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AZSPORTS&LIFESTYLE ▲
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
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covering the game of life
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from the publisher Publisher
Hello readers! Welcome to another issue of Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine (AZSAL).
Joe Orr Editor
As Arizona’s fall season approaches, so do many great events: awesome weather, fun holidays and the clock is ticking for the 2015 Super Bowl and Waste Management Phoenix Open — two events that will put Arizona in the nation's spotlight again.
Curt Blakeney Art Direction & Design
Dara Fowler Managing Editor
Halloween is, for many of us, our favorite holiday of the year. AZSAL is bringing you some top spooky spots and haunted houses around our state to satisfy any thrill-seekers out there. If you want a giant thrill for the upcoming concert season, look no further than our cover-man Luke Bryan. He continues to tear up the country music scene and capture the ladies' hearts. Keep reading and discover how he hit it big and what his plans are for the future. We’re excited to have him on our cover.
I.R. Hunthausen Senior Editor
Michelle Talsma Everson Copy Editors
Anthony Costello Grace Miller Scott Verbout Director of Sales & Marketing
As the weather continues to cool, we’ll all be out and about, taking our dogs to the park. Check out our spotlight on some of the best dog parks in the Valley. Your pup won’t be disappointed.
Dave Blouch Photo Editor
Gene Lower With hot new cars, cool gear, fun events, Arizona State Sun Devils football, great comedy, awesome staycations and much more, we hope you enjoy this issue.
Advertising Design
Joe Becker, Kristin Moore Production Assistant
Now keep reading ...
Vince Van Groski Website
Mindi Bear Contributing Photographers
Michael Fadyk Tommy Kowalski John McMurray Kristin Moore Bill Nash
Joe Orr Publisher joe@azsal.com
Contributing Writers
Susan Lanier-Graham Charles Hudson Marina Kirk Byron Kline Stacey Lane Stephanie Lough Craven Night Roger Teeter Amanda Ventura AZ Sports & Lifestyle Magazine
4537 E. Thistle Landing • Phoenix, AZ 85044
480.233.0409 • www.azsal.com To subscribe or advertise call 480.233.0409 or email Joe@azsal.com Copyright 2014 — AZ Sports & Lifestyle Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without permission is prohibited.
Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine is printed on 20% recycled (10% post-consumerwaste) paper. All inks used contain a percentage of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards. PRINTED IN THE USA
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table of contents SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
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features 40
22
Doin’ My Thing
28
Big Catch
34
Top 5 Dog Parks in the Valley
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Arcosanti: A Participatory Environment
Country music superstar Luke Bryan brings his raucous party to Phoenix in October
Arizona State grabbed Jaelen Strong from the junior college ranks and turned him into one of the best receivers in the country
Great places to take your pooch for some summer fun
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44 50
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The brainchild of an architectural visionary continues to evolve
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Fear For The Masses With plenty of haunted hot spots around the state, this Halloween should be frighteningly spooky for Arizona
Pain and Glory Get to know the latest and greatest mud runs the Valley has to offer this season
28
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departments
Leading Off Gear Guide
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Good Eats Valle Luna Mexican Food & Cantinas
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Comedy Nick Guerra
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Wheels 2015 Test Drive • Ford Fusion Energi Titanium • Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited • Hyundai Tucson Limited FWD • Chrysler 200S FWD • Lexus RX 450h • Lexus NX 200t
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More Gear • Outdoor Gear Guide • Active Gear Guide
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Travel Five Staycation Destinations
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Good Health Three Ways to Invest In Your Back
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Good Times • Arizona Taco Festival • Weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic
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80 AZ Real Estate Out-of-State and Second Home Buyers On the cover: Luke Bryan PHOTO BY GENE LOWER
44 68
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RECIPES OF THE MONTH
ICARUS CHICKEN WINGS Ingredients: • 20 chicken wings • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour • 3 tablespoons garlic powder • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • ½ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper • vegetable oil, for frying • 6 ounces of Henry Humdinger’s Diabolical Dad • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar • ranch dressing, for serving Preparation: Preheat the oven to 450° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In a large bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, salt and white pepper. Put the wings in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess and let set on a plate. In a large pot, heat several inches of vegetable oil to 350° F. When the oil is heated, put the wings in the flour mixture a second time, again shaking off the excess. Deep fry the wings until crispy and golden brown, about 12 minutes. While wings are frying, mix the Diabolical Dad and brown sugar in a large bowl until mixture is smooth. Remove the wings from the oil, pat dry and then dip in the Diabolical Dad sauce mixture to coat. Lay the wings on the baking sheet. Bake coated wings until the sauce is dry, about 12 minutes. Serve hot with ranch dressing. — Recipe courtesy of Henry’s Humdingers (www.henryshumdingers.com)
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REALBEANZ SIMPLE COFFEE MARTINI Ingredients: • 2 ounces Belvedere Unfiltered Vodka • 1 ounce RealBeanz Iced Coffee • ½ ounce Kahlua • 3 coffee beans Preparation: Mix all ingredients together, and garnish with the coffee beans — Recipe courtesy of RealBeanz and Belvedere Unfiltered
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Fave Lunch Stop:
EZEKIEL'S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT
Soul food. The descriptive terminology may have originated in the mid-1960s, when soul was a common definer used to describe African-American culture (for example, soul music).
itself, is fall-apart, melt-inyour-mouth, lip-smacking good eats. Ezekiel’s collard greens pack a really great flavor and nicely balances out the rest of the meals. Get ready to indulge, because the ribs are something you cannot miss. They are fall-off-the-bone tender and the sauce is smoky with a great zing to it. A good way to finish off your meal at Ezekiel’s is with the sweet potato soufflé. The marshmallow topping compliments the dish just enough to "cry out loud ... can I get an Amen!" So for all you hungry foodies searching for a new great lunch or dinner eatery, try Ezekiel’s Soul Food Restaurant. Carr and his wife will be ready to serve up some good eats along with some great customer service. Enjoy!
For all of you Valley residents that love tasty southern comfort food, or shall we say “soul food,” Ezekiel's Soul Food Restaurant is a must. Located on the southeast corner of Warner and 48th Street, Ezekiel's is the new kid on the block, establishing itself in 2012. Owners Laurita and Brad Carr have a combined 43 years of experience under their aprons. The two met in York, Pennsylvania where they owned a restaurant, but were looking to head west. Ezekiel’s is a southern style restaurant full of classics such as fried chicken, collard greens, catfish, fried butterfly shrimp and of course cornbread. Carr said it was his father who inspired him and who first taught him how to cook southern style home fried potatoes, at a very young age. The signature dish is the above mentioned, mouthwatering fried chicken. The outside is nice and crisp (not greasy) with a juicy tender inside. The trick is they cook their version of the “finger licking food” fresh to order and with lots of love. The catfish is just as delicious. The outside has a crisp cornmeal breading and the fish
— REVIEW BY MADISON ROTHCHILD
4825 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85044 480-785-4886 • Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
THREE WAYS TO FIGHT COLDS AND FLU
— BY MICHAEL T. MURRAY ND
AMERICANS ARE HEADING INTO COLD AND FLU SEASON. Raw fruit and vegetable juices are great immune system fortifiers, especially during an active infection with a cold or flu. This time of year, it's critical to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and bolster the immune system with freshly made juices rich in vitamins, minerals, and important phytochemicals such as flavonoids, which are known to be powerful antiviral agents. Here are three recipes to make in a juicer. Drink these when you feel a cold or flu coming on.
1 Immune Power Veggie Rich in carotenes and the immune-enhancing benefits of garlic and ginger, this drink gives your immune system a real shot in the arm. With their high content of the food fiber inulin, the Jerusalem artichokes, if you can find them, provide additional health benefits — particularly for supporting infection-fighting bacteria in your gut. • 2 garlic cloves • ¼ inch slice of ginger • Handful of parsley • 3 carrots • 1 apple, cut into wedges • 1 cup of Jerusalem artichokes (optional) Place the garlic and ginger in the center of the parsley, and feed into the juicer with the aid of a carrot. Alternate feeding the remaining carrots, apple and Jerusalem artichokes (if using) into the juicer.
2 Immune Power Veggie Extreme This formula is a great weapon against an active upper respiratory tract infection. The daikon radish really helps clear the sinuses and nasal passages. • 2 cloves garlic • ¼ inch slice of ginger • Handful of parsley • 3 carrots • ½ daikon radish, cut into lengthwise pieces, or 4 radishes with leafy greens Place the garlic and ginger in the center of the parsley, and feed into the juicer with the aid of a carrot. Juice the radish and the remaining carrots.
3 Immune Power Fruit This drink is rich in many nutrients vital to the immune system, and it also abounds in flavonoids and other phytochemicals with demonstrated antiviral and antioxidant effects. • 1 orange, peeled • 1 cup strawberries • ¼ pineapple with skin, sliced Juice the orange, followed by the strawberries and pineapple.
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Find more information on juicing for healing, detoxing, and weight loss, including more than 150 recipes, in The Complete Book of Juicing, Revised and Updated: Your Delicious Guide to Youthful Vitality (Clarkson Potter, January 2014).
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EDITOR’S PICKS s
SMART PHONE ACCESSORY: MobileVision Universal Multi-Device Charging Station features six customizable USB ports that allow you to organize and charge your smartphones, tablets and electronic gadgets. $64.95; www.cesupply.com
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SMART PHONE ACCESSORY: Q Card Case for Samsung S5 is a smart wallet case that comfortably fits three cards/IDs plus cash. $39.99; www.cm4.com
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BOOK: In Time in a Bottle, author Howard Falco encourages us to rethink our perspective on time, rather than viewing time as a limiting and confining factor of our day. $16.95; www.howardfalco.com
SMART PHONE ACCESSORY: The rugged UAG Samsung S5 Case combines style, protection, functionality and convenience in a one-piece design. $34.95; www.urbanarmorgear.com
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COOL GADGET: The unique design of the KeySmart shrinks your bulky key ring into a sleek and attractive unit that is both durable and convenient. $19.98; www.getkeysmart.com
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SMARTPHONE APP: Cymera, a free camera app for selfies and portrait editing, has unveiled social editing for portraits and private album sharing, allowing friends to interact in a unique and fun photo playground. www.cymera.com
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IPHONE ACCESSORY: Whooz, clever vinyl labels for iDevice chargers and cords, helps identify whose is whose. $12.95 per set; www.whoozizit.com
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START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT — BY AMY WOLFF For more than 22 years, Karen Self has dedicated her life to teaching and coaching students at Seton Catholic Preparatory (www.setoncatholic.org) in Chandler, Ariz. As the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Seton Catholic Prep, Self has won more than 500 games and has brought home seven girls basketball state titles in her tenure. The latest was the 2014 Division II Girls’ State Championship. Here are a few of Self’s strategies to help parents and students attain a successful year and achieve maximum success:
10 TIPS TO GET KIDS MOTIVATED FOR ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SUCCESS THIS SCHOOL YEAR 1 > Encourage kids to get involved in as many sports and activities as they can handle. This strategy helps determine where interests and passions lie for each individual student.
