GETOUT

@AhwatukeeFN

www.ahwatukee.com Butterfly Wonderland inspires director’s ‘gift

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

In promoting his forthcoming film “Daddy Daughter Trip,” actor, comedian, film director and Scottsdale transplant Rob Schneider had a unique idea to give Butterfly Wonderland a “thank you card” for allowing some scenes to be shot there.

Because of his positive experiences at Butterfly Wonderland, Schneider figured the attraction would be the perfect place to give fans and guests of the area a gift they could not get anywhere else. A book.

“This is my thank you card to the people of Arizona for allowing us to be their neighbors and being so nice to us,” Schneider said. The film – set to premiere on Sept. 27 at Harkins Camelview at Scottsdale Fashion Square before rolling over exclusively to screens at Harkins Theatres across the Valley – co-stars Scottsdale resident Schneider and his 9-year-old daughter Miranda Scarlett. It features a book titled “Meara’s Storytime Book,” which has been converted into a children’s book that features sketches from nearly eight minutes of the film devoted to animation. “There are eight minutes of world-class animation and there are different kinds of animation,” Schneider said. “Of course, there’s the Pixar, perfect, perfect animation, but I wanted kids today to see what cartoons used to look like. Okay, so we did old Merrie Melodies, Warner Brothers style cartoon animation done by Disney animators and it was so beautiful, I said, ‘We’ve got to do a book.’” The hard-copy book features an almost abstract outline of butterfly wings on the cover highlighted by a 60s-style cartoon insect protruding from the blended background. Its colors were largely inspired by the monarch butterfly — which Schneider says is featured throughout the film. Rob Schneider has finished directing and starring in the indie family comedy Daddy Daughter Trip, a live-action/animation hybrid. (Spe-

cial to AFN)

Schneider noted the four phases of monarch butterflies, explaining that the fourth phase survives the longest. He thought that was a subliminal theme he could include throughout the film. “You see the butterfly throughout the movie, and (the film is) about liberation,” Schneider said. “It’s about being free, fulfilling your dreams and hanging on to your dreams even when it seems impossible.” Schneider also says that multiple trips to the Butterfly Wonderland during the past few scorching summers only further fostered his and his family’s love for the winged insects. “When we first moved here, we wanted to do stuff with the kids and that was an oasis for us,” Schneider said. “They loved the Butterfly Wonderland because we could go there for hours just see butterflies and then it’s just magical.” Shooting a film that he jokes is the only movie he has made that his wife will seeSCHNEIDERpage 45

Suzanne Vega recalls inspirational MIM show

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

Returning to the Musical Instrument Museum Oct. 1-2, Suzanne Vega was moved by previous visits. “It’s a beautiful place,” Vega said. “I remember all the beautiful instruments and what they look like. I began my Instagram account there — however long ago it was.” Vega’s shows are dubbed “An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories.” They will feature her on acoustic guitar and her musical director, Gerry Leonard, on guitar. “He uses a fair amount of electronics,” she said. “It ranges from very acoustic to some of the produced songs. We do the remix version of ‘Tom’s Diner’ and ‘Luka.’ We do a lot of songs people know and a couple of new things. We love it. It’s been great to get back on the road again.” Vega recently sent to cinemas her one-woman stage show about the life of 20th century American writer Carson McCullers in the Michael Tullydirected “Lover, Beloved.” The film debuted at SXSW in March. For the trailer, visit https://vimeo. com/680131952. “It started with an acting exercise that I was given in college a long, long time ago,” she said with a laugh. “I had seen a picture of Carson McCullers back then and I knew one or two of her stories. I remember we sort of look alike.” She thought McCullers would be an ideal character to play. When her college professor asked the class to come in dressed as a notable figure, Vega appeared as McCullers. “I had to be ready to field questions as if I was on a television show,” she said. “We had to really inhabit them. I really got way into her. I ended up doing my senior thesis on her, her work and her life and how they comingled. “It’s been a lifelong challenge to put her life and work on a stage in a onewoman show. It’s something I’ve gone back to time and time again. The film is the end of that journey with Carson. I’m way older than she was when she died. I thought it’s time to put this down. It’s been such a pleasure and real interesting exercise for me. I’ve loved it.” The film features music by singerseeVEGA page 45

Suzanne Vega is best known for her songs “Tom’s Diner” and “Luka.”

