What kind of mother would take her two middle-school aged daughters out of their classes, out of the city, out of the country and bring them home only after trekking through 22 countries over 16 months. You know what kind of mom would do that? A fabulous, loving and creative one. Kate Wells and her […]
For me, Indian School Road isn’t the mecca of good restaurants in the Valley. I seem to find mostly chain burger and taco places there, until I came across Beckett’s Table in the 3700 block. It is a treasure in the strip mall and you won’t want to miss out, especially if you like sausage […]
Zuhdi Jasser is a medical doctor specializing in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology. That alone would make for an interesting life, but he also is a devout Muslim and a founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, an organization committed to a logical, rational and non-violent practice of his faith. He has spoken to […]
Joey Maggiore is the son of Tomaso Maggiore, who owns ‘Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant’ on 32nd Street and Camelback. Joey has taken after his father and started his own place that specializes in “coastal Italian cuisine.” Cuttlefish is located in the Shops at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale and is a unique restaurant featuring the “finest food […]
What’s it like being a weather forecaster? Pretty thankless most of the time, it would seem. They are generally blamed for bad weather and never get credit for the good. Dr. Randy Cerveny doesn’t have to put up with public opinion the way the television weather people do. He’s an academic…a President’s Professor in the […]
I’ve always felt a bit of pressure going into sub shops where they make the sandwiches in front of you as you move along in line. Recently, I discovered Which Wich, where they take personalization to the next level. I can take my time selecting which sandwich I want, and what I put on it, […]
An old car garage was converted into a restaurant a few years back and it is one neat place. The Garage Wine & Tap is a self-proclaimed “modern-industrial gastropub.” They have all the classic pub food you can want, plus a few surprises in there. Food ranging from their Asian Chicken Salad, to flatbreads, to […]
“The hills are alive with the sound of music…” and the sounds of the Broadway play that is being revived everywhere, as if it ever went away. Besides the Julie Andrews movie, which is constantly available, the new live TV version with Carrie Underwood has captured a huge audience in addition to performances on Valley […]
Ah, the holiday season! It’s a time of generosity, a time of peace and love and sadly for some, it’s also a time of hate. Of course, those people don’t limit their wrath to this time of year exclusively. No, there are individuals and groups who spend every day diminishing the value of other human […]
Pat McMahon hosts a weekly online show called Menus and McMahon where he reviews restaurants in Arizona. Sometimes, though, he forgets the cameras are rolling. Pat can always be found talking to his producer Rosemary or giving life advice in the middle of his restaurant advice. Of course, a true professional needs to warm up […]
So you’ve got everything going for you and your family. Your education is paying off with a respected academic position in the community. You and your wife are proud of your children and their accomplishments. They are excelling on their own with their college studies. In fact, your son is only weeks away from graduating […]
Windsor is one of five restaurants owned by Craig DeMarco and Lauren Bailey. They are planning to take over the food business with their string of restaurants, if you ask me. The food was excellent. Be sure to get an appetizer. I’ll tell you about my favorites in the video. I loved their take on […]
Olive & Ivy is another Sam Fox concept located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. The outside patio overlooks the canal, which provides a beautiful backdrop and waterside seating. Also, if you’d like, you can stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner and find something to enjoy at every meal. My favorite breakfast item lies […]
Tarbell’s was opened in 1994 and has added two new restaurants in the same area. Mark Tarbell recently bought Sportsman’s Fine Wines and Spirits and turned it into The Wine Store. He has plans to open The Tavern in January. The food at Tarbell’s is excellent. They have your classic beefs and pastas but be […]
Most people do not want to go through the hassle of dining at a resort… but you’ll have to make the exception for T. Cook’s at Royal Palms Resort. The restaurant has been completely redone with a new executive chef, new menus and a new look. Royal Palms also opened a new bar called The […]
As the fall weather settles in a Sunday brunch on the patio is always nice. Thankfully you can get just that AND a beautiful view at El Chorro in Phoenix. Just wait until you get there! They have a large menu as well. There are a few delicious drinks, like their El Chorro Bloody Mary, […]
This past weekend I decided to try something a little different than your average restaurant so I sampled over 25 food trucks on Roosevelt Row. Theses meals-on-wheels came out for an event called Taste of the Trucks and I have to say, it was excellent. I sampled everything from grilled cheese and fry bread to […]
Americans are often uncomfortable with the unfamiliar. Traveling outside the United States for many, creates insecurities because of language, customs and sometimes because of the first time experience of being a minority. But those differences surround us every day in our own country. Most of our citizens are at ease with the combination of the […]
An operating restaurant that is 60-years-old in Phoenix? Well you must be talking about Durant’s on Central. We aren’t very good at preserving our history here so it must be a good restaurant if it has survived as long as it has. You can see the seafood, steaks and desserts being prepared as you enter […]
If you are in the mood for some award-winning food, shopping and music, head over to the Queen Creek Olive Mill. Aside from their guided tours and assorted shops they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner made with their famous virgin olive oil. It is a bit of a drive for folks in Phoenix but it […]
In our parents’ day — certainly our grandparents — when girls got pregnant, they were whispered about, often shamed and sometimes sent to visit family in another state. Even if young women were married, there were always those who counted the “appropriate” number of months it had been since the wedding. That’s the way it […]
You think it would be fun to go to plays and musicals almost every night for free and then tell everybody about it? What’s it like to be a theater critic? Kerry Lengel of the Arizona Republic said it can be exciting or excruciating…or both. Who doesn’t like “The Sound of Music,” but what do […]