8 > Search
for balance between academics, athletics, family and friends. This is much easier said than done, but it’s a work in progress.
9 > Let your kids make their own mistakes, spread 2 > Practice goal setting with your child. Get your student engaged in planning for both their long-and short-term goals and help them determine how to actually achieve these goals. Revisit and reassess halfway through the school year to assure they are on track.
their wings and fly. Sometimes the lessons learned from mistakes resonate more than if parents protect their children from the real world.
10 >
Have fun in everything you do. It’s high school, after all, and one of the best times in their lives!
3 > Work closely with teachers and coaches to make sure you are all on the same page. Presenting a unified front helps minimize conflict and undue stress for students.
4 > Manage time wisely by using a calendar (old-school or electronic) to schedule study time, sports practices, social activities and family commitments. This helps prevent overscheduling.
5 > Encourage students to develop positive friendships with kids who have the same values, interests and goals. Get to know the parents of your kid’s friends too.
6 > Make lists and tackle one thing at a time. This technique helps students avoid feeling overwhelmed.
7 > Remind your student that hard work pays off. But there is also a lesson to learn with every success and failure in life.
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KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
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2 1 TFal EZ Clean Fryer (1.8-liter) features a unique oil filtration system that automatically drains and filters oil for future use. The oil is stored in a separate, sealed plastic container for easy storage until the next use. $79; www.t-falusa.com
2 Next time you get a queasy, uneasy, refluxy feeling after overindulging, try all-natural Gutsy Chewy, which alleviates heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion. Available in Citrus and Wildberry flavors with a slight fizz. $15.99 for 3 tubes; www.gutsyproducts.com
3 Ecocozies are reusable, insulated, neoprene food containers with a food-safe liner. They are a fresh and safe alternative to storing food in plastic, which may leach toxic materials after coming into contact with food. $19.95; www.daisycontainercompany.com
4 Clean Cubes make recycling and trash disposal a snap; just open it and fill it with recyclables or trash. When it’s full, lift and tighten the drawstring on the plastic bag and dispose of the entire Clean Cube. $5.99; www.clean-cubes.com
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5 Food Huggers are the reusable silicone covers that wrap (hug) your leftover fruits and veggies to keep them fresh until you need them the next time. $19 (set of 4); Avocado Huggers are $14 (set of 2). www.FoodHuggers.com
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TESLA MOTORS BRINGS SUPERCHARGING TO WICKENBURG TESLA MOTORS, the California-based maker of the award-winning Model S electric sedan, has expanded its Supercharger network with the opening of a Tesla Supercharger in Wickenburg, Ariz. Conveniently located along U.S. Route 93, the Wickenburg Supercharger supports trips between Las Vegas and Phoenix. This is the eighth station to open in the state, making Arizona the second most Supercharger-dense state in the country. Superchargers are designed for city-to-city travel, allowing Tesla Model S electric vehicle drivers to travel for about three hours, take a 20- to 30-minute break, and get back on the road charged up. For more info, visit www.teslamotors.com
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gear guide
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GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition
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Whether you’re a burgeoning filmmaker or an action-sports junkie looking to capture your most rad moments, you’ll be amazed at the video quality from this mighty-mite action cam. It’s designed for recording a variety of adventure sports and comes with a rugged housing that is waterproof down to a depth of 40 meters. The camera captures 4K cinema, 2.7K cinema, 1440p and full HD 1080p video. Step aside, Warren Miller. $399; www.gopro.com
Rapoo E6300 Bluetooth Keyboard Ultra-slim keyboard for iPad with high-performance, tactile keys that’ll make cumbersome typing on the tablet’s touch screen a thing of the past. Battery lasts up to one month before it needs to be recharged. $49.99; www.rapoo.com
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iHome iBT66 Speaker
Portable speaker has two audio sources: Bluetooth wireless audio streaming from your mobile device or direct line-in via audio jack. A color-changing mode provides fun effects. $29.99; www.ihomeaudio.com
Booq Shift Backpack
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Lightweight and spacious laptop backpack with Intelligent design features several pockets to house all your belongings. Separate compartment is densely padded and lined with soft Nylex to keep laptops safe. $150; www.booqbags.com
Prep Sportswear T-Shirt
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Root for your favorite college or university in style. Prep Sportswear offers hundreds of designs and endless logo possibilities on t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts and hoodies. Simply select a category, choose your sport, pick a school logo, color, size and personalize. $21.99 and up; www.prepsportswear.com
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Yonanas Frozen Dessert Maker
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The Yonanas maker is a must-have for anyone who wants to satisfy their sweet tooth with a guiltfree, frozen treat. With its patented technology and high torque blade, the small kitchen gadget emulsifies frozen fruit into a dessert that looks, tastes and feels like soft-serve ice cream, in seconds. $40; www.yonanas.com
Noggle
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This ingenious device extends air conditioning to kids and pets in rear seats. The Noggle installs in seconds … with no tools needed. Great for infants in rear-facing car seats. Comes in 6-foot and 8-foot styles. $49.99-$55.99; www.nogglenation.com
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Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop
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Gives your hard floors a shiny, sanitized clean with variable, digital steam control. Flip-down scrubber allows you to thoroughly clean tough messes and grout. Sanitize floors with steam, which eliminates 99.9% of germs and bacteria when used as directed. $89.99; www.bissell.com
Pluggz IRIS Ballet Flat
Made of supple, full grain leather. Features slip-resistant rubber soles, memory-foam padding in the arches and heels, moisture wicking and anti-microbial lining. $129; www.pluggz.com
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UA fans can celebrate school pride without sacrificing style. These comfortable khakis are available in two silhouettes: the Game Day Alpha Khaki ($78) for a modern slim and tapered fit, and the Game Day Classic Khaki ($68) for a more classic look. Bear down! www.dockers.com
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Dockers Game Day Khakis
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gear guide ▲ ▲ ▲
Braven Mira Bluetooth Speaker
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This versatile, water-resistant wireless speaker kicks out incredible hi-fi sound, plus its built-in noise-canceling microphone allows for speakerphone functionality. It features an integrated kickstand and plastic hook, enabling easy setup in any location. $99.99; www.braven.com
Ciao! Baby Portable Highchair This portable highchair allows you to feed little fans at tailgate parties or camping, and it’s available in your favorite college team colors and logo (45 different NCAA teams to choose from). $99; www.theportablehighchair.com
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Stanley TLM65 Laser Distance Measurer
Features a variety of functions in an easy-to-use design that is small enough to fit in a pocket. Instantly calculates square footage and more of a room or space. $59.99; www.stanleytools.com ▲ ▲ ▲
Bosch Rotary Hammer Kit
An 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 3/4-Inch SDS-plus Rotary Hammer (RHH181-01) that features innovative CORE brushless technology. This workhorse delivers an unbeatable combination of power and weight. $449; www.boschtools.com
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Chillow Pillow
Portable pillow insert provides instant cooling relief for achy muscles. Chillow is activated by adding water to its inner chamber. Once its temperature is set, it stays at that level and provides cooling relief for hours. $12.99; www.chillow.com ▲
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gear guide ROCKI Play Bluetooth Speaker Adapter
Portable WiFi-enabled dongle transforms any speaker into a wireless speaker system. ROCKI works with your existing sound system by directly connecting to speakers via 3.5mm or standard RCA audio connectors. $49; www.myrocki.com
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Stanley 201-Piece Socket Set
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Mechanics tool set offers a complete range of SAE and metric-sized sockets and drive tools, forged from high-quality steel and finished in high-polish nickel chrome. Stanley sockets feature Max-Drive design that provides 15% more torque to tighten fasteners easily and simplify the turning of rounded corners. It also helps reduce slipping on frozen or rusted fasteners. $84.99; www.stanleytools.com
Cutters Rev Pro Gloves
The perfect combination of performance, fit and durability. Features a C-TACK palm for extreme grip that performs in all weather conditions. $44.99; www.cuttersgloves.com
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Jigglit Answer Band
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Simply ask the Jigglit any question, then with a quick jiggle of your wrist, you'll get a fun response to your question. This onesize-fits-all wristwatch is loaded with 23 answers and comes in eight different colorful designs. $20; www.jigglit.com
Vionic Conner Casual Slip On
Sporty casual meets high performance in this podiatrist-designed slip-on. Its design assists forefoot mobility and gait efficiency. Lightweight, flexible dual density EVA footbed absorbs shock, reducing stress on feet, ankles and knees. $89.95; www.vionicshoes.com
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Bissel Power Edge Hard Floor Vacuum Unique V-shaped design captures debris along edges, in corners and in tight spaces … without attachments. It’s perfect for cleaning along baseboards and maneuvers easily around furniture. Base has bristles to pick up large debris and fine particles. $49.99; www.bissell.com
This 20-volt rechargeable impact driver (PCCK640LB) comes with two lithium-ion batteries and should be in every toolbox. With easy load chuck, you can quickly insert bits with one hand. Compact design fits in tight spaces and reduces fatigue. $139; www.portercable.com
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Porter Cable 20V MAX Impact Driver
Proudly display legendary golf courses on an elegant humidor, complete with a golf course print on the lid. The cedar-lined humidor is large enough to hold your favorite cigars at just the right temperature and humidity settings. $95; www.stonehousegolf.com
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Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver
Stonehouse Golf Humidor
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Many golfers use a 3-wood off the tee, but the 3-wood is designed to hit the ball off the turf, not a peg. So Taylormade designed the new 260cc SLDR Mini Driver, which is engineered to be longer off the tee than a 3-wood and incredibly accurate. It’s equipped with a 43.5” Fujikura 57 shaft and Speed Pocket technology, which promotes lower spin on impacts low on the clubface, where the majority of driver miss-hits occur. $279; www.taylormadegolf.com
State Traditions Gameday Hat
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Provides a unique and subtle way to show pride for your alma mater or allegiance to your home state. State Traditions gives you the option to sport a silhouette of the state of choice in collegiate or state colors for a sophisticated look without overt logos. $25; www.statetraditions.com
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good eats By Marina Kirk
Valle Luna • 1949 W. Ray Road Chandler, AZ 85224 • 3336 West Bell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85053 • 16048 N. Cave Creek Rd Phoenix, AZ 85032 www.valleluna.com
Americana as Speedy Gonzalez Valle Luna puts a unique Sonoran twist on familiar Mexican fare
▲ ▲ ▲ TOP: A mammoth double plate of Pepe’s Sizzling Fajitas and all the fixin’s. BOTTOM: The sea’s contribution of Stuffed Poblano Chilies with Baja Shrimp.
