets. ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A SOUND PURCHASE

Record Store Day keeps heads spinning By Alex Gallagher

ia Records’ Mary Papenhausen knows the appeal of Record Store Day. She sees customers come in and out of the stalwart stores. She purchases records, too. “The beautiful thing about Record Store Day is that you can look at the list a million times, and when you get to the store and see things, you’ll realize you’ll end up wanting more,” says Papenhausen, the chain’s director of marketing. Fans who shopped on the June 12 Record Store Day have a second chance on July 17. The event was split into two days due to the pandemic. With one Record Store Day in the books, shops like Uncle Aldo’s Attic in Northeast Mesa and Zia Records are gearing up to see large crowds from the moment doors open once again. “Things are becoming a bit safer, and it seems that more and more people are getting out and want to do things,” Papenhausen says. Uncle Aldo’s Attic owner Desi Scarpone says Record Store Day was slightly daunting. “We always have a line outside our store, and this year we had a long one, which is a little scary for a small store like ours,” Scarpone says. Both stores have put capacity limits in place to give shoppers more room to peruse the specials and keep everyone safely distanced. “With the smaller crowds, it’s more manageable,” Papenhausen says. “People have more space. People can see the records a bit clearer, and it’s easier, in terms of stress, for customers and employees.”

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Besides capping capacity, the stores are limiting what customers can buy. “When we open, we let people in one at a time and they get to choose up to three of the Record Store Day things,” Scarpone says. “We do this until the line is gone and then we let people come and go as they please.” Zia Records will allow 15 people in at a time, all of whom can only purchase one record per title. “If there’s 22 titles out there, you can get 22 different titles, but not 22 of one title,” Papenhausen says. She explains Zia makes it an easy shopping experience. “We make it so that it’s extremely easy to shop at the store,” she explains. “We give people enough space. We put the records in alphabetical order. We have people directing people over to the sections and helping them with what they may need.” At Uncle Aldo’s Attic, a staff member will search the inventory for the pieces customers would like to purchase. “We will sometimes check with people in line to see what they want and, if we’re

running low on inventory, we will tell them they may be better off elsewhere,” Scarpone says. Scarpone has tried to combat this by purchasing a fair amount of Record Store Day exclusive vinyl for his store. “This is the most Record Store Day records that I’ve ever bought, because so often I’ll have customers ask me for stuff that we don’t have,” Scarpone says. “I went wide and ordered stuff that I don’t usually get.” For customers who missed out on a few of the first Record Store Day releases, Uncle Aldo’s Attic still has several titles remaining. This time, the most anticipated releases are “Remixes,” Amy Winehouse; “Live in 1972,” Aretha Franklin; “Aglio E Olio,” Beastie Boys; “Czar Noir,” Czarface; “Lose You Now,” Lindsey Stirling; “Fallen Torches,” Mastodon; “Missing Links Vol. 1, 2 and 3,” The Monkees; “Lean Into It,” Mr. Big; and “Mechanical Resonance,” Tesla. Several compilation records will hit shelves, too. Zia Records opens at 7 a.m., but for shoppers who are not yet comfortable with going to stores, leftover Record Store Day exclusives will be sold online beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17. Exclusive records will not be the only thing on sale that day. Uncle Aldo’s Attic offers 10% off all non-Record Store Day exclusives in the store. Zia Records will sell exclusive branded merchandise. The chain hasn’t released the merchandise designs yet, but last time it was a slip mat and an exclusive T-shirt. Record Store Day is an exciting day not just for customers but for the stores’ staff. “It’s a really exciting day,”

Papenhausen says. “You can expect energy right off the bat both from instore shoppers and the people waiting in line.” She has a bit of advice for shoppers attending their first Record Store Day. “I’d recommend getting there early, staying hydrated and looking at the list before you come in,” Papenhausen says. She reminds shoppers, too, that Record Store Day isn’t just about musicians and stores making a profit. “The thing about supporting record stores on Record Store Day is that you will find the fairest price on that day,” Papenhausen says. “We want as many people to get as many records as possible at a fair price.”

Record Store Day Zia Records Stores open at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 17 Tempe: 3021 S. Mill Avenue. Camelback: 1850 W. Camelback Road Chandler: 3029 N. Alma School Road Thunderbird: 2510 W. Thunderbird Road Mesa: 1302 S. Gilbert Road Online records go on sale at 10 a.m. ziarecords.com Uncle Aldo’s Attic Store opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17 6016 E. McKellips Road, Northeast Mesa 480.218.1415, unclealdosattic.com For the full list of Record Store Day releases, visit recordstoreday.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

CITY

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

THEY’RE CRAFTY

PIP Coffee + Clay molds everyone into an artist By Annika Tomlin

ara Friedman and her husband, Kacey “KC” Bonnem, took their “perpetual idea projects” and turned them into PIP Coffee + Clay. “I was doing ceramics in my laundry room, and it got to the point where I wanted to not be in my laundry room. I started looking for space like a studio that might be part of a larger studio,” says Friedman, a Phoenix resident. “I couldn’t find it anywhere remotely where I lived.” The duo looked for a building they could convert into a studio. They struggled, however, to find a company to rent space to them. “We ended up with this building, and were like, ‘That’s a really big ceramics studio,’” Friedman adds. Just inside the building at 2617 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, is a coffee shop and seating area with local arts, ceramics and other items on display for sale. Through the back hallway, the space opens to the ceramic and open studio.

UNREALISTIC? The couple previously worked as self-employed graphic designers who helped people market their products on Amazon. They opened PIP in April. “We recently opened, and so most of the work was done during the pandemic,” says Bonnem. “I wouldn’t say it affected what we were doing that much. Construction workers were still working, and the city was open. We are on the tail end, and things are starting to open up and there are more people out and about.” Friedman admits they thought they were unrealistic about the process from buildout to grand opening. “We’re like, ‘We’ll be open in six months, no problem,’” says Friedman. “Then every person we would talk to would be like, ‘Are you serious?’ “We’ve all been locked in our houses for a year and a half or whatever. In some ways, it’s like the silver lining of starting your business in a pandemic. As long as you don’t open in the dead center of the

pandemic, opening at the tail end has people psyched.”

PLETHORA OF OFFERINGS The company offers an array of ceramic-based activities, including open studio, beginner and intermediate classes, as well as a kids class. “We have open studio, which is like independent study,” Friedman says. “People already know what they are doing. They don’t have to be experts. “You can do that for hand-building or throwing, and that’s almost every day.” The studio recently added intermediate classes to the popular beginners classes. “When you come to class and you are a beginner — 85% of the people who come here are beginners — you can expect to learn the very basics of throwing,” Friedman says. “It’s like, ‘How do you center clay on the wheel?’ ‘How do you poke a hole in it and pull it up?’ ‘How do you get it off?’” Friedman says everyone in the class ends the session with “a thing.” “We always say, ‘You’ve made a thing, and that thing will hold water,’” Friedman says. “Call it whatever you want. They can expect to make some things.” Kids Friday night hand-building classes are for those in kindergarten to age 13. Regular beginner class are for ages 14 and older. The coffee shop side of the building sells a variety of drinks and locally made pastries and treats. Friedman says it was hard to decide which local coffee brewers to pair with. “We don’t know anything about anything, but we drink coffee,” Friedman says. “We use Novela (Coffee Roasters) for our lighter roast, we use Espressions (Coffee Roastery) for our darker roast, and we get out cold brew from Blue House (Coffee).” Initially, PIP only had the dark roast from Espressions, until the lead barista said “the younger generation doesn’t like that dark stuff.” On Fridays and Saturdays, PIP has “natural wine and local beer,” according to Friedman. While pastries are the main food

source, PIP would not be complete without its pizza subs. “In college, there was a food truck parked by the freshman dorms. Johnny’s Hot Truck — it’s like a legend,” Friedman says. “They only served pizza subs. You’d get home late and maybe you’d be a tiny bit intoxicated, and you would go and there is nothing better. I was like, ‘Well, we are going to have wine and beer. (We should have pizza subs).’”

BEHIND THE NAME As graphic designers for 24 years, the couple yearned to sell their ideas on Amazon, instead of focusing on others. “After much back and forth, we were like, ‘We should sell aprons because I was already doing ceramics and I couldn’t find an apron that I liked,’” Friedman says. “I wanted it to be functional and cute, and there’s no sizes and somewhat unisex, blah, blah, blah.” They made 1,000 aprons to be sold on Amazon. “We had to come up with an LLC, so I was like, ‘We should call that LLC the Perpetual Idea Project,’ just making fun of ourselves — and our various project ideas,” Friedman says. The aprons came with the logo in small print. Next it was time to upload them on Amazon. “We had all these aprons made and we went to go sell them on Amazon,

and we had been blacklisted,” Friedman explains. “Because in 20 years of working for Amazon, we’ve had so many fake accounts because we take pictures (of other people’s products), try out the processes (of what graphic designs help sales) and write about it. (The people from Amazon) were like, ‘You guys are bad news.’” When it came time to create the LLC for their current business, Friedman says they resorted to Perpetual Idea Project. “We came to start this (business) six months later, and I was like, ‘We are not doing another LLC,’” Friedman says. “We are doing something and we are using this LLC, and then (Kacey) was like, ‘It’s a really long name for a coffee shop.’ I was like, ‘PIP — it’s an acronym.’” The aprons are on sale in the shop, along with other locally made items. “We have all kinds of stuff from local people — the ceramics are mine,” Friedman says. “We have some stuff that is not local, and then we are just sort of getting more and more sort of crafts people and artists (to sell here).”

PIP Coffee + Clay 2617 N. 24th Street, Phoenix 480.616.0004, pipcoffeeclay.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A ‘WATERSHED MOMENT’

New SMoW collection rich with women artists By Kristine Cannon

ince the opening of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW) in 2015, one of the comments most often heard by Dr. Tricia Loscher, assistant director for collections, exhibitions and research is, “Where are the women artists?” Thanks to a recently acquired collection of more than 300 works by 25 women artists, SMoW can now more confidently answer that question. SMoW acquired one of the largest donations of female artworks ever gifted to an American institution: “The Fran and Ed Elliott Southwest Women Art Collection.” The Elliott Collection is the first to boast an all-female lineup of artists — all with some sort of connection to Arizona. “Remarkably, all of the 25 artists whose works grace the collection have a connection to the state of Arizona, having either resided, studied or worked in our state,” says Mike Fox, SMoW director/CEO. “Our institution is immensely grateful and appreciative of our responsibility to extend the legacy, not only of our friends Fran and Ed Elliott, but the legacy of all the women artists represented in this unparalleled historical collection.” Loscher adds, “They open a new chapter for SMoW and create important dialogue.” The Elliott Collection will provide SMoW with many rotating exhibitions,

traveling shows, educational programming and, according to Loscher, an endless diversity of themes and stories. “It is past time these artists reclaim their rightful place in Arizona’s cultural and artistic heritage and are recognized,” she says. “This collection is about reclaiming a place in our museum for these early Arizona artists and making them visible, thus helping to make all women artists throughout the ages and the world visible,” Loscher adds. One featured artist is Marjorie Thomas, Scottsdale’s first professional resident artist. The exhibition features more than 150 of her drawings, paintings, sketches and photos. “Thomas was a true Arizona art pioneer, having arrived before Arizona’s statehood,” says Dr. Betsy Fahlman, ASU professor and a SMoW trustee who helped make the acquisition happen. Also featured is Jessie Benton Evans (1866-1954), who settled in Scottsdale, taught young artists and held regular salons in her Italianate villa. The Elliott Collection boasts 13 of Evans’ oils, one pastel and five etchings. “This collection complements SMoW’s mission to share with others the beauty of our state’s diverse and rich cultural perspectives, backgrounds and heritage — which each of these artists brings to the Southwest,” Loscher says, adding: “And what better place than SMoW, where we can address the public’s request

to learn more about women artists, starting with the collection of Fran Elliott, who was one of the most highly respected collectors of one of the most well-represented collections of early Arizona women artists?” Fran and Ed Elliott spent years unearthing and championing the stories of dozens of neglected female Arizona artists. Loscher became aware of Fran Elliott’s collection in the 1990s while working on her master’s thesis on Arizona artist Kate T. Cory, whose work is well-represented in the collection. Fran was so supportive of Loscher’s thesis that she attended her Cory exhibition opening at the State Capitol Museum. In 2015, Ed Elliott became involved in SMoW in the absence of Fran, who had passed away one year prior, loaning

several paintings to SMoW’s inaugural exhibition. “Ed believed in our museum, and it is a great honor and privilege for us that his wish was to donate Fran’s collection,” Loscher says. The collection will not only help advance and amplify the voices of female artists, but will also shed light on the women who are actively helping to create art in Arizona. “Visitors will see for themselves the unique perspective of these artists and their magnificent talent, the diversity of mediums and techniques that they employed,” Loscher says. “They were independent spirits with great creativity, perseverance and courage. The Elliotts’ name and these artists can now be celebrated by our visitors from Arizona, America and the world.” Loscher calls the Elliott Collection a “watershed moment” for SMoW. “This collection is unique in Arizona and indeed in the country,” she says. “This collection will undoubtedly serve to heighten our reputation among other leading cultural institutions, the public and artists alike.” SMoW is planning a major exhibition of the Elliott Collection in 2023. Ed passed away last year, and Loscher says he was “extremely supportive” of the exhibition and looked forward to seeing it. “I’m sure Fran and Ed’s spirits will be there when we celebrate their lives and the generosity of their important gift when we open the exhibition,” Loscher says.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale 480.686.9539, scottsdalemuseumwest.org ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