(George Holz/Contributor)

allow their children to see, Schneider knew that the Butterfly Wonderland had to be one of the locations for “Daddy Daughter Trip.” However, he admits that filming a movie in an active butterfly habitat was not the easiest thing to do. “They’re very fragile and you’re not supposed to touch them at all. I mean, they’re like nature’s origami made of rice paper,” Schneider said. Still, he reflects positively on his filming experience with the butterflies. “They released butterflies at our feet so they could fly into the camera,” Schneider said. Even as a trained actor whose career has spanned over three decades, Schneider admits he still felt like a kid again when a butterfly would land on him.“You instantly revert to a child when a butterfly lands on you,” he said. Schneider and Miranda Scarlett were at Arizona Boardwalk on Sept. 18 and will migrate back there again Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to noon, for another round of book signings. This is the first time Schneider has ever

VEGA from page 44

songwriter Duncan Sheik, who won Tony Awards for “Spring Awakening.” “He’s great. It was great working with him,” she said. “It was very inspiring. He pushed me way out of my comfort zone. He has a very different sense of melody than I do. I thought we were a good team. I thought we worked together well. Musically it’s thrilling to sing the work.” The “Lover, Beloved” project was on Vega’s bucket list, of which there are plenty of other tasks. “I still have more work to do before my time is up,” she said. “I feel like I have more to say, more to do. There were certain goals set for myself as a teenager and I’ve spent my life trying to fulfill all of those goals. “I had a lot of interests as a child. I used to draw. I used to sculpt. I made busts out of clay. I studied dance for 10 years. I’ve done all kinds of other training — martial arts, the swim team for a while. It was a challenge for me as a kid to express the feelings and ideas of the moment as well as express myself emotionally and personally.” done a book signing and admits that he has nerves about the event. “I’ve never done one before, I’ve only done it in a fake way for the real Rob TV series (on Netflix) so I don’t know what to expect,” Schneider said with a laugh. “I hope people show up and hope they like the book.” He is also looking forward to having another bonding experience with his daughter as the two sign whatever material fans bring to them. “We’re looking forward to taking pictures or whatever anybody wants,” he said. “If they want me to sign a book, it’d be nice if it was mine, but I’ll sign I’ll sign any of my books or David Spades books,” he added with a laugh. 

Vega hopes to move more on stage and be more present when she sings. Acting helped with that goal. “It’s the whole process of acting to make the emotion alive in the moment on the stage,” Vega said. “It’s surprisingly draining. The film is an hour and 15 minutes. The one-woman show is an hour and 45 minutes. It’s me up there holding on to the audience as someone else. I couldn’t ad lib or change the order of things. I had to commit myself to the moment.” She hopes to write a book as well, to follow up to 1999’s “The Passionate Eye: The Collected Writing of Suzanne Vega.” “I’d like to write something a little more narrative,” she said. “I’d love to draw again. I fooled around with painting, but I can’t do everything.” 

Now in our 38th year! ARIZONA’S LONGEST-RUNNING EXPO IS HERE!

If You Go...

What: Book signing and meet and greet with Rob and Miranda Scarlett Schneider Where: Arizona Boardwalk 9500 E. Via De Ventura When: 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 1. Coast: Free Info: butterflywonderland.com

If You Go...