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AFTER YEARS OF PUTTING MY TASTE BUDS THROUGH TORTUROUS BOUTS OF SPICY SALSAS AND BAD REFRIED BEANS, I’ve trained them well. So, when it comes to Mexican food, my taste buds know the drill. I trust them when my eyes deceive me. They didn’t let me down this time either. On a sunny summer Sunday afternoon, I passed through the large, dark wooden doors of Valle Luna. Surrounded by what felt like family, I enjoyed soaking in the friendly atmosphere. Janie Riddle, owner of Valle Luna Mexican Food & Cantinas, wasted no time in taking me to a cozy corner booth where I could peruse the menu. With impeccable timing, crispy chips and two bowls filled with salsas arrived at my table. The first was a chunky salsa that was fresh and full of individual flavors that swam together in the bowl and ignited in my mouth. The second, in a slightly smaller bowl, was filled to the brim with their hot sauce. Personally, I favored the slight burn of the hot sauce. It didn’t have me grabbing at my drink while slowly losing consciousness, but instead left a nice warm tingly feeling at the back of my throat. I’ll take two gallons of that to go please. Riddle went on to tell me about the history that surrounds her family’s restaurant and the story behind how it came to be — while I, as politely as possible, continued
to eat chips trying to hide the pile of crumbs that was slowly accumulating in my lap. Valle Luna was opened by a woman named Tia Rita. She was born in Pennsylvania and after moving a couple of times, eventually settled in Arizona in the early 1980s. Tia Rita focused on solid good home cooking that was authentic to her background and culture. “We never sacrificed quality,” said Riddle proudly, as I asked her how things have changed with the times. However they have adapted to their customer’s needs and wishes, so you gluten-free eaters out there, we’ve found a place for you too. My chips and salsa conquest came to a halt when Riddle asked me if I liked guacamole. Was she joking? I never leave home without an avocado in hand, just in case I get the chance to whip up a bowl of the good stuff (slight exaggeration). I thought to myself for a moment, after nodding my head, yes, “What if it’s just a green pile of mush without an actual avocado or morsel of cilantro to be seen” — as my taste buds and I have encountered one too many times. I let out a sigh of relief as a generous portion of chunky guacamole was set before me with fresh warm chips. The first bite gave just the right amount of avocado, cilantro, lime, and sprinkling of Mexican hard cheese
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Fundido, and Stuffed Pablano Chiles with Baja Shrimp. The fajitas were served on the all-toofamiliar. sizzling cast iron plate, but the flavors were anything but. Served with fresh corn tortillas, guacamole, beans, rice, and veggies, which required two massive plates of their own, the fajitas could easily be shared. The chicken fundido was a plate of indulgence. Stay away if you’re watching your waist line because there is no short-
age of cheddar cheese, jalapeño cream cheese and deep fried-ness. Tasty, yes, but authentic, no. It’s a customer favorite, so any mention of removing it from the menu could cause an uprising of angry and hungry citizens, with forks tightly grasped in their fists and napkins hanging down the front of their shirts. As for the Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Baja Shrimp, anything with shrimp is good as far I’m concerned, but stuffed into a roasted poblano pepper and accompanied with rice, beans, cheese, and more vegetables only makes it better. The rice lacked flavor, especially when compared to the richness of the meal, but the shrimp were grilled to perfection and tastier with every bite. The Pièce de résistance was definitely Tia Rita’s favorite, the Chili Relleno Dinner. “It’s an art,” and I can certainly see why. Only two of Valle Luna’s chefs are allowed to make the chili relleno because it requires the utmost finesse and skill. They use only egg whites to lightly coat the chili and fry it, stuffed with cheese, until it’s bubbling and lightly brown. You’ll ignore anything else on the plate, just to dig into themelted treasure. Valle Luna is a restaurant filled with regulars, where some people know each other by name, and smiling patrons speak with their waiters as if they are old friends. “Some of our employees have been here for over ten years,” Riddle told me with a smile on her face. She is proud to have such a strong, lasting relationship with not only her employees, but also with her customers as well, who just can’t manage to stay away, and why should they? Valle Luna offers the comfort of great food while maintaining a strong sense of community.
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that added just the right amount of saltiness that we all crave. Riddle told me all about their most popular and famous dishes, so after insisting on an order of chili relleno, I let the general manager arrange the rest of my meal. The scent of food wafted from all directions while I sat at my booth, but when the tray, piled high with steaming plates of food, headed my direction, I stared with wide eyes at Pepe's Sizzling Fajitas, the Chile Relleno Dinner, Chicken
A longtime customer favorite, Fundido, engulfed with cheese.
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By Amanda Ventura
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doin’ myTHING Country music superstar LUKE BRYAN brings his raucous party to Phoenix in October
SOMEONE ONCE SAID POP SONGS ARE ABOUT FALLING IN LOVE AND COUNTRY SONGS ARE ABOUT STAYING IN LOVE. LUKE BRYAN — EMPIRICALLY THE HOTTEST MAN IN COUNTRY MUSIC — DOES BOTH. Sure, a good mouthful of his lyrics have those good ol’ country tropes — lifted trucks, pretty girls drinking, small towns — but he’s also known for more heartfelt songs about loss (“Drink a Beer”) and releasing extended plays (EPs) about spring break between all of his major studio albums. Bryan’s ascent to fame hasn’t been without its struggles. He lost his two older siblings early in his career. Days before the then-19-year-old Bryan planned to move to Nashville to pursue a music career, his older brother, Chris, was in a fatal car accident. According to an interview with ABC News, Bryan put his move on hold after losing his brother and attended college while working on his father, Tommy’s, peanut farm in Leesburg, Ga. It would take his father firing him for Nashville to enter the picture again. So, in the early 2000s, he did just that. Bryan cut his teeth as a songwriter in Nashville. Here, his work was picked up by country mainstays such as fellow Georgian Travis Tritt (one of his songs becoming the title track on Tritt’s 2004 album, My Honky Tonk History). In the meantime, the Georgia Southern University alum married his college sweetheart, Caroline Boyer, in 2006. The couple has two children. The following year, he was picked up by Capitol Nashville at the age of 31. Bryan’s debut single “All My Friends Say,” off I’ll Stay Me, hit No. 5 on the country charts. At the same time, “Good Directions,” a song he wrote that was recorded by Bill Currington, hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts.
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Did you know? Bryan has worked with the same producer throughout his career. Jeff Stevens, a country musician who made the move to producing in the ‘90s, co-wrote Bryan’s debut single and the rest is history. It’s an anomaly in the music biz for artists to continue to evolve and release more mature music with the same producers who kickstarted their careers. However, the pair appears to be growing together. For Crash My Party, Stevens changed the way Bryan recorded vocals — something Bryan said he has always thought could be better. For the first time, he had a month to record vocals — and it shows.
Discography Sidebar STUDIO ALBUMS I’ll Stay Me (2007) Doin’ My Thing (2009) Tailgates & Tanlines (2011) Crash My Party (2013) COMPILATIONS Spring Break … Here to Party (2013) 4 Album Collection (2013) EXTENDED PLAYS Luke Bryan EP (2006) Spring Break with All My Friends (2009) Spring Break 2 … Hangover Edition (2010) Spring Break 3 … It’s a Shore Thing (2011) Spring Break 4 … Suntan City (2012) Spring Break 6 … Like We Ain’t Ever (2014)
It was around this time that Bryan was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry — a rite of passage for any fledging country star. For the show, his older sister, Kelly, mobilized more than 100 people from their hometown to attend. Days later, she passed away from undetermined causes, he said in an interview with ABC News. His next successful career moment came with the release of “Do I,” which was co-written by Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood and featured the vocals of Hillary Scott. It reached No. 2. The hip-shaking singer has since released two more studio albums. Despite winning armfuls of accolades and awards, including the Academy of Country Music Awards’ Entertainer of the Year, Bryan continues to perfect his sound. His second album, Doin’ My Thing, was released in 2009 and featured a cover of OneRepublic’s “Apologize.” Two more singles hit No. 1 “Rain is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” As mentioned before, Bryan released “Spring Break” EPs, which he eventually turned into a compilation album released in 2013. It was his first to crack the Billboard 200.