TRAVEL

VACATION » SIGHTS » DAY TRIPS » ADVENTURE » EXPLORE » TRAVEL

SECRET GETAWAY Creekside Lodge & Cabins is a hidden gem By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

estled between State Route 69 in Mayer and the seasonally running Big Bug Creek, Creekside Lodge & Cabins is a hidden gem. From its restaurant, The Cellar, to the views, it’s the total package for a weekend getaway. John Papuga is the third owner since Creekside Lodge & Cabins opened in 2000. New to the hospitality field, Papuga owned American Fire Equipment for 28 years, sold it in 2017, and invested in and overhauled Creekside Lodge & Cabins. “I retired for eight months,” he says with a laugh. “This has been a long time coming. I thought about owning an RV park, a bed and breakfast, or a small resort. “Here, I just want people to have a good time, have great food, and see fantastic events and relax here.” From the get-go, Creekside Lodge & Cabins has been a challenge. Papuga took ownership on Thanksgiving 2019 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Papuga and his staff forged through it. He chalks up his success to “pure heart and pure drive.” “We were able to make it through with live music, good food and the ability to isolate,” Papuga adds. “Plus, we had a lot of good marketing and employees.” Papuga used the pandemic to remodel the hotel resort. He described the lodge’s condition as poor before he bought it. “We had a three-year remodel plan,” he said. “When I saw what was happening, we made adjustments to have more outside seating and to do a lot of renovations. “We went into high gear because there really wasn’t any business.” The Cellar opened in May 2020, and Papuga says that was gutsy. “I took a big chance opening a restaurant then,” he adds. “I thought there wasn’t that much competition in the corridor. We went with high quality, and it seems to be paying

off. We went with outside music entertainment to help guests and visitors feel comfortable, and it seemed to help sell the place.” Papuga describes The Cellar as a red meat specialist with pork ribs ($17.99 to $27.99) and hand-cut steaks, like the 10-ounce top sirloin ($22.99) and 12-ounce ribeye ($27.99). The entrees also include eight panko-breaded shrimp ($16.99), grilled chicken and marinated chicken ($13.99). The menu includes appetizers, salads, burgers, baskets, wings, pizza, sandwiches and hot dogs. On the more creative side is the Sedona wrap, a prime rib wrap with lettuce, tomato, onion and horseradish rash. The hotel resort boasts private cabins with private porches overlooking Big Bug Creek. They house a king or two double beds. Each cabin comes with a microwave, Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, air conditioning, fireplace and cable TV. The lodge’s amenities include a restaurant, bar, game room and back patio. Pets are welcome in cabins 9 to 15 at a charge of $25 per night, per pet. Activities are aplenty. The hotel resort is on 60 acres, and the staff created hiking trails. “We had a group who came in, stayed the night and went to the Grand Canyon on side-by-sides,” he says. It also offers wine tours, casino trips and visits to Prescott’s Whiskey Row. Creekside Lodge & Cabins is quickly picking up steam, Papuga says. “It’s becoming a quick destination, even for people from Sedona, Flagstaff and North Phoenix,” Papuga adds. “It’s great for a one- or two-night getaway. They can stay here, eat here and have great entertainment.” Already, Papuga has learned a valuable lesson. “An innkeeper’s job is never done,” he says with a laugh. “Hospitality has earned my respect quickly.”

Creekside Lodge & Cabins 11255 S. State Route 69, Mayer 928.632.0777, creekside-az.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

By Entertainer! Magazine staff

he pandemic restrictions are lifting, and now we’re ready to travel. We’ve compiled 10 fun weekend getaways that won’t break the bank or your PTO.

SAN DIEGO

With pleasant weather year-round, beautiful beaches, and a thriving dining and art scene, San Diego is a premier Southern California destination. Hotel del Coronado is an iconic hotel that has welcomed guests since 1888 and offers the ultimate seaside escape with Victorian architecture and modern luxuries. Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a luxury property that offers an award-winning golf course, five-star spa, and unique dining experiences including the Michelin-starred Addison. The Monsaraz San Diego, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is one of San Diego’s newest hotels and features a modern setting with Portugueseinfluenced midcentury design, sustainable amenities and Cali-Aussie cuisine. One of San Diego’s most famous attractions, SeaWorld San Diego is known for world-class animal shows, presentations and exhibits that educate and entertain people of all ages. The San Diego Zoo and more than 16 museums are in Balboa Park, among them the San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Museum of Art. The USS Midway Museum, which is located at the Navy Pier in Downtown San Diego and has an extensive aircraft collection, offers a variety of activities and fun onboard. Go for a stroll around the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which has many great restaurants, bars, theaters, concert venues, boutiques and more. Catch a baseball game at Petco Park or

Wild Flowers - Flagstaff

enjoy the scenery at Seaport Village, which offers stunning views of the Big Bay and Coronado Bridge, has more than 50 shops, multiple restaurants and an 1895 Loof Carousel with more than 30 beautifully hand-carved animals. For a memorable dining experience, Corvette Diner is a 1950s-themed restaurant with waitresses in poodle skirts serving burgers and milkshakes. Gaslamp Breakfast Company offers a unique take on waffles that range from s’mores and buttermilk cornmeal to mashed potatoes. Addison is San Diego’s first Michelin-starred restaurant that celebrates regional ingredients and showcases the beauty and allure of California gastronomy. SEA180 features stunning ocean views paired with an innovative and diverse seafood menu including grilled Spanish octopus, salmon and scallops. The Lion’s Share serves exotic meats ranging from wild boar to bison in an eclectic setting, while

Rosa’s Pizzeria - Prescott

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Juniper & Ivy delivers a chef-driven menu that changes often based on ingredients brought in by local farmers and fishermen. Info: sandiego.org —Kamala Kirk

PRESCOTT Nicknamed “Everybody’s Hometown” for its enticing small-town charm, Prescott is the ideal summer road trip destination. Less than a two-hour drive from the Valley, the mile-high city is home to a rising foodie scene thanks to gourmet taqueria La Planchada and the hip yet cozy The County Seat as well as emerging craft beer hotspots Superstition Meadery, Ad Astra Brewing Company and Founding Fathers Collective, which is Arizona’s largest selfserve beer taproom. There are also more than 400 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails within Prescott National Forest along with the picturesque Watson Lake, which is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, and even hiking with llamas. If traveling with kids, don’t miss the Prescott Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, which offers up-close experience with animals, or the Prescott Heritage Trail and History Hunt Adventure, which is available at the Visitor’s Center and offers self-guided immersive activities while going on a historical walking tour of Downtown Prescott. It is a great way to enjoy historical landmarks and cultural attractions, all in less than two hours. The best part? Thanks to Talking Rock Ranch’s new Discovery Experience, there is now a way to do it in epic style. Nestled between

Prescott and Coconino National Forest, Talking Rock Ranch is a private Prescott golf community dually inspired by the ruggedly beautiful high desert landscape and the luxuries of a wellappointed resort. Earlier this summer, the community completed a fully furnished club cabin to allow residents additional space to host their visiting friends and family as well as to welcome guests unfamiliar with Talking Rock to immerse themselves in its wide-open spaces. The cabin has four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a full kitchen, a working fireplace, dining and living areas, and multiple outdoor spaces. Once booked, one’s group is connected to a Talking Rock concierge who will curate a custom two-night, threeday experience on property, as well as optional activities off property, including fly fishing, wine tasting and off-road adventures. The concierge will also offer grocery services and handle all tee times, wellness and spa appointments, and dinner reservations for the group. The package starts at $1,100 (based on a two-person stay) and includes twonight accommodations as well as access to all public areas, including the Barn, hiking and biking trails, sport courts, pools and lounges. Also included is one complimentary fine dining experience at either the Ranch House or in one’s cottage, one spa treatment per guest, daily breakfast and a round of golf. There are also several hotels in the area from which to choose, notably the nearly 100-year-old Hassayampa Inn. Info: visit-prescott.com —Alison Bailin Batz

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

FLAGSTAFF In June, Fat Ox executive chef Rochelle Daniel — a Food Network “Chopped” favorite and 2017 Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame inductee — said she was temporarily relocating up north to concept and open her dream restaurant, Atria, in Downtown Flagstaff. Set to open in August, it will boast housemade pastas, fresh fish and premium steaks, plus playful daily features and an eclectic cocktail menu. Daniel is not alone in choosing the Ponderosa Pine-covered city to make a big culinary statement. Similarly, Scottsdale native George Murkowicz, a veteran of Zinc Bistro, T. Cook’s and L’Auberge de Sedona, ventured up north a few years ago to open Shift Kitchen + Bar, a chic yet laidback spot that marries mountain food with gourmand greatness at the highest level, featuring tasting and a la carte menus that change regularly based on the seasonality of ingredients. With them, plus THAT Place Projects — owners and operators of the award-wining Tinderbox Kitchen, Annex Cocktail Lounge, Tourist Home Café, Teatro, Butcher & Bottle and Corn & Flour — as well as Pizzicletta, MartAnne’s, Brix and Josephine’s, Flagstaff may soon have to change its name to Foodstaff! But whether it does or not (OK, it won’t), there is no better time than the summer to visit to indulge in the culinary creativity as well as to eat up the scenery and outdoors. Flagstaff is usually at least 20 degrees cooler than anywhere in the Valley, often more than that. A self-guided tour is also a must, and there are several on the Discover Flagstaff website available to download for free. One of our favorites is the selfie tour, which features an interactive map with directions to the one-of-akind backdrops tailor-made for your

Instagram feed. There is also a ghostthemed walking tour that details all of the ladies of the night, outlaws, and good guys and baddies who may very well be haunting the region today. Flagstaff also boasts a wide variety of cultural, historic and scientific attractions, including Lowell Observatory, the Museum of Northern Arizona, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, and authentic Route 66 nostalgia. As for accommodations, the Little America Hotel is always a great bet, as well as the SpringHill Suites and Courtyard by Marriott hotels at the southern tip of town. Pine Canyon is a best bet for those seeking something a little fancier, and as with Talking Rock in Prescott, they offer a discovery tour in one of several cabins to sample the region if interested in perhaps buying one day. Info: visit-prescott.com —Alison Bailin Batz

ROCKY POINT It takes four hours to drive to Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point. Located in Sonora on the Sea of Cortez, Rocky Point features waterfront resorts, crystal blue water and miles of sandy beaches. The area has become so popular, in fact, by year’s end it will even become a cruise port. When that happens, it means Valley residents’ secluded spot south of the border will be on the national radar. So there is no better time than now to go down and enjoy what has, for many years, been Arizona’s unofficial beach. Drivers need only take the I-10 West to AZ-85 toward San Diego. Stay on the AZ-85 and ensure you head south for three hours to the border. The crossing into Sonora is quick and easy, usually just a wave to the guards or a quick

Las Palomas Beach - Rocky Point

check of one’s passport (yes, bring your passport, as it is needed to re-enter). Then it is about 30 minutes along the road from land to sea. There is a regulated Safety Corridor that runs from the border crossing at Lukeville/Sonoyta in Arizona directly to Rocky Point that is regularly cleaned, maintained and monitored to ensure peace of mind. Once in Rocky Point, there are several resorts along the water, each offering its own activities, pools, bars and beach space. Among favorite places for Phoenicians is Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort, which offers rental condos ranging in size from a few hundred feet to more than 3,000 square feet. The resort boasts two full-service restaurants, a gym, room service and two epic beach bars. The entire property offers complimentary Wi-Fi for all guests, and all rooms have flat-screen televisions and expansive bath suites. Most also have kitchenettes as well as patios or balconies for entertaining. Las Palomas also has an 18-hole championship golf course and a pool pavilion that rivals those in Scottsdale.

