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Holidays gifts are ‘in the cards’

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Tribune Staff Writer

From enjoying extraordinary meals to catching the sunrise from a hot air balloon, this selection of gift card packages showcases the best deals the Valley has to offer.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company was created to celebrate hand-crafted, artisanal beers that are inspired by the beautiful and diverse state.

The deal: Buy $50 worth of gift cards and receive a card a $5 card; buy $100 in gift cards and get a $20 bonus card. Purchases must be made in person.

721 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert, 480-4972739; 201 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 480-462-1836, azwbeer.com

Bourbon & Bones

The Bourbon & Bones menu features hand-selected wet-aged and dry-aged cuts of prime beef, wagyu beef, elegant options for fresh seafood and an extensive list of bourbons and whiskies. Bourbon & Bones is staffed with expert mixologists who deliver a robust cocktail program and, of course, certified sommeliers who oversee a significant wine list, including Coravin pours by the glass. The deal: Purchase $100 in gift cards, receive $25 bonus card; buy $250, get $75.

4200 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-629-4922; 2150 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, 480-597-9459, bourbonandbonesaz.com

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers:

Can’t go wrong with gifts of beers and burgers. Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers’ 12 locations are dubbed the “ideal neighborhood burger joint.” The deal: Buy two $25 gift cards, get $20 bonus gift card through Dec. 31.

Multiple Valley locations, coldbeers.com Crust Simply Italian

Michael Merendino grew up a first-generation Italian in the heart of Long Island. He brought his family pizzeria concept to Arizona. The deal: Get a $25 gift certificate with the purchase of $100 gift cards, and buy a $50 gift card, receive a $10 certificate. The deal is only valid Dec. 20 to Dec. 24.

10 N. San Marcos Place, Chandler; 8300 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, crustrestaurants.com

Daily Dose Kitchen & Bar

Daily Dose is all about creativity. The entrées are created with the freshest ingredients, but don’t leave out the booze. Specialty cocktails like the spicy watermelon margarita and bacon bloody mary are on the menu, too, as well as craft beers. The deal: Purchase $25 gift card and get a $5 bonus; buy $100 get $20. Good through Christmas.

4020 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 101, Scottsdale, 480-994-3673; 1928 E. Highland Ave., Phoenix, 602-2740334; 96 S. Rockford Drive, Tempe, 480590-6937, dailydosegrill.com

Eegee’s

Eegee’s has been a hit in the Valley since it migrated from Tucson. The fastfood and frozen treats restaurants have something special for guests. The deal: Buy $50, get a $10 bonus card

3535 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert, eegees.com

Famous 48

Famous 48 just unveiled décor that honors Arizona with a palette of colors borrowed from adobe pink sunsets and pale brown dusty road. The deal: Purchase two $25 gift cards and get a $20 bonus card.

8989 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 608, Scottsdale, 480-361-4933, famous48.com Flower Child

Flower Child welcomes vegan, paleo, gluten-free or just hungry guests with healthy options in Gilbert, Arcadia, Desert Ridge, Uptown Plaza and Scottsdale. The deal: Buy $50, get a $10 bonus card

iamflowerchild.com

Fox Restaurant Concepts

The perfect gift for the foodies in your life, this offer is good for quality time, exceptional experiences, and tasty food and beverages at any Fox Restaurant Concepts location, including The Henry, Blanco, Olive & Ivy and The Arrogant Butcher. (Does not include Flower Child.) Gift cards are available for purchase at participating restaurant locations or online. The deal: buy $100, get a $20 bonus card

foxrcgiftcards.com

Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill Ling’s Wok Shop

Serving modern Asian cuisine with American flair, the chefs at Ling & Louie’s use traditional Asian cooking techniques to create bold, craveable flavors that appeal to all tastes. As for Ling’s Wok Shop, it serves healthy and convenient food that boasts crisp veggies and tender meats. The deal: Purchase $50 in gift cards get a $5 holiday certificate. Those who buy $100 in gift cards will receive a $15 holiday certificate.

Ling’s Wok Shop, 20511 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, lingswok. shop; Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill, 9397 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, lingandlouies.com

Los Sombreros

Los Sombreros is an iconic spot to enjoy flavorful bites and refreshing cocktails. With locations in South Scottsdale, Uptown Phoenix and Mesa, Los Sombreros has earned its reputation as the Valley’s ultimate locally owned Mexican food eatery. The deal: Buy $50 get $10; buy $100 get $25 through Dec. 31.

2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-994-1799; 1976 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, 480-534-6742, lossombreros.com

Macayo’s

Macayo’s strives to use fresh ingredients in its family recipes. Guests can share the taste with their families and themselves. The deal: Through December 24, gift card purchasers will receive a $10 bonus gift card for every $50 in Macayo’s gift card purchases. Bonus card is valid Saturday, Jan. 1, to Monday, Feb. 28.

Multiple Valley locations, macayo.com

Rainbow Ryders

The deal: Give the gift of a Rainbow Ryders’ sunrise hot air balloon ride gift certificate special for the holidays. While prices fluctuate and can soar as high as $225 per person for a 45- to 60-minute, group hot air balloon ride, Rainbow Ryders is offering a fixed rate of $169 per person for a shared basket flight. Blackout dates apply.