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FAST FACTS Every March, Bryan performs over spring break at Spinnaker Beach Club in Panama City Beach, Fla.; however, Bryan has only been on two headlining tours — one in 2013, Dirt Road Diaries, and the That’s My Kind of Night tour that will bring him through Ak-Chin Pavilion on Oct. 23. His third studio album, Tailgates and Tanlines, reached No. 1 on the Top Country Albums and No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100. Three of the album’s singles hit No. 1 on country charts. The album propelled Bryan into the height of his recognition. In 2012, he beat out Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band for the American Country Awards Artist of the Year accolade. That year, he took home nine awards. It was the 2011 album, he says in recorded commentary about Crash My Party (2013), which opened Nashville to send “the upper echelon of songs” his way. This includes records “Roller Coaster” and “Drink a Beer.” In commentary released about the latter track, he calls “Drink a Beer” his coolest sad song. Beer, in this case, isn’t a way to build courage to talk to a girl or the key to having a good time. It’s a symbol of bonding with the closest people in one’s life, particularly those who may no longer be with him. “I’m honored it found its way to me,” he says in the commentary. Another heartfelt track to make the cut of Crash My Party is also one he has said is his favorite of his discography — “Blood Brothers.” The song’s meaning is versatile to him, whether it evokes images of his sons playing in the woods, a football team using it to pump themselves up before a big game or playing it for a group of Navy Seals on his bus. That doesn’t mean all the songs are too heartfelt to let a little humor through. “That’s My Kind of Night” is a feel-good track about the bare necessities of a country life. “Crash My Party” is a cheeky little number made for kicking up some dirt. Rest assured, a little sincerity won’t keep Bryan from being “here to party.” He was reportedly one of the first touring artists in the past couple of decades to play subsequent nights at Ohio’s Blossom Music Center. Both shows were sold out. That takes more than looking good in a flannel shirt and writing a few hit songs. That’s about coming into your own. After all, his kind of country music is the best of both worlds. As he sings in “Beer in the Headlights,” “You got the beautiful, I got the cooler full.” It’s a reminder that, sometimes, life’s really that simple.
• He was born Thomas Luther “Luke” Bryan. • In an allusion to Luke Bryan’s roots as the son of a peanut farmer, his fan club is dubbed The Nut House. • Bryan is a co-owner of Buck Commander, a deer-hunting merchandise brand, with Willie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty.” • Out of 23 of his official music videos, two are selfdirected: “Country Man” and “Run Run Rudolph,” both in 2008. • Bryan’s mother, LeClaire, has said he knew how to hum the song “Rock of Ages” before he could speak. • The Grand Ole Opry, was a one-hour radio show, founded in 1925 in Nashville, Tenn., that has featured all of the greatest country musicians since Hank Williams and Minnie Pearl to Carrie Underwood and Dierks Bentley.
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• Bryan reportedly has suffered panic attacks before “big moments.” • Bryan is said to have his wife’s initials tattooed on his backside.
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26 AZSPORTS&LIFESTYLE
After all, his kind of country music is the best of both worlds ... “You got the beautiful, I got the cooler full.” ... sometimes, life’s really that simple.
SEPT/OCT 2014
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ASU_ Jaelen Strong_MagSeven 9/4/14 2:55 PM Page 2
By Byron Kline PHOTOS BY PETER VANDER STOEP
BIGCATCH Arizona State grabbed JAELEN STRONG from the junior college ranks and turned him into one of the best receivers in the country LAST SEASON, JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFER JAELEN STRONG WAS A LATE ARRIVAL AT ARIZONA STATE before bursting on to the college football scene, quickly becoming one of the Pac-12’s premier wide receiver threats for a Sun Devil offense that put up record numbers. Now, after having spent a full offseason in the team’s strength and conditioning program, the talented playmaker is poised for a monster year as ASU plans to to repeat as the Pac-12 South Champion and contend for a Rose Bowl. At 6-feet-3 and 212 pounds, Jaelen Strong is, in every sense of the term, a big play wide receiver. Blessed with unmatchable size, strength, speed and soft hands, he’s the prototypical wide receiver that every football coach dreams of having in their offense. It’s no wonder Arizona State Head Coach Todd Graham went to great lengths to reel him in as one of the team’s key members in its 2013 recruiting class. Strong was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he starred at West Catholic High School. Despite establishing himself as one of the area’s top players, Strong was only lightly recruited out of
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high school, forcing him to go the junior college route in an effort to attract more interest from division one schools. To prove himself against stiffer competition, Strong traveled to Los Angeles and enrolled at Pierce College, where in just one year he saw his recruiting stock rise dramatically. As a freshman, he caught 67 passes for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns, immediately becoming one of the nation’s most sought after junior college targets. A consensus four-star player, Strong was rated by ESPN as the number 15 overall junior college prospect and the fifth-best wide receiver in the nation, earning more than 15 scholarship offers, including offers from Miami, Mississippi, Nebraska, and South Carolina, before ultimately committing to Arizona State on Christmas day 2012. “I just felt like it was home to me,” said Strong. “Coach Graham flew out to see my family. They liked him a lot and the type of man he was and the promise he made to them to make me a better man and also a better football player. I knew all along I was going to come
AZSAL FAST FACTS • Strong recorded seven 100+ yard receiving games in 2013, including five in his first six appearances. • He led ASU in receptions and earned Second Team All-Pac12 honors last season. • 47 of Strong’s 75 receptions in 2013 resulted in a first down for the Sun Devils. • Strong has appeared on both the Biletnikoff and Maxwell Award preseason watch lists.
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to Arizona State. Nobody else showed as much interest or had the same kind of plan for me.” For Strong, that plan also meant a quicker escape from the junior college ranks. In need of 27 credits to earn his Associates Degree, Strong sat down with ASU’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development, Jean Boyd, to outline a plan that would enable him to finish his required school work in order to report to campus in time for the 2013 season, giving him three years of eligibility rather than the typical two for junior college transfers. “It was hard,” he said. “It was similar to how it is here now. I had some adversity, some ups and downs, but you just have to stay grounded and prayed up and everything will come around.” Strong stuck to the plan, completing all 27 credits during the spring and summer sessions, thus earning his spot on the Sun Devil roster. Despite missing a full offseason and the first week of fall camp, Strong wasted very little time acclimating to his new
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“That’s what really helped him was understanding the playbook and not having to think … just react to the defenses and attacking.” man like him in my life, let’s just say God works in mysterious ways. I’m truly blessed to have him as a friend and a quarterback.” The admiration is mutual; Kelly also holds Strong in high esteem. "He's smart," said Kelly. “That’s one thing he prides himself on is being one of the smartest players on the field. He knows all the different coverages. It’s almost like he has a photographic memory. We’ll be watching film and he’ll remember exactly what play it is and what he did without even looking. That’s what really helped him was understanding the playbook and not having to think … just react to the defenses and attacking.” Only three weeks after his arrival, Strong had vaulted all the way to the top of the Arizona State depth chart as the team’s go-to receiver. In his Sun Devil debut, Strong caught six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown, setting the tone for the season ahead. After catching a second quarter touchdown, Strong approached Graham on the team’s sideline and thanked him for the opportunity to play college football — a first in his career the coach said afterwards. “I don’t take anything for granted,” said Strong. “I lost a lot of friends growing up. I lost my dad growing up. I lost a lot of people who wish they could be doing what I’m doing. For me to be here right now is a true blessing from the man above and all glory goes to Him.” “For Him to give me the opportunity through Coach Graham, and for Coach Graham to trust me to come in and play right away, that means a lot to me and says a lot about the type of man he is.” In all, Strong caught 75 passes for 1,122 yards and seven touchdowns for an Arizona State offense that averaged 39.7 points per game in 2013, 10th best in the nation. The Sun Devils also set a new school mark by scoring 50 or more points in six games last season and 556 total points, just six points shy of equaling the school record set in 1972. “He just adds a very dynamic feature to what we’re doing,” said Deputy Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Norvell. “I think the offense really helps Jaelen by getting him some one-on-one match-ups with us being able to run the football, but when teams have to play a safety over the top because of a guy like that, it opens up a lot of other things for us in the run game and inside.” “He’s a tremendous competitor and it’s a compliment to him and Taylor that those guys were able to build their relationship like that and go out there and execute,” said Norvell of their unique bond.
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surroundings and getting to know his new teammates, including starting quarterback Taylor Kelly. The two became roommates and nearly inseparable, together putting in additional hours on the practice field and in the film room, developing their on-field chemistry and helping Strong get up to speed. “Honestly, we just molded together,” said Strong. “We’re so much alike, it’s crazy. He knows what I’m thinking all the time and I know what he’s thinking. To put a
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“We’ve got a lot of unfinished business ... Once we win a championship, then our business is finished.”
winter workouts he called me in and said he had a plan for me to get me stronger. I couldn’t really lift 225 even one time last year but I was able to do it eight times this summer and that means a whole lot to me and what’s in store for me from here on out.” According to Griswold, Strong added 14 pounds of muscle over the offseason and was a standout at the team’s final workout of the summer, back squatting 405 pounds, a personal best, five times while also recording a 10’6” broad jump and a 39-inch vertical. “He’s had a great spring and summer,” added Norvell. “When you look at him and what he’s been able to do with his athleticism and as much as he’s grown with Coach [Griswold], he’s done a tremendous job of trying to put himself in a position to be at the front of that wide receiver group and lead those guys.” Norvell will look towards Strong to lead a young Sun Devil receiving corp in 2014. While steeped in talent, ASU lacks experience at the wide receiver position where the 10 other receivers on the roster have combined for just 12 career receptions. Of course, ASU also returns running back D.J. Foster, who caught 63 passes a year ago. With Strong, Kelly, and Foster back in the fold for another season, Arizona State once again appears poised to be one of the nation’s top producing teams on offense. The Sun Devils are the only team in the Pac-12 and one of only three in the nation who return a 3,000 yard passer, a 1,000 yard receiver, and two 500 yard rushers (Foster/Kelly). Despite all of that, the national media predicted a third place finish for the Sun Devils in the South division at this year’s Media Day in Los Angeles, pointing to the team’s perceived shortcomings on defense where ASU will look to replace nine starters from last year’s team. Strong has other ideas. “We’ve got a lot of unfinished business and I can’t wait until we start,” he said. “Once we win a championship, then our business is finished.” ▲
Arizona State won the Pac-12 South division but ultimately fell short of reaching the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1997 by losing to Stanford at home in the conference championship game, an outcome that has fueled Strong and his teammates. Entering the offseason, the Sun Devils adopted the team motto “Unfinished Business,” which is brandished throughout the team’s training facilities, constantly reinforcing the goal that ASU is still chasing in year three under Graham. For Strong, it also meant elevating his game to an even higher level in 2014, beginning with a full offseason of rigorous workouts with Arizona State Strength and Conditioning Coach Shawn Griswold. “Coach Griswold is a great guy,” said Strong. “The first day of
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the
5
TOP
DOG PARKS
in the Valley
Great places to take your pooch for some summer fun By Stephanie Lough
THE RUNNING! THE DIGGING! THE SNIFFING! Off-leash dog parks are what our domesticated best friends dream of. Luckily for Phoenix-area residents, pets’ instinctual wild energy can be kept at bay by visiting one of the many public dog parks in the Valley. These parks are designed to give cooped-up pets the much needed time to romp and play free of restraint — or at least, free of a leash in large, fenced-in areas. However, not all parks are equal. From facility maintenance and amenities to the friendliness of fellow park patrons, there are many determinants as to what earns a park the title of “top dog.” Compiled through local dog owners’ anecdotes, dog-eccentric reviews and good ol’ romps in the parks, here are our Top Five Dog Parks in the Valley, in no particular order.