Hot Air Balloon - Sedona

Though many folks live for the resort’s pool and bars, as well as the activities offered right on the beach, ranging from parasailing and kayaking to eco tours and snorkeling, there are copious entertainment and dining options nearby. For breakfast and casual lunch, don’t miss Candy Cake, Max’s Restaurant, Bandito’s, Bryan’s Sports Bar and Pollo Lucas. For finer dining, opt for Mare Blu Ristorante, The Laughing Dolphin, Chef Mickeys or Moo Steak House. Finally, for cocktails and often live music, Wrecked at the Reef, Boo Bar, Manny’s and JJ’s Cantina are spots well worth the short drive. Info: rockypointonline.net and laspalomasresort.net. —Alison Bailin Batz

SEDONA Lauded as among the most sacred and spiritually powerful destinations in the world, Sedona and its Village of Oak Creek are among the top spots nationwide to find oneself while getting lost in relaxation, adventure, epicurean exploration and healing energy. And, of course, there are all those red rocks. Several of the most picturesque hiking and mountain bike trails in the region are the Cathedral Rock Tail, Bell Rock Trail and Courthouse Butte Loop Trail. These trails are just off the main State Route 89A, making for an easy day trip or outdoorsy start to an extended stay. If staying overnight or longer, nestled into the Village is the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. A recent property-wide update included the launch of a new restaurant concept called ShadowRock Tap + Table, the addition of both an onsite hiking concierge and an adventure concierge, and a one-of-a-kind red sand boot camp playground called the Warrior Pit. In addition, each of the resort’s 219 rooms and pool spaces has been redesigned. A bit deeper into the main drag of Sedona — just steps from much of the shopping and nightlife — is Amara Resort and Spa. Nestled along the banks of Oak Creek, offering both Red Rock views and direct access to the duck-filled creek, Amara is in the midst ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Las Vegas Strip

of a multimillion-dollar renovation that will bring a new and sophisticated “tree lodge” aesthetic to all 100 guest rooms and public spaces on property in phases, without closing its doors to guests. Taking inspiration from the surrounding red rocks, metaphysical energy and fabled vortexes for which the small resort town has become famous, the renovations at Amara will bring the outdoors in by encompassing all five of the natural elements surrounding the resort. Amara’s signature restaurant, SaltRock Southwest Kitchen, and the award-winning Amara Spa are also getting a facelift, with everything set to be done before Labor Day weekend. Beyond staying and playing, dining is a delicious adventure to be had in the area. Most conversations about food in the area start with those from James Beard House-featured chef Lisa Dahl, who leads five venues in the area: Cucina Rustica, a Tucson grill; Mariposa, a Latin-inspired restaurant with some of the best sunset views in the city; Dahl & DeLuca, a top higher-end Italian spot; Pisa Lisa, a pizzeria; and Butterfly Burger, a sexy cocktail bar and elevated take on all things burgers. There is also Elote Café from James Beard finalist Jeff Smedstad, which offers big, bold cuisine featuring authentic regional ingredients and traditional Mexican recipes. Info: visitsedona.com —Alison Bailin Batz

built in London. In 1967, it was sold to Robert McCulloch, who dismantled the bridge, stone for stone, and he rebuilt it over the Colorado River in Lake Havasu. Take a trip down to this historic sight to catch some stunning views and experience some 12th century history. In concert with the bridge is the beach. Take a stroll down to the London Bridge beach, which is perfect for parties, barbecues and picnics. Other activities include hang gliding, frisbee golf, museums, state parks and boat tours. Depending on your appetite, Havasu’s got a place for it. The Desert Bar is a “hot” topic in Havasu. It is a bar powered entirely by solar panels, which can also be used for shade in the hot summers. The bar features many unique aspects, including doors made from refrigerator doors and seats made from other unique materials. Juicy’s The Place

with the Great Food is another staple for Havasu. This is the go-to spot for Havasu travelers. Juicy’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, each with vegetarian friendly options. Combine that with a fantastic atmosphere and great prices, and it is a must-have. Lodging options are aplenty. The Travelodge by Wyndham, the Island Suites Hotel and the Rodeway Inn & Suites are great places to stay. They are all within a close distance to the London Bridge, the beach and activities. Info: golakehavasu.com —Joe McHugh

LAUGHLIN/LAS VEGAS After a year of its entertainment economy being decimated by COVID-19, the cities of Laughlin and Las Vegas are ready to welcome visitors. Magicians like Penn & Teller, Criss Angel, David Copperfield and Matt Franco have brought their famous acts

back to some of the Las Vegas Strip’s theaters and hotels. Their shows aim to amaze and entertain audiences of all ages. The Blue Man Group, Jabbawockeez and tribute acts headline the stages at some of the strip’s famous hotels. Each of these shows provides audiences with an exhilarating performance that can only be found on Las Vegas Boulevard for the time being. Guests can live out their speed fantasies in exotic cars as they get to drive or ride shotgun in some of the world’s fastest cars at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Exotic racing has a fleet of over 50 cars from some of the world’s premier manufacturers, like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi. Located at The Mirage Hotel and Casino, Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is a unique experience unlike anything else on the strip. Viewers can see six exhibits of white tigers, lions and leopards in addition to a 2.1-million-gallon dolphin aquarium. After a long day of walking, shopping and sightseeing, take a visit to one of Gordan Ramsay’s world-famous restaurants. Have a three-course dinner at his world-famous Hell’s Kitchen or, for more casual dining, Gordon Ramsay’s burger, steak, fish and chips, or pub and grill diners will always be treated to a delicious meal. Take in the sights of Laughlin with the only dinner cruise available on the Colorado River. There are two to three tours offered a day that serve food freshly prepared aboard the boat and a fullservice bar. Info: visitlasvegas.com —Alex Gallagher

SANTA FE Only a seven-hour drive or hourlong flight from Phoenix, Santa Fe is an underrated place to explore for an affordable weekend getaway.

LAKE HAVASU From age-old stories to modern conveniences, Lake Havasu has plenty to do. Simply put: It’s hot in Havasu. Historically, it has recorded some of the hottest temperatures in Arizona, but don’t let that be frightening, as there are so many activities to do, food to eat and cool places to stay. One of the most famous attractions is the London Bridge. This bridge, yes, was ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Laughlin

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is the city’s biggest claim to fame and a mustsee for anyone visiting New Mexico’s capital. The museum boasts more than a thousand paintings from the illustrious artist, but plan ahead, as tickets must be purchased in advance. Santa Fe has no shortage of art. Canyon Road holds more than 100 art galleries for tourists to pop in and out of. It has almost every form of art you can think of, including everything from jewelry to paintings. It is free to walk down Canyon Road, soaking in the unbelievable art and history that runs deep in the city’s veins. The Santa Fe Plaza is considered a National Historic Landmark and provides visitors with a cultural experience they would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Whether there is a parade or market going on the day you are there is unknown, but rest assured, this place is known for having something fun to do. Was it mentioned it is totally free to visit here? If you find yourself at the Santa Fe Plaza, you must eat at the Plaza Café. One of Santa Fe’s oldest restaurants, it provides classic New Mexico dishes and flavors to enjoy. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends, grabbing a blue corn piñon pancake for breakfast then heading out to enjoy the plaza is an ideal way to start your weekend trip. A trip to Santa Fe wouldn’t be complete without going on a beautiful hike. Sporting some of the best hiking trails in the country, there is no deficiency of options in Santa Fe. From the Grasshopper Canyon Trail to the Picacho Peak Trail and the Deception Peak, there are all sorts of hikes for all skill levels. Info: santafe.org —Grant Greabell

STRAWBERRY-PINE Roughly two hours northeast of Phoenix, Strawberry and Pine are in the northwest corner of Gila County. Both towns offer a slew of lodging accommodations, restaurants, and things to see and do. The boutique Strawberry Inn houses private cabins designed for road trippers, adventure seekers and nature lovers. Rent a single room for a romantic getaway or the entire property for a family vacation. The inn and cabins operate like a vacation rental, where all reservations and check-ins are completed online or through email. Rooms come suited with luxury linens, a breakfast bar, a mini fridge and internet and are conveniently located near hiking trails, natural water springs and local shopping. Nearby restaurant options include Mamajoes’ Italian Grill, The Weekender and PIEbar AZ. Sightseeing locations include the Strawberry School House that was originally built in 1884 and the Bearfoot Trailhead.

Solvang

A short drive into Pine and several more accommodations and sights to see await. On the top of the list to visit should be Pine’s one and only brewery, literally named “THAT Brewery.” Created with beer enthusiasts and foodies in mind, owners Tamara and Steve Morken converted their Rimside Grill & Cabins into their own brewery. The brewery and pub offer a select list of THAT brews including THAT Knotty Nut Brown Ale, Arizona Trail Ale and THAT Strawberry Blonde. On the pub side, it offers an array of appetizers, wings, burgers, smoked brisket, sides and salads — not to mention the molten lava cake for dessert. Other places to visit while in Pine include the Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm, The Pine-Strawberry Museum that opened in 1979, and a plethora of antique shops to find new décor and knickknacks. Lodging in Pine can be found at Beeline Guest House, The Randall House or Cabins on Strawberry Hill. When it comes to dining, Pine has the Pinewood Tavern, dubbed the neighborhood kitchen and bar, according to its website; The Early Bird Cafe for breakfast and brunch; and Old Country Inn that serves up wood fired pizzas daily. Info: explorepine.com —Annika Tomlin

that offers an intimate experience with 12 guest rooms, a Michelin Plate-designated on-site restaurant and walking tours of Coquelicot Estate, the owner’s organic vineyard. The Landsby is a 51-room contemporary hotel influenced by traditional Scandinavian aesthetic, with bright guest rooms and its signature restaurant, Mad & Vin, which specializes in wine country-inspired cuisine. Go for a ride with Solvang Trolley & Carriage Company, which offers narrated tours of the village in 1915 replica trolleys pulled by Belgian draft horses. Spend an afternoon shopping for antiques, gift items and Danish souvenirs in more than 150 one-ofa-kind shops, including Jule Hus, which specializes in Old European Christmas ornaments; The Book Loft; Renaissance Antiques; Rasmussen’s and Solvang Toyland. Solvang is also home to numerous museums, including the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, the Solvang Amber Museum, the museum at Old Mission Santa Ynes, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Wine tasting is one of the most popular activities in Solvang, which has numerous wineries and tasting rooms, including Sanger Wines Tasting Room, Royal Oaks Winery Tasting Room and the Sevtap Winery Tasting

Room, among others. The city also hosts numerous festivals, including Solvang Danish Days, an annual celebration in September that honors the city’s heritage with dancing, music, parades, food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities, as well as Julefest, an annual monthlong celebration during the holidays that features candlelight tours, after-hours shopping and dining, elf tracking and more. Solvang’s restaurant scene includes a wide variety of cuisine ranging from oldfashioned burgers to traditional Danish dishes. The Belgian Café serves breakfast and lunch in a cheery European as atmosphere and is known for its famous crispy Belgian waffles and crepes served all day long. Brekkies by Chomp puts its own spin on many traditional American and Mexican breakfast dishes and even serves a breakfast stout beer. Enjoy a classic burger and malt at Big Bopper, a 1950s-style drive-in; fresh baked goods at Danish Mill Bakery; family-made salami on charcuterie plates in an outdoor beer garden setting at Copenhagen Sausage Garden; and rustic Italian cuisine, including handmade fresh pasta and Neopolitan-inspired, thin crust pizzas at Cecco Ristorante. Info: solvangusa.com —By Kamala Kirk

SOLVANG Located in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is a quaint themed town known as the “Danish Capital of America” that is home to numerous wineries, shops, restaurants, festivals and buildings that showcase the city’s Danish heritage. Hotel Corque is the city’s newest luxury boutique hotel, with 122 rooms, featuring elegant yet rustic décor that complements Solvang’s surrounding wine country. Located in the heart of Solvang, Mirabelle Inn is a European-style hotel ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

ARTS

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

Chandler Center prepares for ‘grand opening’ By Kevin Reagan

fter more than a year of barring patrons from visiting its theater, the Chandler Center for the Arts is preparing to welcome back audiences for live, inperson performances. Since March 2020, the pandemic has prohibited theatergoers from buying tickets to the center’s 1,500-seat auditorium. For the last year, audiences could only watch the center’s concerts online. Much of that virtual content has also been free — a perk that’s benefited the community but has done little to raise the center’s revenues. Starting July 23, the center will begin opening for large in-person events. “This is really our grand opening in many ways,” says Michelle Mac Lennan, the center’s general manager. An upcoming free summer concert series will allow up to 480 attendees to sit and watch the performance from inside the auditorium. The event will also be streamed live online. Mac Lennan says her staff intentionally reduced seating limits for the summer concerts to maintain distance between attendees and to gradually ease the public back into fullcapacity crowds. “It’s hard to go from zero to 1,500,” she says. “So, this is part of a strategy.” A Boz Scaggs concert on September 24 will be the center’s first ticketed event at full capacity. Most of the center’s following events for the rest of this year are expected to allow full audiences. The 2021-22 season includes an evening with Amy Grant, a puppet parody of “The Golden Girls,” a Bruce Springsteen musical tribute and a theatrical comedy about the life of Winston Churchill. Although the return to in-person events is a positive sign that the center is reverting to its pre-pandemic routines, there’s still uncertainty surrounding how the institution’s finances will hold up. In a normal year, the center would sell subscription packages to customers and generate enough revenue to carry the

theater through the season. But the touring industry has been reluctant to fully commit to booking acts, and some theaters haven’t been able to offer a complete season of events to their subscribers. It’s going to be tough season for the center, Mac Lennan says, because it must depend on single-ticket sales for its fall shows. The center is seeking grants to help cushion any shortfall, she adds, but competition will be high for any relief funds distributed by the federal government. Earlier this year, new legislation passed by Congress allotted $16 billion to a grant program for theaters and musical venues impacted by the pandemic. To qualify for the program’s first tier of grant allocations, a theater needs to have lost at least 90% of its gross revenue during the pandemic. Theaters with smaller revenue losses must wait two weeks or longer before applying for grant funding. Even though Chandler’s theater lost most of its revenue last year, Mac Lennan says it’s still not enough to satisfy the government’s initial eligibility requirements. “We lost 85% of our revenues last year,” she says. “It’s just devastating.” The center had been in a comfortable financial position before the pandemic, which, Mac Lennan says she believes, will help the organization endure the unstable months ahead. Regulars have remained loyal to the center by making generous donations and quickly purchasing tickets to upcoming events. “The sales look encouraging,” Mac Lennan says. “I think people are really excited about coming back.” Located in the heart of Downtown Chandler, the center has long been considered one of the city’s crown jewels. The theater was built about 30 years ago through a partnership between the city and the Chandler Unified School District. The facility was built large enough to be utilized both by students and adults. Programming is managed by a separate nonprofit entity led by Mac Lennan, but the city is still responsible

Big Pete Pearson

for keeping up with the facility’s maintenance and capital expenses. Mac Lennan says this unique partnership has proven to be beneficial to the center during the pandemic, because her nonprofit didn’t need to worry about operational costs. The center has earned a reputation for operating in the black and keeping its doors open. During the darkest days of the Great Recession, the center still found a way to weather through the economic downturn and continue offering programming. Mac Lennan says her staff learned of the center’s vulnerabilities during the pandemic and will begin to rethink its business model so it doesn’t rely solely on in-person programming. This year could be the beginning of a “hybrid” era for the performing arts, she says, that might include continued dependence on virtual platforms to deliver events to homebound patrons.