What: Suzanne Vega Where: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 Cost: Tickets start at $54.50 Info: 480-478-6000, mim.org

Healthcare | Retirement Living | Financial Leisure | Home Repair | Education Casinos | Tour & Travel and More... (480) 898-6500 • (480) 959-1566www.seniorexpos.com Entertainment byMS. SENIOR ARIZONA FREE PARKING! FREE ENTRY! Wednesday, November 2nd 8am - 12pm Mesa Convention Center 201 N. Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85201

Gold Sponsor

Expo

Partner

Entertainment Sponsor Bag Sponsor

Lots of Prizes and Giveaways INCLUDING a $100 CASH DRAWING Every Hour!

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

Toadies bring ‘Rubberneck’ to the Valley

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Toadies were excited to give their 1994 debut album, “Rubberneck,” a proper celebration for its silver anniversary in 2020. Then came the great interrupter: the COVID-19 pandemic. They tried again in late 2021, but, alas, had to postpone again. Third time’s a charm and drummer Mark Reznicek said it’s better late than never. “It has been a long time coming and it’s almost surreal that it’s happening this time,” he said. Although Reznicek has played drums to those 11 songs – including Toadies’ trademark song, “Possum Kingdom” – for 28 years, he hasn’t grown wary of them yet. “I get asked sometimes if (playing) the songs off that album ever get old and it doesn’t because those might be the songs that some people are most excited for each night,” he said. Reznicek also said that most “Rubberneck” songs are easy. “I’ve played those songs enough times to where I don’t have to concentrate on what I’m doing and have them down to muscle memory,” he said. However, he admits some tracks are a bit of a drag to keep up with. “There are a couple (of songs) that I always get a little freaked out about it just because I’m almost 30 years older now than I was when I recorded them, like The pandemic has forced the Toadies to twice postpone a proper 25th anniversary celebration of their 1994 debut album. “Rubberneck.” (Special to the Tribune)

‘Mister Love’ and ‘Velvet’ since those are both faster, harder songs than most of the other ones on the album,” Reznicek said. “I remember how they go. It’s just a matter of my body physically holding up to the punishment of playing those songs.” Despite the tough physicality of the songs, they trigger fond memories of the mid-’90s. “There have been times when I’ve either played one song or another and my mind will flash back to when we were recording the album or on that initial tour,” he said. “Rubberneck” has been called one of the biggest albums in the decade filled with emerging rock subgenres, including grunge. Reznicek does not consider the Fort Worth act a grunge band. “I feel like we get lumped in with grunge music a lot, and that’s fair, given that was popular when we came out,” he said. “Most of the songs were written before grunge was a thing and wasn’t an influence on what we were trying to do. If you wanted to point out our three main influences, it would be like if you put Pixies, ZZ Top and Talking Heads in a blender. It would come out sounding something like the Toadies.” Pixies weren’t the only band who impacted the young Toadies. Fellow Texans The Reverend Horton Heat are joining them on tour. “We all came up in the same scene,” Reznicek said. “He was around a little before us and we looked up to him a lot early in our career.” Though the tour will serve as somewhat of a reunion, it will also give Reznicek and Co. a chance to jam each track off “Rubberneck” in order from “Mexican Hairless” to “I Burn” and all the hits that fall in between. Because of this, Reznicek expects the crowd to be rowdy.

“You could almost name any song on Rubberneck and people tend to freak out but, obviously, ‘Possum Kingdom’ and ‘Tyler’ are crowd favorites,” Reznicek said. “People also really like when we do ‘I Burn’ because, a lot of times, we bring out extra drummers to augment the sound on that one.” In addition to “Rubberneck,” Toadies plan to treat fans to new tracks off an upcoming EP as well as unreleased material. “It’s pretty eclectic and each song has its own little world,” he said. “But it all still sounds like the Toadies and it’s all kind of just to let people know that we’re still around and we’re still putting out music.” 

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

Say Yes To Pets and help out Lost Our Home Pet Rescue

Please donate food, toys, blankets or pet related items September 1st through October 1st.