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Echo Mountain Off Leash Arena • PHOENIX 17447 North 20th Street in Grovers Basin (20th Street at Cave Creek Road and Grovers) Echo Mountain Off Leash Arena is a perfect romping ground for North Valley residents and their four-legged friends in an area that is otherwise sparse of dog parks. With more than two acres of fenced in, all grass space, the Echo Mountain Off Leash Arena is divided into separate areas for large and small dogs (below 20 lbs.). The park is open daily, but be sure to check the City of Phoenix’s website for irrigation schedules.
Hance Dog Park • DOWNTOWN PHOENIX 323 West Culver Street (between 3rd and 5th Avenues) Phoenix’s newest dog park, the Margaret T. Hance Dog Park, is nestled on the northern border of downtown’s Roosevelt Historic District. At one acre, it is the smallest dog park on our list, but it provides just the right amount of well-kept space to allow dogs and their owners to escape their normally urban lifestyles. The attractive landscaping includes Pistache and Ashe trees for shade, and the perimeter features integrated Plexiglas panels, giving the space an open feeling and allowing Fido to view the world around him. Like all of the City of Phoenix’s parks, the facility is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Cosmo Dog Park • GILBERT 2502 East Ray Road No Arizona dog park conversation exists without mention of Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert. More of a destination than a park, the facility includes its own lake with jumping dock, in addition to an agility course and sprawling fields to toss a ball or Frisbee around. Cosmo Dog Park is revered throughout the Valley as the best dog park, and has even been recognized on a national level, earning the title as “Dog Park of the Year” from Dog Fancy Magazine in 2007. Dogs and their owners can visit Cosmo Dog Park from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. any day of the week.
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4
Desert Vista Park • FOUNTAIN HILLS
11800 North Desert Vista While dog parks are designed to give your pooch freedom to run to his heart’s content, it’s crucial that he is also able to cool down and relax, especially during the summer. The dog run at Desert Vista Park takes this need to heart by providing pets and pet-parents with multiple shade structures in both its passive and active dog areas. With a total of three-and-a-half acres to explore, even the most energetic dog will need an eventual snooze in the shade. The off-leash dog area at Desert Vista Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
5
Pioneer Community Park • PEORIA
8755 North 83rd Avenue Opened in the summer of 2013, the Pioneer Community Park is Peoria’s crown jewel of recreation endeavors. The impressive family friendly, multi-use facility keeps residents’ four-legged children in mind with three acres devoted to offleash playtime. The space is divided into separate areas for dogs weighing more than 35 lbs. and another for smaller pooches, which rotates between three sections depending on the park’s maintenance schedule. Visitors at the Pioneer Community Park can access the dog run from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
DOG PARK
TIPS
The dog park can be a great time for both people and pets, but is much more enjoyable if visitors adhere to the most basic of dog park etiquette. Responsible Ownership: Just because a dog is carefree in the park, doesn’t mean its owner can be. Pet-parents must keep close watch over their K9 companions, especially while in a dog park. No matter how socialized a dog is with other animals, it is never 100 percent clear how it might react to an unfamiliar animal or unfavorable person. Of course, owners are also required to pick-up after their dogs, even in the dog park. Most of the Valley’s cities supply their parks with complimentary disposal bags to promote owner responsibility. The Dog Park Is Not a Play Ground: Most city rules state children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult, which also means supervised by an adult. No matter a child’s experience with animals, not all dogs are familiar with kids. Adults who do choose to bring children need to be aware that the dog park is not a playground — running and screaming can create a stressful environment for animals. Leashing/Unleashing: First time dog park-goers may be unfamiliar with the double-gate feature when entering or exiting the park. This is for unleashing your dog upon arrival,
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and leashing your dog when exiting, but is also crucial in preventing leash anxiety (which can happen when one dog is restrained near unleashed dogs), as well as a “safety net” to avoid any loose dogs outside the park. For this reason, do not open the gate if someone is in the process of leashing or unleashing and only enter once the area is empty. Whether you choose to visit one of our top dog parks or all of them, you and your pooch are sure to have a great time, especially if you do your part in following dog park etiquette.
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FAST FACTS: Heat Safety Tips for Dogs Summer may be winding down in Phoenix, but triple digit temperatures normally linger until mid-October. When taking your pet to the park, remember that hundreds of dogs are harmed as a result of being left in hot cars or left outside without the proper water and protection. With a few preventative measures, you can easily help your favorite canine avoid the negative effects of the sun. Here’s how to ensure your pet’s safety no matter how high the mercury rises:
Pets Need Sunscreen Just like humans, dogs can get sunburned, especially those that have light-colored hair. Sunburns can cause the same problems in animals as they do in humans: peeling, redness and even cancer. Pet-friendly sun screen can go a long way in protecting the health of your pet. Places that are easy to forget, but prone to burning are: inside the nostrils, tip of nose, around your pet’s lips and the inside of ears for dogs with standup ears.
Keep ‘Em Trimmed Giving your dog a lightweight haircut helps prevent overheating. Shave down to a one-inch length, but never to the skin, so your pet still has some protection from the sun.
Dogs Need Extra H20 Give your dog extra water while temperatures hover around 90 and above. Change the water often so it’s fresh and free from bacteria that can grow in warm, stale water.
Make a Safe Splash Do not leave pets unsupervised at the lake — not all pets are good swimmers. Introduce your pet to water gradually and if you decide to take your dog boating, make sure they wear a flotation device.
Watch for Heatstroke
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Dogs can develop heatstroke fairly quickly. Signs of this complication include excessive panting, staring, anxious facial expressions, warm skin, refusal to obey commands, vomiting, collapse and rapid heartbeat. If you suspect that your pet is suffering from this, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after just a few minutes of cooling. If this doesn’t help, take your dog to the vet immediately.
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By Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow, North America’s largest and fastest growing pet care franchise.
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ARCOSANTI:
A Participatory Environment THE BRAINCHILD OF AN ARCHITECTURAL VISIONARY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
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PHOTO BY ALFONSO ELIA
By Stacey Lane and Alexci Bodin
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Arcosanti view from the east.
A POST-APOCALYPTIC, EXPLORATORY WONDERLAND, RESEMBLING SOMETHING OUT OF A STAR WARS MOVIE, was my first impression of Arcosanti. Located near the Cordes Junction exit in Yavapai County this concrete and bronze behemoth comprises an otherworldly environment rising from the desert to exemplify how the power of nature and humankind can work together. Stepping out of a car, engulfed in a vista that spreads out for miles, I felt the wind as it tapped my shoulder. The vastness of the desert seemed limitless, when suddenly as I turned, I came face to face with a metal monolith rising out of the sand. As I walked down to the cafe, the planks of a wooden bridge creaked beneath my feet, and I looked down into a small canyon that wound out of sight to the west. In the cafe a giant circular window welcomed in the blue sky. The Italian born architect and urban theorist, Paolo Soleri, established his Architectural Design and Craft Studios in 1956 at “Cosanti,” located in Paradise Valley. A short time later he began the design and construction of his architectural experiment, a prototype for a city — Arcosanti — about 20 minutes north of Black Canyon City. His anti-materialistic stance demonstrates itself here in its name, the word “Cosanti” meaning “Cosa” and “Anti,” which together mean, literally “Before (or Against) Things.” His ideas demonstrate a frugal methodology when approaching life on earth. Designated as an Arizona Historic Site, Cosanti shares a unique bio-climatic architectural environment. Arcosanti consists of mixed-use buildings and public spaces where people work, live and participate in educational and cultural programs. The complex has been undergoing continual construction and modification since 1970, an effort involving over 7,000 volunteers. There are permanent residents, but their number has varied over time. Currently the resident population is 58 persons, but it has been as high as 110. Arcosanti Site Coordinator, Mary Hoadley, has been involved with the community since 1971. From 1978 to 1995, she and her family lived full time at Arcosanti. They left in 1995 so her daughter could attend Middle and High School in Phoenix. Since then, Hoadley estimates that she has made over 5,000 round-trips — in the service of a project that hopes to minimize the use of the automobile! “Paolo Soleri lived frugally and thoughtfully as a conscientious consumer,” mused Hoadley. “[Soleri’s conception] of Arcosanti as an alternative to sprawl spoke to all the concerns I had coming of age in the 60's: resource waste, pollution, age, class and racial segregation.” Although the infrastructure at present-day Arcosanti cannot meet all Hoadley’s lifestyle requirements, she is thoroughly convinced that, “It is worthy to try alternatives and mandatory that we find a way to live on the planet that all human beings can have access to.” Kate Bemesderfer and Julia Dorn-Giarmoleo, the Development and Public Relations Coordinators for Arcosanti, gave me a tour of the grounds and described the mission and vision of the Cosanti Foundation, a non-profit educational organization. They quoted Soleri’s definition of “arcology,” which provides the ideological basis for his dream project:
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Arcosanti Vaults viewed from north. The vaults are the midpoint of the Arcosanti site and design. This large public area provides space for events and meetings. PHOTO BY YUKI YANAGIMOTO
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FAST
FACTS
[Arcology is] ... an amalgam of the words “architecture” and “ecology.” The arcology concept proposes a highly integrated and compact three-dimensional urban form that pursues the opposite of urban sprawl, with its inherently wasteful consumption of land, energy, and time, tending to isolate people from each other and community life. In an arcology, the built environment and the living processes of the inhabitants interact as organs, tissues, and cells do in a highly evolved organism. This means that multiple systems work together, coordinated and integrated to minimize waste while maximizing efficient circulation of people and resources.