Sandra Basset Motown Review

There will always be a demand for live entertainment, Mac Lennan adds, but the method in how theaters deliver entertainment may begin to look different. “I don’t think anyone knows the longterm impact,” she says. “No one’s ever done this before.”

Let the show begin The celebratory concert series will begin July 23 and features bands of Motown, classic rock, jazz, blues and modern-day pop on the main stage at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250. N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler. Bands include Notes from Neptune (July 23), Kim Weston Jazz Quartet (August 6), Sandra Basset Motown Review (August 13), Big Pete Pearson (August 20) and Marmalade Skies (August 27). The Summer Concerts will have limited capacity, so the public is encouraged to RSVP at chandlercenter.org. All seats are free with general seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open one hour prior to showtime. Those who wish to watch the livestream can RSVP at the same website. Summer concerts will feature exclusive flash ticket sales for upcoming performances, and attendees can explore The Gallery at CCA to view “Take a Hike,” an exhibition inspired by Arizona’s parks, trails and public lands. Exhibition runs through August 14.

NO LAUGHING MATTER THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

ImprovMania expands with new space By Kevin Reagan

mprovMania, Chandler’s longrunning comedy theater, has found a new home after buying a building from the city. The building on the east side of Boston Street will soon be occupied by ImprovMania’s team of comedians as the space is transformed into a new entertainment venue between SoHo63 and Inchin’s Bamboo Garden. City council authorized a purchase agreement, selling the empty building to ImprovMania for an appraised value of $460,000. The city put out a request for interested parties in 2020 and received five proposals from various organizations. An evaluation committee vetted the applicants and made ImprovMania an offer to move into the space by the end of 2021. ImprovMania owners Dave and Colleen Specht say they have long wanted to find a permanent home for their theater, and the city’s proposal seemed like the perfect match for that goal. “We’ve always liked Downtown Chandler,” says Dave Specht. “We just

didn’t think it’d ever be possible to actually own anything down there.” The property was acquired by the city years ago as part of its plan to redevelop and revitalize Downtown. Starting in the early 2010s, the opening of a new city hall attracted new development, and the city saw vacancy rates starting to decline. ImprovMania’s relocation to a building within walking distance of restaurants could help the city fulfill its goal in turning Downtown into a regional entertainment destination. “One of the things Chandler wanted to do was get the public across the street,” Specht says about Arizona Avenue. “We’re basically expanding the footprint that visitors to Downtown

Chandler walk.” ImprovMania opened at its present location near Arizona Avenue and Frye Road in 2014, and gradually built up a loyal following of patrons. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Spechts and their squad of improvisers encourages laughing to unscripted vignettes. But the pandemic forced a slew of challenges. Once their theater was closed by a statewide shutdown order, the Spechts transitioned to comedy shows online and asked their local fanbase for donations. Money generated by those fundraisers helped ImprovMania make its lease payments on its current space throughout the pandemic.

The theater’s youth program also transitioned to a digital format and continued producing online shows for its dozens of young acting students. After seven months of closure, ImprovMania reopened last October for small-scale, in-person shows and cautiously began to return to normal operations. Specht says the Boston Street location could offer new opportunities by providing a space with a different layout and open floor plan. Specht says the new venue has a more inviting atmosphere that has space for serving drinks and food from a small menu. The new location also allows for spectators to wander in off the street and get a taste of what ImprovMania has to offer, he adds. “We’re going to have it a little more open during the evening and maybe the afternoon,” Specht says. The Spechts will spend the next few weeks planning a robust performance schedule that will make room for visiting acts to utilize ImprovMania’s new stage. The couple still intends to use their current space as a rehearsal space for their youth theater or to host improvisational classes. “We have plenty to keep both spaces busy and occupied,” Specht says.

ImprovMania improvmania.net

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ARTS

CALENDAR By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

‘Gilligan’s Island: The Musical’ TO JULY 11 The musical brings back all the well-known characters: Gilligan (Stephen Hohendorf), the Skipper (Dave Seaburg), Mr. Thurston Howell III (Darren Friedman) Mrs. “Lovey” Howell (Cynthia Elek), Ginger (Lynzee Foreman), The Professor (Tim Shawver) and Mary Ann (Liz Fallon). Arizona Broadway Theatre, The Encore Room, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, azbroadway.org, various times, $42.99 to $99.99

‘Daddy Long Legs’

TO JULY 18 A heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty young woman and her mysterious benefactor, this awardwinning off-Broadway hit musical offers gorgeous, soaring melodies. It follows Jerusha Abbott, who has grown up in an orphanage but is sent to college by a mysterious benefactor so she may learn to be a writer. The benefactor requires just one thing — that she write to him monthly, even though he will not respond. Her letters to him paint a moving portrait of the development of her mind and spirit, and she emerges as a fiercely independent, intelligent woman, who is destined to find love where she least expects it. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre.com, various times, tickets start at $44

Phoenix Frida Fest: Expressiones por Frida

JULY 2 Explore artwork inspired by Frida Kahlo’s life, live readings from her diaries, and listen to rare facts about her during Frida Fest. The gallery will be open to local First Friday visitors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mucho Más Art Studio, 1736A E. McDowell Road, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., free

Kids Camp

JULY 5 Future artists between the ages of 7 to 12 can create works of art throughout the week at Painting with a Twist this summer. Artists will paint a self-portrait and two paintings a day, tying the week up with an art show Friday evening. Painting with a Twist, 219 E. Baseline Road, Suite H3, Tempe, 602.758.7928, paintingwithatwist.com, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., $250 per person

Phoenix Poetry Slam

JULY 7 Watch live performances of slam poetry from community members. The poets will be judged by five random members from the audience. Lawn Gnome Publishing, 912 N. Fifth Street, Phoenix, lawngnomepublishing.com, 7 to 9 p.m., $7 to $12

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

JULY 16 TO AUGUST 8 The Arizona Broadway Theatre is bringing “Little Shop of

Horrors” to its stage. The campy, horror, comedy musical has been entertaining fans since it premiered off-Broadway in 1982. Now, the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman hit is coming to Peoria. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, azbroadway.org, various times, check website for pricing.

Scottsdale Staybridge Hotel/Talking Stick, 9141 E. Hummingbird Lane, Scottsdale, californiamakeupacademy. com, 2 to 4 p.m., $84

‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’

JULY 17 Join the Phoenix Art Museum and Pachanga Press’ virtual workshop series this summer. Make a twotoned print inspired by the qilin, a mythical creature with hooves, scales and a horn. All sessions will be presented in English and Spanish. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.1880, phxart.org, 2 p.m., $8

JULY 21 TO AUGUST 22 L.M. and Jim run a filling station down Highway 57 in Grand Ole Opry country. Across the way is a diner operated by Rhetta and Prudie. You wouldn’t guess it, but these diamonds in the rough can deliver a toe-tapping evening of countrywestern songs on guitar, piano, bass and even a kitchen utensil or two, including lively foot-stompers like “Farmer Tan” and “The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine!” The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre.com, various times, tickets start at $44

Feng Shui Makeup

‘Footloose’

Make it! With PHXART and Pachanga Press

JULY 17 Discover your element and what makeup colors will connect mind, body and spirit. Learn how to bring positive energy to each area of your life.

JULY 23 TO AUGUST 8 The musical, created in 1998, was based on the 1984 film in which a small, conservative community has banned dancing after four teens were killed in a drunken driving accident following a night of dancing. Ren, an outsider who transfers to the town’s high school after he and his mother have to move out of Chicago, starts to shake things up. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Suite 9, Phoenix, starlightcommunitytheater.com, various times, tickets start at $15

The Pancakes & Booze Art Show

JULY 24 Experience Phoenix’s Underground Pop-Up Art Show at The Duce. Eat free all-you-can-eat pancakes while listening to live audio performances from local artists and examining art. The Duce, 525 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, pancakesandbooze. com, 8 p.m., $15 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

DINING

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

‘IT’S LIKE A FAMILY’ Preserve Tavern boasts comfort food delights By Kristine Cannon

aking over the old Four Peaks Grill & Tap in North Scottsdale is family-friendly tavern, The Preserve Tavern & Grille. Opened by husband-wife team Nick and Shannon Broemer and inspired by the sights of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Broemers’ neighborhood pub offers patrons a variety of comfort food dishes and nearly daylong happy hours. “It’s all about the customers and their experience,” Nick says. “It’s like a family.” Described as serving “Americano cuisine with a Southwestern flare,” the Preserve’s menu is loaded with comfort food favorites, like deviled eggs, nachos, loaded fries, wings, pork ribs, mac ’n’ cheese, burgers and even meatloaf. “The meatloaf is to die for,” Nick says. “And the wings, people said they’re probably top three in the Valley.” Shannon attributes the wings’ popularity to how they’re cooked. “The meats are all smoked,” she explains. “It’s such a distinctly different flavor.” Other popular items include the Preserve Burger, which is topped with bacon and porter cheddar cheese between a toasted brioche bun, and the Preserve Poblano Rings, a heap of beerbattered poblano rings drizzled with chipotle basil honey and served with an apricot garlic aioli. As for the meatloaf, that’s wrapped in bacon and served with seasonal vegetables. “I’m telling you, it’s the best,” Nick raves. The Preserve has been in the works since last summer. The Broemers originally had their sights set on a location farther north, closer to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. But when the Four Peaks space opened, they were quick to snag it to take advantage of the high-traffic area.

Now, the more than 6,800-squarefoot space caters to sports fans, families looking for a place to grab a bite after soccer matches, and people wanting to sip on an ice-cold beer as they listen to live country music on the weekends. “Mark Florentine books all of our artists,” Nick says of the local guitaristvocalist, who plays everything from classic rock to country and grunge. “Every Friday and Saturday has different local artists.” Other events include open mic Wednesdays, trivia night Thursdays, and dedicated UFC fight nights. Food specials include $1.50 tacos on Tuesdays and all-you-can-eat fish and chips for $12.50 every Friday. The restaurant also serves brunch on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and every meal includes a free mimosa or bloody mary. The Preserve’s cocktail menu includes classics, too, including Old-Fashioned cocktails, Manhattans, margaritas, martinis and more. As for beers, there is a wide variety, with 20 beers on draft. Every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., wine drinkers can stop by The Preserve for half-off bottled house wines. Other specials include hourslong happy hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. Their more than 800-square-foot covered patio is dog friendly. “They (customers) just love the atmosphere. You can literally feel the positivity in the building while we’re working. We just try to make it exciting,” Nick says. The Preserve is now open and offers a 15% discount to military and first responders.

The Preserve Tavern and Grille 15745 N. Hayden Road 480.590.4942 thepreservegrille.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

A HIDDEN GEM

Step back in time at The Spicery in Our 1895 Home By Claire Spinner

he Spicery in Our 1895 Home in Glendale is a hidden gem. Set inside a residential home in the Catlin Court Historic District, The Spicery is a step back in time. “It’s like going to your grandma’s house, if your grandma was a good cook, of course,” says owner Matt Borowski. The quaint restaurant’s charm stems from its authenticity. The afternoon lunch and tea restaurant in one of Glendale’s oldest buildings has allowed patrons to relive their childhood since the 1980s. The retrofitted home, purchased in 1986 by Martha Campbell, was opened as The Spicery in Our 1895 Home in 1987. After being resold in 2002, Campbell missed running The Spicery and repurchased the restaurant in 2010. She ran the restaurant for two years until, after turning 82, she retired. She sold it to the current owner, family friend Borowski, in 2012. “It took a little pushing, but I came around to the idea, and I honestly was looking for something new,” Borowski says. While Campbell is no longer around to see the restaurant, The Spicery continues to operate with her traditions. Primarily a lunch eatery, The Spicery offers a three-course tea. The staff bakes bread every day from scratch and creates classic dishes with a twist. “The traditions are all still there,” Borowski says. “The decorations, the food, everything — it’s all Martha. I just keep the place open, honestly.” The Spicery has several themed rooms: the children’s tearoom, the garden room, the blue room and the rose room, to name a few. Each room is intricately decorated. From the ceramic animal sculptures and the wall art to the printed tablecloths, the decor is reminiscent of a

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different time. “I think the most unique thing about The Spicery is that it really is like stepping back in time,” Borowski says. “It’s relaxing, it’s comfort food and it’s full of tradition. It really does feel like going to your grandma’s house.” The tea menu includes a three-course tea with pastries, sandwiches and desserts, as well as options from the restaurant’s lunch menu. There is also the choice of a children’s three-course tea, which includes ice cream, sandwiches and cupcakes. The lunch menu includes a daily special like roast beef with mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. Borowski jokes that the restaurant “does it for the men, because they like to eat.” The lunch menu has traditional and home-cooked-inspired salads, sandwiches and soups, as well as a dessert menu. All of the menu items at The Spicery are ornately presented to induce

nostalgia and elegance. The restaurant is designed to draw diners into an interactive experience. “It’s not necessarily high-end dining, but everything is presented in really traditional ways, especially with the

teas,” Borowski says. “It’s just fun and relaxing. People love to dress up and take pictures of all the desserts and little sandwiches. It becomes a whole fun event. It’s very Instagrammable.” The pandemic took its toll on The Spicery, as customers couldn’t experience the restaurant in person. “Our clientele isn’t really the takeout crowd,” he says. “They are ladies and gentlemen who lunch. They want to visit and have that in-person atmosphere.” In response, they switched to a farmers market-style system during lockdown. Every two weeks, The Spicery released a menu with shareable-sized dishes. “We would premake all sorts of things,” Borowski says. “And everything was in these large quantities that were really perfect for small gatherings. We’d sell packs of a dozen cinnamon rolls, a pound of chicken or tuna salad, pretty much what’s on our menu but made to be taken home.”