715 E. Covey Lane, Suite 100, Phoenix, rainbowryders.com

Someburros

The menu’s dishes tell the Vasquez family’s story and that of their first restaurant, Poncho’s. The tradition carries on to Someburros using their time-tested recipes for authentic Sonoran-style Mexican Food. The fast-casual restaurants are offering two gift card promotions for the holidays. The deals: The “burro bundle,” includes a $25 restaurant gift card redeemable at all Someburros locations and a reusable tumbler for $35. For the second promotion, all guests who buy a $25 gift card will receive a $5 kick back card. seeCARDS page 21

EV tutoring chief dedicated to kids’ development

BY TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

There’s a reason that Kimberly Selchan gravitated to the Tutor Doctor franchise, serving the East Valley, after working in the corporate sector for many years.

“I came from a corporate environment where I had mentors and was a mentor to others,” she explained. “I considerour service to bementorship,far more than just subject tutoring or homework support. The mission statement I use formy regionis: Helping today’s youth become tomorrow’s successful adults.” Selchan not only is good at her job – she’s been good for Tutor Doctor, which gave her their Marketing Innovation Award for finding new ways to grow her business year-over-year.

The company explained, “In the past year, Kimberly has leveraged social media, virtual networking platforms and local small business partnerships in organic ways to grow her business, and she has committed to sharing the strategies used with fellowTutorDoctor franchisees to help facilitate similar results.” She achieved a 30-percent increase in the number of organic referral and lead sources year over year by developing with other local small and large businesses in the community whose focus is on children and family.

For example, she joined the board of a larger foster services agency and is now the preferred partner of its career-development program to helps teens graduate high school and obtain their GED or associates degree. She also developed relationships that helped her service gained preferred-sponsor status at two elementary schools and a recommendation as a tutoring service at three high schools.

Selchan also formed a parent and educators group on Facebook and leveraged other social media sites to respond to local families seeking tutoring services without paid ads. Tutor Doctor is a one-on-one private tutoring service but Selchan said her staff goes beyond helping clients master a subject.

“Our tutors incorporate studying and planning techniques, accountability and self-advocacy which will all help their studentsbecome successful adults,” she said.

So, her tutors work with students to “identify their interests and develop their strengths to become successful in a variety of settings.”

“Creating individualized programs for students in my community and witnessing their goal achievement is one of the most rewarding parts of the business,” said Selchan. “If I’m able to increase the number of tutors, students and families who grow and develop from our personalized academic mentorship and support, I’m going to do it, and that means looking to new innovations, tools and partnerships for inspiration.”

And the pandemic did not disrupt her commitment to delivering oneon-one mentoring in person.

“A big misconception of the pandemic is that tutoring shifted to virtual, but it did not,” Selchan said. “We have less than 15% of our students receiving onlinetutoring. The demand is very high for in-home, face-to-face relationships.”

Selchan, who holds a degree in microbiology and is an Ohio transplant, had been a senior vice president in the financial services industry before she made the jump to Tutor Doctor. She has about 70 tutors – and is always on the lookout for qualified additions – who provide support on any Pre-K to undergraduate course as well

Kimberly Selchan owns the local Tutor Doctor franchise and prefers to mentor studets to reach their full potential and not just pass a course. (Special to the Tribune) as test preparation,. Career planning, homeschooling and even professional development such as public speaking. “I like to focus our services on middle school to early college,” she added. Her region includes Ahwatukee and the entire East Valley and people who want to sign as mentors need at least some college with a 3.0 average and some mentoring experience.

Potential clients or tutors can reach her at tutordoctor.com/chandler-gilbertor call 480-530-8029.

CARDS from page 20 Mesa woman has something to cheer about

BY TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Not to be a party pooper, but let’s face it.

After the holiday lights are “working hard for the hardest working.” Nacahazel is holding a stashed away and the holidays themselves become but a distant memory, a new challenge will be looming as the new year begins: preparing your tax returns. And that’s where a new Mesa business may be welcome to some taxpayers as Lyn Nachazel opens a year-round Jackson Hewitt franchise located at 2051 S. Dobson Road. “It’s been my dream to own a franchise for many years,” said Nachazel, who spent over 13 years serving tax clients and is AFSP- certified and a certified acceptance agent. She said she looks forward to meeting new clients and plans on grand opening 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at her new business and she isn’t being quiet about it. She will have the Mesa High School Varsity Cheerleaders on hand to celebrate her achievement and said she will be serving “the best hot dogs ever.” Nachazel said Jackson Hewitt is “an innovator in the tax industry” that offers “simple, low-cost solutions” to managing clients’ taxes and refunds. It also stands behind a “maximum refund guarantee” as

101 E. Baseline Road, Tempe,

480-839-8226; 7501 E. Frank Lloyd well as a “lifetime accuracy Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, 480-443- guarantee.” 8226. Other locations at someburros. She also said taxpayers com should consult a pro to understand the biggest changes for Taphouse Kitchen the 2022 tax season and what

Taphouse Kitchen is getting into the they need to know about how generous spirit of the giving season with their life changes impact their a holiday gift card bonus offer. Through tax filing – things like employDecember 31, holiday shoppers can get ment changes, unemployment more bang for their buck when they pur- benefits, marriage/divorce, chase a gift card in restaurant or online. having or adopting children, The deal: For each $100 gift card pur- buying or selling homes, retirchase, guests will receive an additional ing, and most commonly over$25 gift card. looked credits and deductions. 3131 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix, 602- If you can’t stop by for a dog and watch one 482-2800; 6137 N. Scottsdale of the city’s best performing set of cheerRoad, Scottsdale, 480-656-0012, leaders, Nachazel can be reached at 480taphousekitchen.com 612-2578 or Jhoifc13498@gmail.com.

LYN NACHAZEL