Visitors to Arcosanti can participate in three different workshops. These workshops run for one, two or five weeks. They all share the goal of educating people about the concept and execution of arcology. A one-week workshop offers participants basic information about Arcosanti and also teaches them how to make the bronze windbells for which Arcosanti is famous. The two-week workshop
• Paolo Soleri is an Italian born architect, urban theorist, artist and philosopher who established his Architectural Design and Craft Studios, Cosanti, in 1955 and later Arcosanti in 1970. • Arcosanti is the prototype for architect Paolo Soleri’s vision of an arcology. The idea of an arcology is the combination of architecture and ecology, a concept first conceived by Paolo Soleri in the 1950s.
gives participants the opportunity to experience the Cosanti site in Paradise Valley, where they can explore Soleri's original studios and get involved in hands-on activities, such as preservation and restoration work, throughout the course of the workshop. The five-week workshop is the most intensive, allowing the participants to immerse themselves in all that is offered at Arcosanti. By signing up for the five-week workshop, the registrant can apply for residency at Arcosanti. Students who attend are eligible to receive college credits from their university after completing a workshop. “These workshops are physically demanding, but that doesn't bother people as old as sixty-five,” said Kate with a laugh. “Your typical workshop will consist of people from the ages of 18 to 65 and
• Since the beginning of the project in 1970, the completed buildings amount to about 5 percent of the original plan, which will culminate in a building complex that supports 5,000 people.
involves people locally and internationally. Most international participants come from Italy, Japan, China and Canada. When I had my first workshop experience about one and a half years ago, I was just so shocked by all the beauty and diversity that Arizona has to offer. It's so much more than desert. I learned so much, so fast from being in the workshop and got such an incredible burst of experience.” Besides offering the workshops, Arcosanti is open to the public seven days a week with six tours
• Arcosanti has a variety of guest spaces throughout the site for overnight stays that are open to the public.
a day. With all that this magnificent and unique landmark has to offer, it is surprising to realize that local residents rarely stop by to visit. It is certainly worthwhile to spend a day exploring the grounds and learning how applying the principles of arcology might benefit the local, national and international communities. It is an important piece of Arizona culture that ought to be experienced as a work of ▲
art, a visionary social experiment and an architectural tour de force. To learn more visit; www.arcosanti.org and www.cosanti.com
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• Scottsdale’s picturesque Soleri Bridge and Plaza by Soleri is a pedestrian passage, solar calendar and gathering place along the Scottsdale Waterfront.
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By Michelle Talsma Everson
for the
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Who says Halloween fun has to end when you’re a kid? While we don’t recommend trick or treating solo (come on, that’s just weird), you can still have a frightening, good time visiting one of these nearby haunted attractions.
CHAMBERS OF FEAR HAUNTED HOUSE Surprise • www.chambersoffear.com If you’re in the mood for an intense haunted experience, head to the West Valley to visit the Chambers of Fear. “Chambers of Fear Haunted House is an intense dark attraction, filled with amazing actors, terrifying scares, incredible special effects and spine chilling entertainment,” according to Graveyard Entertainment, the company behind the spine chilling attraction. Dubbed “Arizona’s Scariest Haunted House,” the attraction features more than 25,000 square feet of scary space, including the Chambers of Fear, Den of Darkness and Scary Tales. Last year, the haunted hot spot added several scares and upgrades and was even featured on the Travel Channel! The Chambers of Fear Haunted House opens for its haunting season in mid-September and is only open on select dates, so be sure to check the website before getting your scare on. GHOSTLY SIDE NOTE: This haunted house doesn’t allow photography inside of the attraction but you can get photos with your favorite ghoul or goblin at the entrance. Also, leave the little kids at home — this attraction is best for kids ages 10 and up.
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HOTEL MONTE VISTA ▲ Flagstaff • www.hotelmontevista.com While Flagstaff is known for many things, like awesome weather, outdoor activities and NAU (go Jacks!), it’s also home to several attractions boasting paranormal activity. According to the Flagstaff CVB, Hotel Monte Vista is one of the most active haunted locations. “Rather than scaring travelers away, the reported ghost stories have attracted a variety of guests,” cites the hotel’s website. “Stories of the Hotel Monte Vista being haunted have been circulated for decades. The reported hauntings have been researched by various paranormal investigators and experienced by many hotel guests. The next story may be yours.” Some of the hotel’s ghostly residents are said to include a phantom bellboy who is still offering room service, and a young woman who roams the hall next to room 210. There are also rumors of a ghostly old woman who sits in a rocking chair in room 305, and bank robbers who stayed at the hotel may still roam the cocktail lounge. In addition, ongoing unexplained paranormal activity such as children running the halls, babies crying and lights turning on and off while furniture moves on its own is also regularly reported! Many ghost hunters stay here specifically for the haunts. If you plan on booking a room, be prepared for unexpected roommates. GHOSTLY SIDE NOTE: In addition to Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff’s other haunted attractions include NAU (which is surrounded by three cemeteries!), the Orpheum Theater, and the Weatherford Hotel. Visit www.flagstaffarizona.org to download a self-guided ghost tour of downtown Flagstaff. ▲
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FLAGSTAFF CVB
TRAPPED IN A ROOM WITH A ZOMBIE! Phoenix • www.actroomescapes.com If you’re looking for a more theatrical and interactive Halloween experience, Trapped in a Room with a ZOMBIE! is perfect for you and your ghostly crew. Presented by Ahwatukee Children's Theatre (ACT) Room Escapes, here’s the concept: “You are trapped in a room with a chained up zombie. You and your group have one hour to work together to find the clues to get the key to escape the room! Every five minutes the zombie's chain gets longer and, before long, he will be able to reach everyone in the room.” The creators of the unique experience note that it’s great for date night, parties and group outings. "It's up to your team to work together to uncover as many clues as possible in order to escape the room in under an hour," explains a spokesperson. “Oh yes, and don't get touched by the zombie or you are ‘eaten’ and need to stand to the side, but you can still verbally assist your teammates … every show is different because every group is different.” GHOSTLY SIDE NOTE: This show is not intended to be scary, but parents are advised to leave kiddos under eight at home. The shows take place on the weekends, so be sure to visit the site for available dates and times.
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THE FEAR FARM Phoenix • www.fearfarm.com There’s “terror in the corn” at the Fear Farm and Corn Maze, located in West Phoenix. Celebrating more than 15 years in the haunted business, the Fear Farm features five scary attractions, including Descent, Chainsaw Mayhem, Undead, Legends Lalorona, and Mouth of Madness. It’s a terrifying good time.
THE JEROME GRAND HOTEL Jerome • www.jeromegrandhotel.com Like the Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, the Jerome Grand Hotel is also rumored to have guests who were dying to stay. In fact, the hotel hosts regular ghost tours where paranormal enthusiasts are provided a tour guide, EMF meter, IR thermometer, and digital camera. If you document any ghostly guests during your tour you can save the memories on your personal CD to take home and scare your friends.
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ROB ZOMBIE’S GREAT AMERICAN NIGHTMARE Scottsdale • www.greatamericannightmare.com Featuring three haunted houses for the price of one, Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare is ready to frighten guests through Nov. 1. On opening night (Sept. 19), Rob Zombie will perform to usher in another season of scares.
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THE 13TH FLOOR Phoenix • www.13thflooraz.com Featuring two epic haunted attraction walkthroughs for one price, the 13th Floor “is an intense, graphic, theatrical show that will take you on a gut wrenching ride of visceral thrills and psychological horror,” according to its website. It features 60,000 square feet of shocking twists and horrifying turns in addition to the new Zombieland.
HIGH TECH HAUNTING If you’re looking for a fun, one-of-a-kind way to share your haunted travels with other paranormal enthusiasts, consider using a new app — Trover. It’s like Instagram, but for travel and cultural enthusiasts, and features several local and national Trover Lists so you can find a haunted (or just plain cool) spot to visit near you. www.Trover.com
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PAIN
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GLORY Get to know the latest and greatest mud runs the Valley has to offer this season By Craven Night
...YOU KNOW THE
KINESTHETIC PLEASURES OF PUSHING YOUR BODY HARDER THAN YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE ...
SOME MIGHT SAY THAT A CHEAP MEDAL AND A FREE T-SHIRT are far from appropriate reward for aching joints from running on tumultuous terrain, torn flesh tenderized by barbed wire, and beaten muscles pulverized by traversing 10-foot walls and carrying 60-pound bags of sand. I would say those people don’t know how to have some tough fun. Whether you’re a Spartan, a Tough Mudder, or a Rock ‘n Running Gladiator, you know the kinesthetic pleasures of pushing your body harder than you thought possible the night before your race. Every year more and more mud runs come on the scene, each one weirder and wilder than the ones before. If you are into drinking beer and wearing green, there is a St. Patrick’s run for you. If you like colors so much you want to be pelted with powdered chalk while you run, there is a run for that. But, if you are like me, an individual who enjoys the simple pleasure of freezing water and electrocution by proxy, there are a few runs that will appease your demented appetite for self-destruction. Three years ago I was assigned to compete and report on the Super Spartan race that invaded the terrain at Rawhide. I didn’t know what to expect; I thought, “Maybe some obstacles?” but I never imagined anything like what I saw. After a solid mile of running and jumping over cacti and large canal rocks, my soft writer ass was not ready for a quarter mile of running in and out of deep slippery mud pits topped off with a 50-yard dash with 60 pounds of sand on my back. It was an eight-mile race — do the math, I was screwed, but I sucked it up and finished, despite being mildly hypothermic at one point. Most writers would have gone to their editors and given them hell for such an assignment. Me? Well, I asked for seconds, and now after three seasons of mud runs, I have an even bigger appetite. The following list is comprised of a wide variety of races, and not all of them will land you in bed for two days. You can go it alone, like me, but groups usually get a discount, and it is a little more fun and a whole lot easier to have buddies with you. So, get off the couch, put down the magazine (after you’ve read it and told a friend about it) and do somethin’. Enjoy.