Borowski says it is refreshing to see customers return to The Spicery after a challenging year. He says business is finally returning to normal, and he expects a successful summer season. “It’s been a slow process, but we’re starting to get back to normal,” Borowski says. “You can’t necessarily expect people to jump right back into socializing immediately, especially when you’re talking about dining out. But I’m starting to see familiar faces again, as well as new ones, and I think things are evening themselves out.” The 45-year-old restaurant has become a family tradition. Many of its patrons who visited the restaurant as children are returning with their children and grandchildren. Borowski says this family environment is what sets The Spicery apart. With friendly service and a team that knows each other like family, The Spicery feels like being at home. “I really say it’s one-third the food, one-third the atmosphere and one-third the service that really makes it feel like being at a home away from home. I think that’s what makes it really special, just that feeling of family.”

The Spicery 7141 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale 623.937.6534, 1895spicery.com 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays for tea and lunch 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays for breakfast

TEA FOR TWO

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

Arizona is a hot spot for afternoon sipping By Taylor O’Connor

ipping tea and eating finger sandwiches while donning pristine outfits wasn’t done just for looks. Although that may enhance someone’s experience, it was done to fill the day until a late dinner. Great Britain is the queen of high tea, but it grew into a worldwide phenomenon. We may not be in the United Kingdom, but Arizonans can still appreciate teatime in all its classy glory. Hold up your pinkies — or maybe not — and sip tea inside this summer with friends in these five other Arizona tea houses.

THE PHOENICIAN The Scottsdale luxury resort hosts afternoon tea from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. The Phoenician afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, pastries and a selection of fine tea blends. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian options are available with 24 hours’ notice. To enhance the atmosphere, pianist Alan Comyns performs contemporary music during afternoon tea. Be sure to make reservations. Full tea is $65, and Royal Tea, which includes sparkling wine, is $85. The Grand Royal Tea, which includes Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, is $100, and children ages 4 to 12 years old are served for $35. The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 480.941.8200, thephoenician.com

English Rose Tea Room

ENGLISH ROSE TEA ROOM Anglophiles will love The English Rose Tea Room in Carefree. The walls are covered in English memorabilia; Kate and Wills, and Meghan and Harry goodies; and a life-size Queen Elizabeth II that’s perfect for Instagram. Those who feel like they don’t have the class for tea can brush up on etiquette with owner/England native Jo Gemmill. Since 2002, the tearoom has offered 50 teas along with scones, crumpets, cottage pie and Ploughman’s lunch to suit any palate. The romantic interior and shady patio makes this a gem within the desert. Be sure to bring your best hat — or borrow one from the dress-up trunk filled with

vintage chapeaux and thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of taking time for tea. Prices are $32 for formal afternoon tea, $12 for nursery tea, $14 for cream tea, and $16 for just desserts. English Rose Tea Room 201 Easy Street, Suite 103, Carefree 480.488.4812, carefreetea.com

TEATIME SCOTTSDALE This Old Town Scottsdale spot honors tea traditions but with a fresh, modern twist. TeaTime strives to turn tea into a lifestyle by creating a culture that appreciates the science and art of tea. Along with afternoon tea options, TeaTime offers classes, private events and more than 100 teas from around the world or in-house blends. Customers can order their own tea boxes to take home. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats. Individual tea prices vary, but full tea services are $50, or $45 with a party of more than three people. TeaTime Scottsdale 7051 E. Fifth Avenue, Suite C, Scottsdale 480.686.8503, teatimeaz.com

DRINK ME! TEA ROOM

TeaTime Scottsdale

This whimsical, “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired tearoom offers a variety of tea blends in potion bottles with names like the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit. The menu has savory sandwiches and scones — plus all the sweets imaginable — while sipping organic tea. All teas are

plant based and gluten free. Special-Tea Cocktails are for guests who need a little zip in their tea. Drink Me! Hosts private events. To schedule, email contactus@ drinkmetearoom.com. The full afternoon tea, which includes savories, scones, sweets and a pot of tea, is $49.50. There are seasonal, petite and children’s options. The Literary(seasonal) is $33, and Petite Tea is $17. The Children’s Tea includes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, shortbread cookies, meringue mushrooms, fresh fruit, and an herbal tea or lemonade. Drink Me! Tea Room 1730 E. Warner Road, Suite 5, Tempe 602.206.5469, drinkmetearoom.com

CROWNING GLORY TEA ROOM For $51, guests can enjoy Crowning Glory’s full afternoon tea service with savories, salad, scones and sweets served on three tiers of fine china on Saturdays for dining in. Relax and have unlimited cups of tea from the extensive collection of more than 20 loose-leaf teas. The high tea to-go option, available every Saturday in August, comes with an array of heavenly handmade savories; home-baked breads and spreads; and a glorious selection of sweet dainties. There is an online tea shop where customers can pick out their favorite Morning Glory Teas to brew at home. Crowning Glory Tea Room 16733 E. Palisades Boulevard, Fountain Hills 480.868.4832, crowningglorytearoom.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

DINING

CALENDAR By Annika Tomlin

Passport Series

JULY 10 FOUND:RE hosts a monthly Passport Series showcasing cuisines and cocktail specials from around the world. For the month of July, FOUND:RE will bring Jamaica to Phoenix. FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel, 1100 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, eventbrite.com, 6 to 10 p.m., $15

Meet Me in Mexico

JULY 10 Sanctuary’s Lunch & Learn series returns with a twist. Chef Beau MacMillan hosts the summer dining series featuring chef de cuisine Samantha Sanz and bar chef Christiaan Röllich. Events include live music, a demonstration from the hosting talent, and other surprises along the way. Meet Me in Mexico features a threecourse menu of Mexican cuisine paired with tequila cocktails. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, The Views Ballroom, 5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, 855.421.3522, sanctuaryoncamelback.com, reception starts at 6 p.m., $165 (plus tax and gratuity)

Singles Event at Classic Cooking JULY 16 Come grab a drink and then learn to prepare small appetizers/hors d’oeuvres while mixing and mingling with fellow singles. This casual cooking class includes sauteed shrimp with garlic and Spanish

paprika, meatballs in chipotle tomato sauce, potato and onion omelet, warm stuffed tomatoes with serrano ham and manchego cheese and chorizo puffs. Attendees must be 21 to consume alcohol. Classic Cooking Academy, 10411 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Scottsdale, 480.502.0177, ccacademy. edu, 6:30 to 9 p.m., $50

National Ice Cream Day at The Screamery

JULY 18 The Screamery will celebrate National Ice Cream Day by offering $2 kid-size cones and $5 ice cream sundaes. The 24 flavors include two nondairy options and two types of chocolate. Try classics like vanilla or strawberry, or venture out with the Mississippi mudpie with an organic coffee base, fudge swirl and chocolate cookies. Bring the family and dig into the Farmhouse sundae featuring eight scoops of ice cream on top of a warm cookie, brownie and butter cake with unlimited toppings. The Screamery, 10625 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 136, Phoenix, 140 N. Arizona Avenue, Suite 106, Chandler, thescreamery.com

Fiesta Americana: Dinner en Blanco

JULY 23 A white-hot dining experience embraces the American dream with a fun twist on traditional Mexican cuisine. Guests, who wear all-white attire, will experience six tapas with six delicious cocktail pairings, live entertainment and a take-home margarita glass.

Farmhouse sundae - The Screamery

The Herb Box, 7000 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, eventbrite. com, 7 to 9 p.m., $185

The Phoenix Pancakes & Booze Art Show

JULY 24 Originated in Los Angeles in 2009, the Pancake & Booze Art Show will showcase more than 75 local artists exhibiting over 300 pieces of artwork. Attendees will dine on all-you-can-eat pancakes. Batter sizzles, beer foams and canvas lines the walls from ceiling to floor as hundreds of revelers indulge in endless pancakes. This is an 18 and older event. The Duce, 525 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, pancakesandbooze.com, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., $10 preorder tickets or $15 tickets at the door

Five-Course Wine Dinner with Classic Cooking

JULY 31 This class is one of few that does not incorporate hands-on cooking. Instead, after diners are seated, they meet the chef(s) and sommelier and continue on to a five-course tasting menu with paired wine. The chef will discuss each course, while the sommelier will share the wine’s taste, variety, background and vintage. The menu includes salmon rillettes, fennel and fish soup, chicken savoyarde, lamb chop with ratatouille finishing with vanilla bean creme brulee. Classic Cooking Academy, 10411 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road, Scottsdale, 480.502.0177, ccacademy. edu, 5 to 7:30 p.m., $60

Fire in the French Quarter

Jamaica Waters

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

SATURDAY JULY 31 Enjoy New Orleans- and French Quarter-influenced dishes and craft cocktails with chef Beau MacMillan, chef de cuisine Samantha Sanz and bar chef Christiaan Röllich. The events feature live music, a demonstration from the hosting talent and other surprises along the way. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, The View Ballroom, 5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, 855.421.3522, sanctuaryoncamelback.com, reception starts at 6 p.m., $165 (plus tax and gratuity)

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

BEER AND WINE

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

GREAT BEER PAIRINGS

THE MONTAUK BEER

By Alison Bailin Batz

BEER: SCOTTSDALE BLONDE BREWERY: HUSS BREWING CO. STYLE: GERMAN-STYLE KÖLSCH Similar to a lager in flavor profile, this iconic Arizona brew is light and crisp, making it perfect for even the hottest of summer days — or nights. The slightly sweet finish at the end makes it a perfect pairing with all types of shellfish as well.

“Is the Hamptons on your bucket list, but seems just a touch too far to travel to this year? Let us transport you and your taste buds to the Hamptons without leaving the Valley seven days a week, thanks to our East Coast-meets-West Coast ambiance and menu, blending American classics with local favorites as well as homages to seaside favorites. A bonus: We can pair your dishes with the best in Arizona beers.”

DISH

NAME OF DISH: WARM LOBSTER ROLL COST OF DISH: $21 Did someone say lobster? A menu staple, Montauk’s warm lobster roll features a hearty amount of fresh lobster on a sweet roll with a delicious brown butter aioli spread. The savory sandwich is complemented with chopped celery, romaine lettuce and a sprinkle of chive potato chip dust. It pairs perfectly with Montauk’s housemade fries and a refreshing ice-cold beer, especially the Scottsdale Blonde from Huss Brewing. That little sweet finish in the beer will ramp up the same notes in the bun, but also combines with the copious chunks of lobster to give an even richer mouthfeel and even a faint hint of vanilla in every bite.

- Caitlin Jocque, owner of Jocque Concepts

The Montauk 4360 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480.994.1888, themontaukaz.com

A TABLE FOR TWO? Phind it

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MAD MIXOLOGIST R 26

By Alison Bailin Batz

ussell Greene is a mixologist and the bar supervisor at Bar 1896, a cutting-edge cocktail spot just outside of Phoenix at Castle Hot

Springs. The lounge is known for its porthole infusers, torches and partnerships with local farms to source ingredients for syrups and garnishes. We recently sat down with Greene to learn a little more about his journey as well as his adventures behind the bar.

FIRST, WHY 1896? Well, 1896 was the birth year of our resort, and it reminds us to stick to our roots. A simple, more rugged time, that feel and philosophy are reflected in our bar program. From our hardware, cocktails and glassware — even our outfits — we almost look like we were plucked out of the late 1800s. Everyone loves the romance of the Wild West.

TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BAR. I was born to a military family at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, and I grew up experiencing rich culture and culinary across the globe. Following an introduction to cooking in a small bistro setting, I developed an appreciation for using fresh, high-quality ingredients across the culinary and beverage programs. When I got into the industry in earnest, I spent

my time building a reputation for thoughtful and unconventional cocktails that use fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. I joined Castle Hot Springs in 2019 to lead the cocktail program, but I am also an expert tobacconist, so I developed the robust cigar program at Castle Hot Springs as well.