Drop off is available at any of these locations and many others locations around Ahwatukee. Look for our Yes To Pets collection boxes in local businesses. Also go to Yestopets.org for additional drop off locations and information.

ACROSS

1 Dame Dench 5 Witty one 8 Leer at 12 Western tribe 13 TV pioneer 14 Eye part 15 Dressing ingredient 17 Sugar unit 18 Fill in -- blank 19 Conclude 20 Monk’s home 21 Droop 22 Bikini top 23 Wan 26 Germ 30 God, in Granada 31 Joke 32 Spoken 33 “You wish!” 35 Pesky insects 36 Chairman of China 37 Greyhound vehicle 38 Hoopster 41 Dict. info 42 Chi follower 45 Sandwich cookie 46 Fuel-producing area 48 Hindu royal 49 Parisian pal 50 Advertising award 51 Genesis shepherd 52 Service charge 53 Slangy OKs

DOWN

1 Equitable 2 Beehive State 3 Take out of context? 4 “This -- recording” 5 Incorrect 6 Battery fluid 7 Lass 8 Getty and Rockefeller, e.g. 9 Vittles 10 Margarita garnish 11 Glimpse 16 Campus VIP 20 Lob’s path 21 Staple in some Asian recipes 22 Ginormous 23 Do sums 24 Polite address 25 Weed whacker 26 Chess piece 27 -- pro nobis 28 Cudgel 29 Overhead trains 31 Sticky stuff 34 Scratch 35 Nonsense 37 Prove untrue 38 Comics’ Mrs. Dithers 39 Bedouin 40 Hereditary unit 41 Exemplar of thinness 42 Soccer legend 43 Faux pas 44 Nuptial vows 46 Klutz 47 Glacial

Sudoku

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Contributor

This choir-inspired dish will have you singing for supper

If you think that bread pudding is just a dessert, I’m about to change your mind in a delicious and surprising way.

Imagine a savory soufflé-like bread pudding with a good quality ham (smoked is delightful), the sweet and slightly salty flavor of Gruyère cheese, fresh sautéed spinach and roasted red peppers all baked to perfection. This dish is so appetizing and versatile it can be enjoyed as a main meal or sliced in wedges for the perfect holiday party appetizer.

Where did I find this sumptuous selection? In the “Sing For Your Supper Cookbook” compiled by the Sounds of the Southwest Singers. This 85-plus member non-profit volunteer choir has been singing in the Valley since 2010, performing a variety of music in concerts throughout the year. Members have sung at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, and by the recipes in this cookbook, it’s apparent that this group can cook as well as they can sing! Make this dish and you’ll be singing for your supper too!

Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs plus • 4 large egg whites • 1 cup milk • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard • 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground pepper • 1 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary • 4 heaping cups whole grain (or other) bread, crusts removed and cut into 1-inch cubes • 5 heaping cups fresh spinach, wilted (plus 1-2 tablespoons olive oil if sautéing) • 1/2 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers, drained • 1 cup (5 oz) diced ham steak • 3/4 cups shredded Gruyere cheese

Directions:

Grease an approximately 11-by-7-inch (or 2-quart casserole) glass baking dish.

Wilt spinach by putting in steamer over boiling water for 2-3 minutes, or sautéing in 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil until wilted.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites and milk. Add mustard, pepper and rosemary, whisking to combine. (The more you whisk, the lighter the custard.)

In a large bowl, toss bread, spinach, roasted red peppers and ham. Add the custard and toss well to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and push down to compact. Cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees until the custard has set, 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and continue baking until the pudding is puffed and golden on top, 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove from oven and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Serve with Gruyere Cheese Sauce drizzled on top of wedge of bread pudding.

Gruyere Cheese Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons flour • 1 1/2 cups whole milk • 1 cup grated gruyere cheese • Sea salt to taste • Dash of white pepper or to taste

Directions:

Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour; stir until dissolved (do not brown). Gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until mixture is thickened, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese, stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper. 