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XTERRA TRAIL RUN SERIES October 5, 2014 • 7:00 am Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 West Vineyard Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85338 www.xterraplanet.com BADASS DASH November 8, 2014 Kiwanis Park 6111 South All-America Way, Tempe, AZ 85283 www.badassdash.com RUGGED MANIAC November 22, 2014 Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler, AZ 85226 www.ruggedmaniac.com
The Classics SPARTAN February 7 & 8, 2015 • 9:30 am Open Waves Begin Fort McDowell Rodeo Grounds 9500 S. Rodeo Drive, Ft. McDowell, AZ 85264 www.spartan.com
KISS ME, I’M IRISH RUN March 14, 2015 • 7:17 am Westgate Entertainment District, Glendale www.irishrunaz.com
TOUGH MUDDER March 14 & 15, 2015 Eastmark 11349 South Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, AZ 85212 www.toughmudder.com
TUCSON MUD RUN October 4, 2015 • 8:50 am Old Tucson Studios 201 S. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85735 www.terrainracing.com
GLADIATOR ROCK N RUN October 13, 2015 • 8:00 am Estrella Mountain Regional Park 14805 West Vineyard Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85338 www.gladiatorrocknrun.com
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Now that you know where the action is, it’s time to prepare. Whether you’re just getting “off the couch” or a veteran muddy, it won’t hurt to put in a few reps before dropping into the fray. These five exercises are doable in any home and will suit all fitness and age levels. As always, remember to stretch before and after every workout and stay hydrated!
EXERCISE 1: THE BURPEE This classic military style exercise promotes both strength training and cardio. Start in a standing position and drop to a squat. Then, kick out your legs, do a push-up, and quickly get to your feet and hop. That’s one, try as many as you can. Do them in sets or all at once. EXERCISE 2: THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBER Feel the burn of a proper cardio and core blend. Start in a push-up position with your arms extended, then alternate your legs as if riding a bike — bring one knee at a time to your chest and then push it back. Mountain climbers can be manipulated into a pike by bringing both knees to your chest in a single hop and then hopping back to start position.
EXERCISE 3: TRICEPS DIPS Get an arm workout with these little beauties. Line up your back to the edge of a chair or the couch (you may need to remove a cushion because the padding will hinder the movement). Place the palms of your hands on the chair or couch edge with fingers facing forward. Extend your arms straight, then bend them slowly until your elbows are at a 90-degree angle and slowly return to the start position. The slower the movement, the fewer reps you need to do. EXERCISE 4: BROAD JUMP You might need a yard or some clear space in your den for this one. Do a squat and then release quickly into jump as high as you can manage. When you land, be sure to move into another squat in one fluid motion. Steady yourself and then jump again. Low reps with high results—you absolutely need to stretch before and after this exercise. EXERCISE 5: SPRINTS Try a sprint pyramid for some focused cardio work. Sprint 40 yards, jog 80, walk 20 and start over. This combination will build speed, but also reduce your recovery time, which will be tested with every obstacle in the endurance races listed above. Now there’s no excuse — you know how to prepare, sign up, and show up. So, get out there and have some fun!
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comedy By I.R. Hunthausen
Craftsman of Comedy Nick Guerra is quite possibly the freshest, fiercest and funniest up and comer in comedy
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This is a guy who not only enjoys, nay, loves what he does, but respects it — a true student of the hilarious arts.
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NICK GUERRA IS A TOUR DE FORCE. From humble beginnings doing stand-up for his fellow movie theater employees at the company Christmas party to taking on Last Comic Standing, Guerra is a modern day comedic Sun Tzu, studying his craft down to the finest delivery of every punch line. Guerra has spent the last decade working his way up the comedy ladder — earning every rung — which can’t be easy for a guy who tapes in at five foot five. But you know what the funny thing is about short dudes? They’ve got heart, and Nick is a guy who’s got a hell of a lot. This cat has traversed hundreds of miles and hours in a car just to take the stage at an open mic night. Dollar bills and celebrity thrills don’t clout the eyes of “The Little Longhaired Comic.” I had the opportunity to speak with Nick recently. What transpired was an experience, to say the least. While elements of superficiality and ego can weigh heavily on an interview, Nick was anything but pejorative. This is a guy who not only enjoys, nay, loves what he does, but respects it — a true student of the hilarious arts. “I don’t just go up there and do jokes,” Nick told me with an excited timber in his voice. “I have fun, I live in the moment, but to me [comedy] is very much how can I just magnify every bit of my performance so
that it is entertaining so my audience is like ‘That was great to see, I’m so glad I saw that.’” Guerra openly picks the minds of his friends, fans, and fellow comics for feedback on his work. Nick no doubt kills it on stage, but to Nick, killing it in the editing room is where the magic truly happens. Yes, some darlings were murdered in the making of Guerra’s set. Currently, Guerra is spending the majority of his time touring, trying to take advantage of the Last Comic Standing exposure. “You don’t realize how huge national exposure is until you’re nationally exposed. It’s just been a positive on all fronts,” Nick said with a laugh. Even with that sort of limelight shining over him, Nick remains humble, with his eye fixed firmly on the future. “There’s always little projects on the back burner, but I’m kind of superstitious so I never talk about them,” Guerra said. It’s Guerra’s dead to rights delivery that turns up the laughter to maximum volume. “The one thing I can control is my stand-up,” Nick asserted. “I was one of those guys who kept thinking about [standup] for years. I kept writing all these little jokes on the side and then tried to do a standup routine at this job I had at the time.” That routine took place at a
y
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FAST FACTS
• Nick Guerra is 5’5” and has never been in a fight. “I hope people don’t start saying ‘Oh well I’ll punch him.’ I’m good,” he joked. • There have been a variety of “aha” moments for Nick. “A big aha moment was when I started saying yes to gigs just to get on the road, and I realized you have to say ‘yes’ to everything so you can get strong.” • That six-hour drive to an open mic mentioned earlier ended up scoring Guerra eight months of work. • On one memorable occasion, Guerra had to follow a Catholic priest at a show. “It was shocking to do that,” he remembers. • Guerra worked for over three years at a movie theater. Some of his comedy chops were built there when he became the new employee trainer. “I had to entertain the bored fifteen-yearolds. I got used to entertaining a crowd.” • Guerra flooded a restaurant once when he was a manager. “We were waiting for the power washer and I got impatient.” So he tried to clean the place with a water hose.
Christmas party hosted by the manager of the movie theater Guerra was working at. That may have been the proverbial jumping off point, but even before then Guerra had a funny bone. “I’m told I was always making people laugh. It just comes with the territory of being small guy and not being able to fight,” Guerra said. Guerra is from a small Texas town where success in comedy didn’t seem possible. Despite watching comics like Richard Pryor as a teen, and always being followed by the laughter of his friends, Guerra didn’t feel his spark until he moved to Dallas — that and when he encountered John Leguizamo. “It
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most memorable bits from his Comic Revolution set was a joke that pokes fun at how his long hair makes it dangerous for him to go to bars. The biggest hit of that joke, when he turns around and shows the audience exactly how feminine a short dude with long hair can be, wasn’t originally there. “I used to just tell the audience how I looked,” Guerra said. It wasn’t until he tried out the joke with his back turned that he heard the immense reaction of the crowd. “The first time I flipped [around] and heard the huge response, I was like this joke is a whole lot funnier than I thought. It shocked me.” Guerra practices an almost manic
refinement of his work, “I noticed that if you whisper, some jokes hit harder.” There isn’t anything he won’t consider to pump up his set appeal. “My buddy told me, who’d been watching me, ‘did you know you got more laughs walking left to right than you did right to left on this certain joke.’” Guerra continued, “I study comedy like a science. I one hundred percent love comedy.” No doubt Nick. No doubt. It shows in his routine and when he is speaking, the passion of comedy exudes, even over the phone. Remember the name or just the hair — either way remember Nick Guerra, comedy’s next big personality. ▲
became a possibility when I moved to Dallas and that’s where I saw more of the comedy development. That was what sparked it. The last thing that sparked it was I saw John Liguizamo perform live, loved it and then saw the special a few months later and saw how the jokes changed.” Nick had never noticed this before. The idea that there is a real art, a craft to comedy truly inspired Guerra to pursue comedy full time. Later Guerra met Liguizamo, “I made him laugh so I’m happy about that. He said I look like Dave Grohl.” Guerra’s fierce funny is so honest you can almost hear the pulse in the vein from which his jokes were tapped. One of the
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wheels By Curt Blakeney
Test Drive
2015 FORD FUSION ENERGI TITANIUM
2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R LIMITED
The Fusion is a handsome sedan with three different engine options, including standard, hybrid and the Energi, Ford’s plug-in hybrid that adds 21 miles of electric range. The range doesn’t sound that impressive, but it beats the Toyota Prius and Honda Accord Plug-Ins, which are rated at only 10 allelectric miles. Under the hood, the Energi features a 2.0L I-4 Atkinson-cycle powertrain, coupled with electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT), pushing out 141-horsepower and 129 lb.-ft. of torque. In hybrid mode, its fuel economy is an impressive 42 MPG, making the Fusion an efficient grocery getter. And if your commute is less than 21 miles, you won’t spend a penny on gas. Inside, the MyTouch interface is standard with its four-quadrant touchscreen including navigation, climate, entertainment and phone controls at the driver’s fingertips. You can also access everything on the touch screen from strategically placed steering wheel controls. The Titanium model boasts kickin’ jams, courtesy of the Sony Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound system with 390 watts of power and 12 premium speakers.
Now in its fifth generation, the best-selling Outback has been completely redesigned for 2015. The crossover SUV that established the market 20 years ago is back with the roomiest interior, most capable chassis and highest fuel efficiency in its storied history. The 175-horsepower 4-cylinder Outback 2.5i model is available in Standard, Premium and Limited trim lines, and leading the charge is the top-of-line 6-cylinder 3.6R Limited with 256-horsepower. All Outback models come equipped with Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) and paddle-shift control switches. The stateof-the-art drivetrain delivers an impressive fuel economy of 25/33 mpg for the four-cylinder and 20/27 mpg for the six-cylinder. The six-cylinder Boxer engine adds some muscle and propels the Outback from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. With loads of technical gadgetry inside, industry-leading safety features and rugged offroad performance, the 2015 Outback is set to fly off dealer lots. The Limited version adds luxury amenities like perforated leather upholstery, leathertrimmed steering wheel, voice-controlled navigation, and an upgraded infotainment system.
C'mon man: It takes seven hours to charge the battery using a standard 120-volt outlet.