WHAT IS THE COCKTAIL PROGRAM’S MAIN FOCUS? Our bar program revolves around classic cocktails driven by farm fresh ingredients, even down to our club soda, which is sourced from our spring. For us, attention to detail is crucial and expected. Fresh citrus, house purees and tinctures are the norm. We also make our more modern equipment collide with old techniques to help us reduce our

SONORAN TEA 2 ounces 100-proof Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce simple syrup 3 sprigs of black mint 5 raspberries Combine solid ingredients in shaker, muddle and then add remaining ingredients. Shake with ice 30 times and pour over fresh ice in large Collins glass and top with black iced tea. Garnish with a few sprigs of mint, a few blueberries, and either a dehydrated lemon wheel or a lemon peel.

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waste footprint and deliver a fresh and quality product. Our team is dedicated to helping our guests experience the resort to its fullest. Creating a great cocktail is one thing, but running an entertaining bar is what really makes it shine. We have a good time and love sharing our passion with the guests. Beyond our cocktail and wine program, I should note that we take great pride in our vast wine selection and our exclusive Castle Hot Springs Lithium Lager, which is brewed with fresh spring water.

ODDEST INGREDIENT YOU’VE EVER USED IN A COCKTAIL? I’ve used cactus paddles, but because this is Arizona, maybe that isn’t so odd. I’ve also used furikake, which is a Japanese seasoning typically made with toasted sesame seeds, nori, salt, sugar and I’ve used actual fish flakes, too.

FAVORITE MEMORY WORKING BEHIND A BAR? Climbing a ladder in a whiskey library to retrieve a cocktail championship belt I had just won. “Rocky” theme music was playing, and everyone was cheering. It was surreal.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR SOMEONE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY? Don’t burn bridges. Hospitality is a small and volatile industry, so the more friends you have the better. Do your best to appreciate your products and always remember that, ultimately, it is about the guest.

WHAT DOES ORDERING A JACK AND COKE SAY ABOUT A PERSON? Being a person who likes a whiskey and Coke, I can give some insight. It’s easy, familiar, refreshing and tastes great. Every bar has it. It will never fail you. It says I’m comfortable with what I’m drinking and I’m ready to relax. Everyone should revisit a whiskey and Coke every now and then to bring them back home.

FAVORITE DRINK WHEN NOT WORKING? Honestly, I drink primarily bourbon and beer. You are most likely to see me enjoying Wild Turkey 101 or a local IPA on any given day.

WHAT DRINK DO YOU WANT US TO FEATURE? Sonoran tea, $16.

WHY DO YOU LIKE THIS COCKTAIL? I first made this cocktail at a family party, and it was a hit. It’s big and refreshing, with mellow berry, cool mint and citrus perfectly balanced.

Bar 1896 5050 N. Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown 844.348.1601, castlehotsprings.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

BEER AND WINE

CALENDAR By Claire Spinner

Lights on the Lawn

JULY 2 TO JULY 4 Experience live music, hot food, cold booze and beautiful fireworks at Flagstaff’s Lights on the Lawn festival. Admission is free. The weekendlong festival in the pines features cash bars. After all, nothing goes better with freedom than a great beverage. Continental Country Club/ Oakmont, 2380 N. Oakmont Drive, Flagstaff, 928.526.5125, lightsonthelawn.com, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday, free admission

Red, White and Booze Crawl

JULY 3 Celebrate our country’s birthday with the ultimate American tradition — the bar crawl. For $20, participants can explore historic Old Town Scottsdale with three penny drink vouchers and specials at dozens of bars and restaurants. Locations throughout Scottsdale, scottsdalebarcrawls. com, noon to 6 p.m., $20

“Rainbow Mist” at Pinot’s Palette

JULY 9 Pinot’s Palette offers painting with a twist. The Rainbow Mist painting event allows guests to unwind and exhale creativity. Pair that with a variety of beers, wines and cocktails. For $37, anyone can experience the magic of painting their own rainbow. Pinot’s Palette, 2743 S.

Market Street, Gilbert, 480.750.9463, pinotspalette. com, 7 to 9 p.m., $37

Crushed: Sip and Learn Winemaker Series

JULY 10, JULY 17, JULY 24, JULY 31 On select Saturdays in July, wine lovers can taste wine and learn about it as well. LDV Winery Tasting Room will host four themed wine-tasting and education sessions with winemaker Curt Dunham. For less than $50, guests can taste wine, enjoy free snacks and have fun immersing themselves in wine culture. LDV Winery Tasting Room, 7134 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, 480.664.4822, ldvwinery. com, 11 a.m. to noon, $45

Slager Fest 2.0

JULY 16 TO JULY 18 Slager Fest is returning to The Sleepy Whale in Chandler. After a successful debut year in 2019, the event created a new tradition for brew lovers. Featuring signature lagers from more than a dozen local breweries and distilleries, Slager Fest is the one-stop shop for anyone looking to celebrate craft beverages created right here in Arizona. The Sleepy Whale, 290 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.758.4979, 11 a.m. to midnight, free admission

Park After Dark

SATURDAYS STARTING JULY 17 Explore local food and beverages while listening to live performances and participating in fun outdoor

“Rainbow Mist”

activities at Tempe’s Park After Dark. On Saturdays, the music and activities will hit Sixth Street Park. Pedal Haus Brewery will offer locally crafted beers and wines from the on-site beer and wine garden. Sixth Street Park, 24 E. Sixth Street, Tempe, downtowntempe. com, 7 to 10 p.m. free.

Free Concert Series: Notes from Neptune

JULY 23 Chandler Center for the Arts is celebrating its 24th annual summer concert series and, after a year without live music,

it couldn’t come at a better time. Without paying a dime, patrons can experience the eclectic sounds of Notes from Neptune, which can only be described as a genre-crossing musical experience. Nothing pairs better with live music than beer and wine, and there is plenty to go around at these summer concerts. Participants can enjoy classic beverages or try specials designed just for the show. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m., free admission

The Phoenix Pancakes & Booze Art Show

JULY 24 This pop-up, underground art show is the perfect place for booze lovers to take part in what is quickly becoming a national trend. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Participants get to experience work by more than 75 local artists, a live DJ, all-youcan-eat pancakes and, of course, lots of beverages to keep the night entertaining. Experience something entirely new and participate in a trendy art movement at the Pancakes & Booze Art Show. The Duce, 525 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, pancakesandbooze.com, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., $10 pre-order tickets or $15 tickets at the door ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

CASINOS

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

BROTHERS IN ARMS Damage Inc. recalls Metallica’s first four albums

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

hris Knight remembers the first time he heard the acoustic intro to Metallica’s “Fade to Black” in his teens. After that, nothing else mattered. Knight performs the James Hetfield’s vocals/rhythm guitar parts in the Orange County Metallica tribute band Damage Inc. The band plays at WeKo-Pa Casino Resort’s WKP Sports & Entertainment bar on Saturday, July 31. Damage Inc. also features bassist/ backup vocalist Kevin Knight, lead guitarist Chris Brightwell and Tone DeCorte on drums. “We pretty much play the whole catalog,” Knight says. “We know the first four albums front to back, with a

smattering of the newer stuff.” The look of performances mirrors the Jason Newsted era. “I never saw Cliff live,” Knight says about the bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a tour bus crash in 1986. “I grew up on the Jason Newsted era. It was sad to see him go when the whole thing went down.” He is, however, impressed with the current bassist Rob Trujillo. “Rob is a cool, kicked-back, laidback kind of guy,” Knight says. “He’s the polar opposite (of Newsted) on stage. Rob looks like he’s going to catch a wave surfing.” Named after a Metallica song, Damage Inc. is learning the band’s self-titled collection (also known as “The Black Album”) for its 30th anniversary. “What we’ve done in the past, if there’s

an anniversary, we play it front to back at a special engagement,” Knight says. “Our goal for later this year is to play ‘The Black Album’ in its entirety.” Knight never aspired to play in a band like Damage Inc., which was formed in September 2004. It came about organically. “My brother, who’s my junior of about four years, joined the Marines in 1994 or 1995,” Knight says. “While he was in the Marines, he saw a promotional video for the Marines that had ‘Hells Bells’ by AC/DC. “He created a cover band in the Marines with other Marines. When he came to Camp Pendleton, he asked me to join the cover band. We eventually gravitated to the Metallica songs in 2004. That was my strong suit. Being in a cover band, paying tribute to one band, it’s surreal doing it every weekend. None of us have delusions of grandeur. We’re ‘mock stars,’ if you will.” Knight caught on to Metallica after 1988’s “…And Justice for All.” He, along

with his best friend, Jeff Clark, picked up the guitar at age 18. Their sisters received guitars as Christmas gifts. Clark’s lefthanded sister was gifted a right-handed guitar. Knight’s sister told him her guitar hurt her fingers and gave it up. Although Knight has played guitar for 32 years, he finds Hetfield’s parts challenging. “I taught myself to play guitar,” Knight says. “I never took a lesson, which you can probably tell in my playing. I emulated him as I was learning. I learned some other stuff, too. Modeling my guitar after James was something that came natural to me.”

Damage Inc. WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday, July 31 WHERE: We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, 10438 WeKoPa Way, Fort McDowell COST: $20 to $35 INFO: 480.789.4957, wekopacasinoresort.com

SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

Cole Swindell expects a good time at Ak-Chin Casino By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ountry singer Cole Swindell is excited to see concert dates on his schedule — especially Arizona, where he performs and golfs. “I’ve always loved playing out there,” Swindell says. “I come out for a show and sneak in some golf. Music and sports are things I really enjoy.” A Georgia native who’s lived in Nashville for 13 years, Swindell is a fan of the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Southern, which he attended. As for golf, he’s the brand ambassador for Diamond Resorts International and played in the recent LPGA Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Sports helped Swindell get through the pandemic, just like new music. He appears on newbie Shy Carter’s new song “Beer with My Friends.” The Grammynominated artist saw his track “Single Saturday Night” take off. “We released it last summer, and it’s finally trying to catch on,” Swindell says. “I couldn’t be more excited about it. It’s been weird not being able to play our latest single for the crowd.” “Single Saturday Night” went to No. 7 on the all-genre iTunes chart during its first week of release, even without country radio airplay. Written by Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy and Mark Holman, “Single Saturday Night” was added to country radio on June 29. He’ll have a chance to play the song

soon when he hits the Harrah’s AkChin Casino stage in Maricopa at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 31. Afterward, he jumps on Thomas Rhett’s tour. In between rehearsals and the COVID-19 pandemic, Swindell has been working on his fourth album. Swindell may play some of the new songs on these tours. “When I’m making an album, for me, the best song wins,” says Swindell, who partnered with Sugarlands Distilling Company for two flavors of moonshine, pre-show punch and peppermint moonshine. “I have a variety of everything. “The more I get to make music, the more I try to grow as an artist. I have songs like ‘Single Saturday Night.’ I have several that break your heart. I love the fun stuff, but I’ve lived through the other stuff as well.” Those songs served him well, both professionally and personally. Growing up, the music of Alan Jackson, George Strait, Reba McIntyre and Brooks and Dunn helped him through victories and defeats. “The radio and the artists I grew up listening to were always there to be,” he says. “To be on the other side — write songs to help people have a good time or through a bad time — is amazing.”

Cole Swindell WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 31 WHERE: Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa COST: $54.50 INFO: 480.802.5000, caesars. com/harrahs-ak-chin/shows

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SPORTS

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

SHOOTING FOR THE TOP

The Valley’s RUF MMA weighs in By Grant Greabell

UF MMA, the country’s only Native Americanowned fight promotion, is getting its due. It recently inked a deal with ONE Championship fight promotion, which is considered the “UFC of Asia.” ONE Championship’s vice president is Rich Franklin, an American retired mixed martial artist who competed in UFC. The partnership is a win-win. ONE Championship is looking to get its foot in the door of the U.S. market, and RUF MMA is helping with that. Concurrently, partnering with a promotion as big as ONE Championship only points to positive signs ahead for RUF MMA. “Our focus has been on creating a quality product,” says RUF MMA matchmaker Jason Martinez. “We pride ourselves on our relationships with our fighters, gyms, coaches and our community. That work ethic of ours translated into us getting the exposure that got us the attention from ONE Fight Championship.” Founded by Joel Lopez, a Tohono O’odham Native American, and his cousin, Adrian Romo, as a boxing promotion, RUF MMA slowly transitioned to MMA from 2007 to 2010. “RUF MMA is a 100% tribally owned fight promotion out of Phoenix,” Martinez says. “The deep relationship with local gyms, local fighters, UFC fighters, stars, media, city-state tribal councils and leaders is really instrumental in our quest to grow the promotion outside of Arizona and potentially global.” While other promotions were forced to shutter or are just getting their feet back, RUF MMA did its work early and has held three events this year. “Even though we weren’t doing events at the time, we were planning on events the entire time,” Martinez says. “We were working on having fights as soon as we got the green light. We were ready to grow into a bigger venue and then the pandemic kind of put everything on pause. So now, we are ready to make that leap into the Celebrity Theatre and get that place filled up.” RUF MMA has been growing for the

past decade in Phoenix. That doesn’t mean it sits complacent. It’s ready to take on new challenges whenever it gets the call to do so. “We have entertained interest to go out of state, but for whatever reason it hasn’t materialized yet,” Martinez says. Historically, RUF MMA was a casinoonly promotion thanks to its strong ties with the tribal councils and casinos here. They have come a long way since then and only continue to grow. The brand is growing, but the staff only has four people running the show — Martinez, Joel Lopez, Adrian Romo and Cj Pitman. “There are four of us on the administrative team,” Martinez says. “If you were to come to one of our live events, you would not even believe that it was run by four guys who just hang out with each other all the time.” That’s not to say they do it alone, though. Without fighters, coaches and trainers, there would be no show. RUF MMA shows have a sense of unity, or even family. There’s a good reason for that. “When we do events, our wives, our kids, our cousins, our nephews — that’s our staff. The family atmosphere that we have in this promotion is bar none,” Martinez says. RUF MMA has helped elevate fighters to the UFC or Bellator over the years because of its quality shows. While it’s happy to do so, it wants to be on a larger stage as well. “We are really at a point where we could blow up and become a major competitor,” Martinez says. “It would be really awesome, and I feel like we are just right on that doorstep. We are already in direct competition at some level with promotions like the UFC and Bellator because we have, over the last few months, been in contract debates over very specific fighters.” During the next few years, RUF MMA hopes it can continue its upward trajectory as an MMA promotion. “We are ready to host events in other states. It’s about finding a venue and a commission to support it and then we’re good to go,” Martinez says.

Ridge Harmon

Talon Glasser

Ivey Nixon

RUF MMA rufmma.net Celebrity Theatre celebritytheatre.com

Dionee Marrero

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

SPORTS

CALENDAR By Joe McHugh

602.379.2000, mercury. wnba.com, 6 p.m., ticket information is TBA

Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants

JULY 3 TO JULY 4 Fireworks, baseball and a giveaway are great ways to have fun with family and friends and celebrate Independence Day. Stop by Chase Field to watch the Diamondbacks battle it out with the division rival Giants. Ticket holders will be treated with a spectacular firework show and a clear tote bag, courtesy of MLB Network. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.514.8400, mlb.com/dbacks, 7:10 p.m. July 3, 6:10 p.m. July 4, tickets start at $29

Derby Down the Deuce

JULY 10 Come out and see the 10th annual Derby Down the Deuce. This downhill soapbox-style car race is sure to get spectators off their seats and cheering for these racers. Marvel at the creativity and skill that these racers possess for an action-packed day. Downtown Show Low, on the corner of North White Mountain Road and Deuce of Clubs Avenue, no charge

Concacaf Gold Cup Quarter Finals

Phoenix Rising FC vs. LA Galaxy II

Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm

JULY 17 The Phoenix Rising FC will attempt to beat the LA Galaxy II in this USL top-contender match. See exciting players like Santi Moar, Benjamin Lundt and Solomon Asante as they try to maintain the top spot in the league. 19593 S. 48th Street, Chandler, 623.594.9606, phxrisingfc.com, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $20.63

JULY 9 The Phoenix Mercury will take on the defending champion Seattle Storm. With one of the top backcourts in the league in Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith, as well as top center Brittney Griner, this will be a good matchup. Phoenix Suns Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix,

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JULY 24 The Gold Cup will host national teams from around the world right here in Arizona. Teams like the United States, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica compete for a spot in this quarter final round. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 623.433.7101, statefarmstadium.com, 7:30 p.m. Match 1, 11 p.m. Match 2, tickets start at $35

Arizona Cardinals Training Camp

JULY 27 The Cardinals will kick off their training camp in preparation for the 2021-22 season. Come and see stars like Kyler Murray, Deandre Hopkins, Budda Baker and newly acquired J.J. Watt to see what could be in store for this exciting team. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 602.379.0101, azcardinals.com, no charge

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ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

FAMILY

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

DIVE INTO SUMMER FUN

Camp fills summer with swimming, other activities By Lila Baltman

hildren can unplug and learn how to swim at Hubbard Family Swim School’s summer six-pack sessions. The six 30-minute swim lessons feature the same instructor throughout the two-week session. “Parents will love our summer sixpack sessions because packing six swim lessons into two weeks really jump-starts skill improvement, which is perfect for both beginner swimmers and skilled swimmers,” says Ann Marie Sunderhaus, chief executive officer of the Hubbard Family Swim Schools and Camp Hubbard. “Our summer blitz lessons are always a lot of fun. “We are also extremely excited to be back for our 23rd consecutive year of summer camp. Kids, now more than ever, need all the social and physical benefits that Camp Hubbard has to

offer.” Designed for ages 4 1/2 to 14, the classes allow children to make new friends while learning new indoor and outdoor sports, games and activities such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, archery, swimming and water games. This summer, all campers will be required to wear a face mask to camp, and face masks must be worn during all low-intensity activities. Children will remain in small groups with no more than 10 campers per staff member. Camp Hubbard operates through August 6 at three locations — St. Bernadette Parish in Scottsdale, Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, and Griffith Elementary in Phoenix. Camp dates vary by location. There are half-day and full-day options available. Half-day is from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., and the full day is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is also “Pizza Friday,” with pizza served for lunch every Friday for all

FAMILY

CALENDAR By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

‘Supercamp’ on Weekdays

JULY The Arizona Sunrays will offer its “Supercamp” for ages 4 to 13 until August 9. Children will learn gymnastics, dance, NinjaZone, trampoline, activities and water games. Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics Centers, 15801 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, and 3923 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.992.5790, arizonasunrays. com, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., $89 per day, $336 for a full week

Park After Dark

JULY TO SEPTEMBER

Enjoy Park After Dark with an on-site beer and wine garden. Courtesy of Pedal Haus Brewery, live entertainment, music and activities for the entire family will be at Sixth Street Park in Tempe. Sixth Street Park, 24 E. Sixth Street, Tempe, downtowntempe. com, 7 to 10 p.m., free admission

Hometown Fourth at Schnepf Farms

JULY 4 Drive down to Schnepf Farms this Fourth of July for a familyfilled celebration with live music, a foam pit, face painting and food trucks. Upgrade a ticket to the All-American VIP ticket to access the air-conditioned Big Red Barn

full-day campers. There are four Hubbard Family Swim School locations around the Valley — in Phoenix, Peoria, Mesa and Goodyear. Hubbard offers swim lessons to children ages 2 to 12. There are free “Baby Splash” swim classes for babies 8 weeks to 5 months of age. Parent participation in the water is required. There is a

one-time, $30 joining fee for the Baby Splash classes. Hubbard also specializes in offering swim lessons to children with special needs.

with a catered dinner, private bar and access to front-row seating during the firework display. Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, 480.987.3100, schnepffarms. com, 4 to 10 p.m., $25 per car

pet rock and even mime and move like various pets. Each unique camp week also includes plenty of free play within all three floors of the museum’s imaginative exhibits. Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 602.253.0501, scitechinstitute. org, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $200 to $280

Kids Camp

PAWsome Pets Summer Camp JULY 12 TO JULY 16 Join the group and learn how to care for household pets and what makes them thrive. Campers will create a pet rock, a habitat for their

Camp Hubbard 602.971.4044 camphubbardaz.com

Kids’ Night Out on Saturday Nights

JULY 17 Parents can enjoy a relaxing night out while kids will get to have their own Saturday night fun with gymnastics, dance, organized games, trampolines and obstacle courses. The theme on July 17 is “Olympic Games.” For ages 3 to 13, a pizza dinner is included. Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics Centers, 15801 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, and 3923 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.992.5790, arizonasunrays.com, 6 to 10 p.m., $40 for first child, $35 for each additional child

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

MUSIC

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR By Alex Gallagher

JULY 1 Last Train to Juarez and Bayou Bandits

Kush County

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10

Deadbeats Arizona w/Zeds Dead and Subtronics

Singer-Songwriters in the Round

Arise Roots acoustic featuring Karim Israel and Robert Sotelo

The Agents of Lust

Rawhide Event Center, 8 p.m., $60-$105

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$15

80*D

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

JULY 11

JULY 4

TMPL

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

A.J. Croce

Destructo

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

Shady Park, 3 p.m., $39.18-$44.80

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$44.50

JULY 6

JULY 13

Promise to Myself w/Izzy Mahoubi

Red Elvises w/special guests

The Rebel Lounge, 6:30 p.m., $10

Yucca Tap Room, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15

JULY 7

JULY 14

Two’s A Party – A Night of Dueling Pianos

CB Live, 6 p.m., free

Veronica Everheart w/N. Bloom, Raquel Denis and Blu Joy

JULY 15 Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $37

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., tickets TBA

Rough Dreams, Bulletproof Backpacks, Critical Miss and The Grand Picks

Reckless Ones w/Belfry Bats and Thee Suburban Sluts

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

CB Live, 7:30 p.m., free

JULY 8

JULY 16

Pub Rock Live, 6 p.m., tickets TBA

Dinokale w/special guests The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $12

A Tribute to Pat Benatar featuring Precious Time CB Live, 7:30 p.m., free

Nora En Pure

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $30

JULY 2 Paper Foxes w/Violet Choir, the Maybe Next Years The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $12

Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $13

Steel Panther

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $32

Steve Aoki – Summersesh 2021 Rawhide Event Center, 8 p.m., $52.50-$125

Seth Brown

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., free

Moon Boots

Shady Park, 9 p.m., $40

Nora En Pure

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $40

JULY 3 Arezzona featuring Rezz and special guests

Rawhide Event Center, 6:30 p.m., $50

Take Warning Ska Punk Show featuring Re-Adjusters, Epic XVIII, Bowcat, the Effects and Darling Skye

The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $10

Lee Perreira

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$38.50

Echo of Alt: A Salute to Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots CB Live, 8 p.m., free

Dwight Yoakam

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $58-$98

Glitter Trash w/special guests Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Mike Spero

A Tribute to the Rolling Stones featuring Hot Rox

Big Gigantic with special guests

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $51

Breakup Shoes

The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $15

Singer-Songwriters in the Round

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $28.50-$33.50

Bob Domestic album release show Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., free

AC Slater

JULY 9

Yultron

Dave Clark

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., free

Hell on Arizona featuring Ischemia, Comatrophy, Atoll, Pedestal of Infamy and Carpet Bomb Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $10

Yucca Tap Room, 7 p.m., $15

JULY 10

Emo Night Phoenix w/resident DJs Daylight Heist

ZAZU West

The Rebel Lounge, 9 p.m., $12

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Music Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $28.50

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $22 AURA Nightclub, 9 p.m., $21.50-$26.50

JULY 17 Los Jones w/Craig Green Band Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

After the Calm w/Inept Hero and Interfate The Rebel Lounge, 6 p.m., $13

Big Gigantic w/special guests

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $51

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $28.50-$33.50 Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $10

One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $15-$20

Let Me Downs album release show w/First or Last, Reason Unknown and Madd Dog Tannen Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Snoop Dogg vs. DJ Snoopadelic Celebrity Theater, 8 p.m., tickets TBA

Jason Ross

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $19

JULY 20 Rozotadi w/Prime Society and Tireek The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $12

JULY 21 Two’s A Party – A Night of Dueling Pianos CB Live, 6 p.m., free

The Strike and Sub-Radio w/special guests

The Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $15

JULY 22 Luau with special guests

The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $12

A Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers featuring Righteous & the Wicked CB Live, 7:30 p.m., free

JULY 23 Anthony Mazzella: Legends of Guitar

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $25.50

Katastro: “Sucker” album release show

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $15

Old Fashion Assassin, Loserfur, Hovenweep, Hudu Akil and Stone Witch Yucca Tap Room, 7:30 p.m., free

ZeeCeeKeely, the Resinators and the Conveyors Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Peekaboo

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $24

continued on Page 34 ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

IN A NUTSHELL

Echo of Alt encapsulates ’90s grunge By Alex Gallagher

TV’s “Unplugged” series, featuring the likes of Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana, inspired legions of 1990s rock fans. That includes the four men in Echo of Alt, a Scottsdale band that performs songs by Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. “We don’t consider ourselves a cover band,” says drummer Randy Marchetti, a Moon Valley High School graduate. “Everything we do is to ensure that we are dialed in as note to note as possible. We wanted to honor the music more than just pay tribute to it.” Playing an electric show at Desert Ridge Marketplace’s CB Live on Thursday, July 8, Echo of Alt has a multilevel goal. Besides honoring Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots, the band wants to give fans a good time after COVID-19-induced quarantines. “There’s a huge need for people to go out and live their lives again,” says singer Anthony Babien-Soto. “We’re so happy to allow people to do that again. “We plan to go into this show with the mentality that we have to get people hyped up because everybody’s been

continued from Page 33

JULY 24

cooped up.” At Echo of Alt’s shows, Babien-Soto utilizes his vocal range to resurrect the stylings of Layne Staley and Scott Weiland. At the CB Live show, Echo of Alt will play two sets, one for each band. Recently added to the set list is “Piece of Pie,” “Dancing Days” and “Pretty Penny” by Stone Tempe Pilots. Alice in Chains fans will soon hear “Brother.” “We try to pick set lists that have the hits and songs that fans may not remember but still like,” Babien-Soto says. “The minute you hear ‘Nutshell,’ it gets you in the feels and is always a fun song to see the crowd react to. The other song we recently added is (Alice in Chains’) ‘Sludge Factory,’ which is a heavy-hitting song with a deep and dark meaning that always gets the crowd’s attention right away.” Echo of Alt’s roots are deep in the talents of guitarist David Haverly of Phoenix and Marchetti. The duo started messing around with 1990s alternative rock and were particularly struck by the tragic deaths of Staley and Weiland. “As we were piecing the band together, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots started sticking out to us,” says Marchetti, who is also joined in the band by bassist/backing vocalist Tom Michaels of Albuquerque. “Then came the challenge of who could pull that off. Luckily with Anthony, and the time he put into those two voices, it came together.” At CB Live, Echo of Alt hopes to reach new fans.

JULY 28 Tommy Vext of Bad Wolves

Louis the Child: Euphoria Tour

Marquee Theatre, 6 p.m., $20

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s

CB Live, 6 p.m., free

The Health & Rifle Club w/ Wild Giants and Valley Orange

The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $12

Rawhide Event Center, 8 p.m., $51-$91

The Van Buren, 8 p.m., $25-$80

Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

JULY 25

Two’s A Party – A Night of Dueling Pianos John Caufield, A Girl Named Scot, Levi Murray and AJ Odnea

JULY 29

Pop Evil

A Tribute to Bad Company featuring Rock & Roll Fantasy

Pepe Valenz w/special guests

Scattered Guts w/Sleeping with the Witch, Blotter Vision and Bloodsaw

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $45-$55

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

CB Live, 7:30 p.m., Free

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

“We’re very proud of what we do, and our fans love it, but we’re always willing to play to new people,” Babien-Soto says. “We are really hoping to see some new faces, and we hope people take away how accurately we portray these bands musically,” Marchetti adds.

Palaye Royale

The Pressroom, 6 p.m., $22.50

JULY 30 Great White

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $30

Echo of Alt WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 8 WHERE: CB Live, Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix COST: Free INFO: cblive.com

Cole Swindell

Ak-Chin Casino, 8 p.m., $54.50-$89.50

Decker w/Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold and the Lonesome Wilderness

Condemned Till Dawn CD release party w/Sectas, Fatal Malady and Amaya

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $10

Double Fisted, El Googly Diablo, APE, the Posters

The Rebel Lounge, 9 p.m., $13

The Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $10

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

JULY 31 Rise of the Prospects

The Rialto Theatre, 5 p.m., $40-$60

Paul Oakenfold

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $30

Cholo Goth Night featuring Dave Parley (from Prayers)

The Originals (Reel Big Fish tribute) w/Night Nurse and the 602s Yucca Tap Room, 9 p.m., free

Spencer Brown

Sunbar Tempe, 9 p.m., $19

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

GONE ARE THE GOOD DAYS French metalcore band returns to music By Alex Gallagher

rench pop-punk/metalcore band Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! has returned after a lengthy hiatus with three singles and a forthcoming, “Gone are the Good Days.” After going on hiatus in 2016, the band reconvened to write the title track ahead of its 2020 festival performances. The song turned out to be clairvoyant. “It was written before the pandemic and is about us as a band looking back at those early days on tour and everything was amazing,” says vocalist Bert Ponce. The pandemic gave the song a bit of a different meaning. “With the pandemic, we saw that everyone felt down, confused and frustrated, and the only thing that cheered us up was thinking of all of the good times we had,” Ponce says. “I feel like the pandemic has allowed listeners to relate to that message.” The song will appear on the album of the same name that will be released on July 30. The band was meticulous

about its lyrics and sound, thanks to the pandemic. “With the pandemic, we actually took some time to think of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do,” Ponce says. What started as just a few singles became an EP and then an album. “I’m very excited about this album because it is the first album where we actually took enough time to make it perfect,” Ponce says. “It’s especially challenging for a band in a niche, like ours, to make our music evolve. If we want to make good songs, we need time to do the proper writing.” When the album was finished, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! had to make tough decisions about potential singles. “It was a bit challenging because you could take any song out of our track list and it could be a single,” Ponce says. They chose “Bitter,” due to its electrifying intro that features the line from the film “The Goonies,” after which the band is named. “‘Bitter’ made the most sense because the first 30 seconds of the song get

people pumped,” Ponce says. “‘Bitter’ is just about how weird it was to be locked down and that the world had seemingly stopped.” The band then went with “Gone are the Good Days” as its second single and created videos. “I think that the remedy to being bitter was to remember good times, which is the same theme as ‘Gone are the Good Days,’” Ponce says. “Those two songs made a lot of sense to go together.” The band plans to release one more single, “Complete You,” prior to the album release. “The next song we plan to release as a single will be quite different from the other singles, and I am very curious to see how people are going to react to that one,” Ponce says. “Complete You” will be accompanied by a music video. “Since there’s not a lot of touring opportunities yet, our goal is to shoot as many music videos as possible,” Ponce says. As for the rest of the album, there is one song that Ponce feels will excite fans,

“Made for More.” “This has all the ‘Chunky’ ingredients that our diehard fans will be pleased with,” Ponce says. He has high hopes for the rest of the album. “There are also lots of songs that have commercial potential and could be used in movies and stuff,” Ponce says. “Gone are the Good Days” also serves as a perfect fit into the band’s discography. Looking beyond the album, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! is hopeful to play Slam Dunk Festival in the United Kingdom in September. “It’s just really weird to release an album without tour offers,” Ponce says. In the meantime, Ponce is looking for any feedback on the album to devise the band’s sound moving forward. “I encourage everyone to let me know what they think about the new material,” Ponce says.

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! chunknocaptainchunk.com ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

PRETTY ‘SWEET’

Wade Cota prepares fans for debut full-length album By Alex Gallagher

ormer “American Idol” contestant Wade Cota named his forthcoming debut fulllength album “Sweet Boy Summer.” However, it’s anything but playful, as its focus will be on the highs and lows that Cota faced over the last year. “I’ve gone through a lot. I went through a major breakup and I lost my dad and my nephew,” Cota says. “It’s been a dark space for me lately, and I wanted to get out some of those messages as well as some of my healthy triumphs. There’s so many little things that have happened as well.” He’s sharing his stories through song on “Sweet Boy Summer,” which he plans to release in August. Inspired by the term “hot girl summer,” Cota wanted to create a title that suited him a bit more. While conversing with a close friend, the phrase “sweet boy summer” slipped out. Cota immediately knew that was what he wanted to call his album. In terms of sound, Cota has given fans a taste of what to expect with the singles “Fake It” and “Ordinary Life,” two songs he hopes will reinvigorate rock ’n’ roll. ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

“I’m trying to bring back rock ’n’ roll. I feel like it’s dying,” Cota says. “I want people to nudge back into rock like it’s 1999 again.” Cota also yearned to create a collection with a variety of stories. “With my first EP, the entire thing was a story,” he says. “I wrote it to be more like a movie. With ‘Sweet Boy Summer,’ I wrote it to be a bit more like a sitcom.” “Sweet Boy Summer” along with the tracks “Constellations” and “I Know” are evidence of Cota’s self-improvement mission. “I’m also trying to do something better with my life and my music,” Cota says. “This is the first time in my career where I have recorded something that I feel I could roll down my windows and blast it at the highest volume. I am so confident and comfortable with this music. This album will, too, have obscure album art to complement the name.” He described the artwork as a photo of him with his tousled jet-black hair and his face smeared with blood, which drips onto his shirt as he holds a human heart with a bite taken out of it. “I wanted to do something obscure that catches people’s eyes and they’ll think, ‘What is this?’” Cota says.

For fans that are anxious to hear Cota’s voice, he can be seen playing original music the last Saturday of each month at Charley’s Sports Grill in Glendale. He also hosts studio sessions on Mondays at Tim Finnegan’s Irish Restaurant and Pub in Glendale, as well as Tuesdays at The Golden Margarita in Downtown Phoenix. It’s a concept he created to highlight the up-and-coming artists the state has to offer. “It’s different from an open mic event. I actually get to book the night and showcase good artists,” Cota says. “I wanted to create a better environment for customers by booking the best artists I know. I think it’s cool to be playing at all, no matter the venue, and to be able to bring out a group of musicians who are hungry to play. The talent I see every week at open mic events and elsewhere is out of this world.” He is most excited to play a September 3 festival in Corpus Christi, Texas, alongside another “American Idol” alumni, Chris Daughtry, and headliners the Offspring and Pop Evil. He hopes that he can tour with any of those artists following the show. “Everything is looking up, and I’m

feeling good,” Cota says. Cota hopes that fans will not just hear his voice but find comfort in the album’s lyricism. “I want people to really listen to the words of the album. I hope that everyone can listen to the words and take something from it,” Cota says. “I want there to be something on there for everybody,”

Wade Cota WHEN: 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month WHERE: Charley’s Sports Grill, 8110 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite 350, Glendale COST: Free WHEN: 7 p.m. Mondays WHERE: Tim Finnegan’s Irish Restaurant and Pub, 17045 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale COST: Free WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesdays WHERE: The Golden Margarita, 330 E. Roosevelt Street, Downtown Phoenix COST: Call for charge INFO: wadecota.com

CARRYING THE TORCH THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2021

Pop Evil’s ‘versatile’ music means one thing: rock By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

op Evil singer Leigh Kakaty takes offense to the phrase “rock is dead.” “Rock bands have been toward the bottom as far as other genres are concerned,” Kakaty says. “We all need to remind each other more than ever that we make great music and do great things. We do our part to be rock crusaders with education and interviews. We’re taking it one day at a time, so to speak.” As part of the crusade, Pop Evil released its sixth full-length album, “Versatile,” in May. The Michiganbased band — which also includes lead guitarist Nick Fuelling, rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, bassist Matt DiRito and drummer Hayley Cramer — will promote it with a Sunday, July 25, show

at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe. It includes the active rock radio single “Breathe Again,” along with the newly released “Set Me Free” and recent tracks “Let the Chaos Reign” and “Work.” They highlight the group’s distinctive sound by zeroing in on their juxtaposition of cinematic melodies, heavy grooves, fist-pumping anthems and timeless power ballads. With the new music, COVID-19 played a hand in the music, but the fans did as well. “The fans inspired this new music,” Kakaty says. “When we were out there trying to put this record together, we wanted to put it out with a mission statement. We started to demo the infectious riff of ‘Chaos,’ and it snowballed into this anthem — this ‘me vs. you’ type of persona — that’s so fitting now. It’s been an ‘us against the virus’ all around the world.”

Pop Evil used a myriad of producers for “Versatile,” so the musicians didn’t lose the energy from the original demos. “Wherever we birthed that song, we finished it,” Kakaty says. “There was none of that, ‘I like the demo better.’ “We really wanted to cage and harness that first-born energy and melody and vocals,” he says. “We really wanted to capture what we haven’t on previous albums. This one has more energy and a vibe.” Pop Evil’s music has garnered 1 million units of “total activity” across its catalog. The band collects fans and views as a staple act at major rock festivals as well as theaters and clubs worldwide. Kakaty isn’t tired of carrying the rock torch, but he is frustrated with his fellow rockers who don’t help support the cause. He says bands should do their part to inspire fans to listen to rock and

encourage those from other genres to come on by. “New bands, they have to understand it’s not like the heyday,” Kakaty says. “Rock ’n’ roll isn’t dead. We’re not all rich and famous and on TV. We’re the janitors of the music business. We work weekends, holidays and all night. We don’t get a break as a rock or metal band. We’re not one-hit wonders. We didn’t get that one song that made you famous. We’re going to keep putting it out, and you’re only as good as your last song.”

Pop Evil w/ZERO 9:36, BRKN Love WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25 WHERE: Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: luckymanonline.com

ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

IN CLOSING

FUN » FACTS » LEARN » SHARE » PLAY

NUMBERS By Annika Tomlin

The longest wedding veil, worn by Maria Paraskeva, was 23,000 feet, roughly the size of 63.5 football fields. Covering 2,385 acres, a single gigantic specimen of honey mushroom is the largest living organism. A cough can travel as fast as 50 mph, while a sneeze clocks in at 100 mph. Before color televisions, 75% of people dreamed in black and white, as opposed to 12% today. It’s illegal to own only one guinea pig in Switzerland because they’re a social species. Movies must clarify they’re fiction because of a 1930s lawsuit related to Grigori Rasputin’s murder. Following Tupac Shakur’s death in 1996, his former band the Outlawz mixed his ashes with weed and smoked it. About 4% of the Normandy beach’s sand contains shrapnel from D-Day. The brain uses, on average, 20 watts of energy while thinking.

MUSIC + LYRICS BY PAUL GORDON BOOK BY JOHN CAIRD BASED ON THE NOVEL BY JEAN WEBSTER

JUNE 23 - JULY 18, 2021 OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE MAGIC OF STORIES This award-winning, off-Broadway hit musical offers gorgeous, soaring melodies and tells an honest, heartwarming Cinderella-story – with a twist. Find love, freedom, and the secret to happiness now on our Hormel stage.

Left to Right: James D. Gish and Kathlynn Rodin, Photo Credit: Reg Madison Photography

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The Entertainer! Magazine - July 2021

Articles inside

CASINOS

UPFRONT

DINING