Price as tested: $37,325
Right on: A thumpin’ Harman Kardon 576-watt, 12-speaker sound system makes long road trips much more enjoyable.
Price as tested: $33,845
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2015 CHRYSLER 200S FWD
The modest Hyundai Tucson should appeal to car buyers looking for an affordable compact SUV with a reliable track record. This unpretentious 5-seater starts at $21,500 and comes with Hyundai’s industry-leading 10-year/100K powertrain warranty. Buyers can choose between a 164horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine or a 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard, while allwheel drive is optional. We test drove the top-of-the-line Limited FWD, which offers respectable 21/28 MPG ratings. Handling and acceleration were excellent, though the engine noise was quite noticeable. The soft leather-appointed interior of the Limited is comfortable and roomy. The Tucson does everything well for a small crossover SUV, but nothing exceptional. If you want to boost the vehicle’s coolness quotient, upgrade to the technology package, priced at $2,550, which adds a panoramic sunroof, seveninch navigation system with touchscreen and XM NavTraffic, LED tail lights and premium audio system.
Chrysler’s 2015 mid-size sedan is all new from the ground up, boasting contemporary but subtle styling and a modest price tag. It’s a prideful feather in the cap for American craftsmanship … it’s designed, engineered and built in Michigan. The 200 is offered in either a four- or six-cylinder engine in front-wheel or all-wheel drive versions. It’s the industry’s first mid-size sedan with a standard 9-speed automatic transmission, which enables fuel economy ratings to reach 32 MPG highway. In the test model, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine produces a best-in-class 295 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque, emitting a nice rumble when started. It rockets from zero to 60 in 6.0 seconds. Inside, the 200’s interior is sleek and modern with plenty of high-quality materials and clever design elements. It’s highlighted by a large center console with pass-through storage space, covered charging station and sliding cup holders. Atop the console, the Uconnect multimedia command center in the 200S boasts a monstrous 8.4-inch high-resolution touchscreen.
C'mon man: The Tucson was last redesigned in 2010, so it’s starting to feel a bit dated, lagging behind newer versions of the Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V.
C'mon man: I can’t say that I’m a fan of the rotary e-shift dial that replaces the traditional console shifter. It just feels weak.
Price as tested: $29,725
Price as tested: $31,220
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2015 HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED FWD
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Test Drive
2015 LEXUS RX 450h AWD
2015 LEXUS NX 200t
If you’re in the market for a luxury crossover SUV with a hybrid drive system, you should give strong consideration to the 2015 Lexus RX 450h. The RX line is a top-seller for Lexus and for good reason … it delivers luxury and performance in a car-based SUV. Under the hood of the RX 450h, the Hybrid Drive pairs a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 engine with a front-mounted 116-kW electric motor generator, with power from both channeled through a continuously variable transmission. The drive train churns out 295 total system horsepower and a respectable 30 MPG combined (FWD). The RX 450h is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions. The inside of the vehicle is posh, quiet and comfortable with ample space for five passengers and 40.0 cubic-feet of cargo space. The optional luxury package sparkles with 19-inch triple-split five-spoke wheels, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a stateof-the-art navigation system with 8-inch high-resolution multimedia display.
When Lexus releases a new model, car aficionados take notice. So it was no surprise there was a heightened atmosphere of excitement and anticipation as reporters gathered in Seattle over the summer for Lexus’ unveiling of the new NX. The consensus: Lexus hit a homerun with the NX. It’s a head-turner, a handsome SUV highlighted by the signature Lexus spindle grille, L-themed headlights and bold, sculpted body styling that should attract younger buyers. The NX 200t (Lexus also markets the NX 300h hybrid version) is powered by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 235 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, paired to a silky-smooth six-speed automatic transmission. It’s available in front-wheel drive or all-weather drive (AWD) versions. The cabin is luxurious and comfortable, as Lexus spared no expense with premium materials and soft leathers. Cutting-edge technology is everywhere, including the comprehensive Multi-information Display that features a G-Force meter and boost gauge.
Right On: The exclusive 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system delivers 330 total watts of power with a crystal-clear 0.1 percent total harmonic distortion.
Right on: The Wireless Charging Tray for Qi compatible phones and devices is a breakthrough in smart phone convenience, allowing you to charge your phone without cables.
Price as tested: $61,144
Price as tested: TBD
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1 Trunki PaddlePak This water-resistant backpack for children prevents damp items from leaking through after trips to the pool or beach, and also keeps contents inside dry throughout trips. $25; www.trunki.com 2 Ronco Pocket Fisherman Go fishing with the legendary pocket fishing pole and come back home with a great catch. The reel operates smooth and quiet. Complete spincasting outfit includes hook, swivel, practice casting plug, weight and bobber, and the handle serves as a mini tackle box. Folds for easy storage and conveniently clips on belt or wrist strap. $15; www.pocketfisherman.com
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3 Blackfire Lantern Powerful dual-action LED lantern doubles as a flashlight and clamps onto virtually anything, illuminating all your adventures. Equipped with two separate CREE LEDs and up to 230 lumens for better performance. $44.99; www.blackfire-usa.com 4 Outdoor Tech Tags Fashioned to hang like dog tags, these wireless Bluetooth earbuds make a bold statement and provide incredible hi-fi sound. Make and receive calls with the built-in mic. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 5 to 6 hours of use. $64.95; www.outdoortechnology.com
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5 Audible Rush Jam-Pac Premium Unique speaker system is hidden inside a weather-resistant bag that quickly attaches to (and detaches from) your bicycle handlebars. Holds wallet, keys and other personal items. Fits most iPhones, iPods, MP3 players and Android phones, holding them front-and-center for full access. $159; www.audiblerush.com
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6 DVroom Voombox Speaker This 3-inch Bluetooth speaker is rugged, powerful and splashresistant. Features a six-hour rechargeable battery and a built-in microphone to make and take calls wirelessly. Included metal carabiner design lets you clip it on to your belt, jeans or backpack. $49; www.divoom.com
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7 Glide Bike Mini Glider Glide Bikes are pedal-less bikes that help youngsters learn balance and gain confidence. With models designed for all age groups and skill levels, from 2-year-olds to adults, the whole family can enjoy. $89; www.glidebikes.com
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8 Buck Alpha Crosslock Hoofpick Designed for the trail rider or rancher, the Buck Alpha knife offers a hoof pick and modified spear point blade. The 3-inch, partially serrated spear point blade is perfect for everyday use and features one-hand opening and closing. $90; www.buckknives.com 9 Flik Flops Shoes Adorable flip-flops have unique LED lights on the outsole of the shoes that create a vibrant, lighted path with every step. The LED lights offer added safety while walking at night. $12.95; www.flikflops.com 10 Frogglez Goggles Designed by a parent who was frustrated with regular swim goggles, Frogglez are specifically designed to fit young swimmers from 3 to 8 years of age. Soft, stretchy elastic straps similar to a wetsuit material glide over hair and secure leak-resistant goggles without folding over ears or sliding down the back of the head. $19.95; www.frogglezgoggles.com
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1 GoFit Massage Roller A great way to increase flexibility and speed up post-workout recovery is through target-point therapy or self massage. The GoFit Massage Roller is a great tool to awaken tired muscles pre-workout, and to help knead aching muscles post-workout. $39.99; www.gofit.net 2 GOW Trainer Revolutionary fitness apparel (compression shirt for men, sports bra for women) has smart threads woven into the garment and comes complete with a clip-on heart rate monitor. It enables you to comfortably and easily track your progress, pace, calories/carbs burned, goals and much more with a free integrated smartphone app. $89.99; www.gowtrainer.com 3 Decibullz Contour Earphones Earphones that allow you to custom fit them to your ear (at home). The Contour offers a perfect fit and sound, letting you listen to the music without the hassle of earbuds falling out or growing uncomfortable. $59; www.decibullz.com
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4 Dream Duffel Perfect for dancers and fitness models, the Dream Duffel lets you roll into competition in style. Features a telescoping garment rack for quick outfit changes, and insulated snack pockets let you refuel any time of the day. Comes in three sizes. $135-$180; www.dreamduffel.com
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5 Topo Athletic ST Shoes Unique "Y"-shape design follows the natural shape of the foot, fitting snug and secure through the mid-foot and heel, but roomier in the toe box so the toes can spread and splay naturally. Extremely light without sacrificing durability and comfort. $90; www.topoathletic.com
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6 ROCK 360 Ab Roller Functionally free-flowing on any surface, the ROCK 360 provides a great ab workout for that tight six-pack. It takes the simplicity of the Ab Wheel and the Ab Dolly, but adds numerous exercises with multiple levels of progressions. $29.95; www.getrock360.com 7 Therafit Alexa Women's Shoe This lightweight trainer features Therafit’s patented technology that helps relieve stress on your lower body. Helps improve posture, increase support and reduce pain. $95; www.therafitshoe.com 8 GoMotion Synergy Hydration Vest Designed for the after-hours runner or hiker, this superlightweight, adjustable mesh vest features adjustable padded straps and a 100-lumen LED light at chest level for maximum visibility and comfort. Other features include reflective strips (front and back), reflective trim, and integrated cell phone pocket. $79.95; www.gomotiongear.com
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9 ActivMotion Bar Unique fitness bar is always moving and strengthening your core with every exercise, because it’s filled with rolling steel weights. Provides a multisensory workout experience. The moment you pick it up, you’ll hear the weights move inside and feel them challenging your body. $119 and up; www.activmotionbar.com
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10 TruRunner Exercise Belt Lightweight pack provides handy storage for essentials during your workout. Fully adjustable elastic belt stays in place for bounce-free stability and comfort. Pleated, weather-resistant pocket expands for roomy, protected storage of portable electronics and small personal items. $19.95; www.bracketron.com
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By Charles Hudson and Susan Lanier-Graham
Take a Break! These five staycation destinations in Arizona are sure to leave you relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated
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Staycations have been gaining popularity in recent years because they offer a chance to unwind and enjoy the fun of a vacation without ever venturing too far from your hometown.
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Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
AS 2014 WINDS DOWN, many of us lament the fact that we breezed right through the spring and summer months without taking an extended vacation. While it would be nice to book a 2-week-long vacation to the Bahamas, the reality is that employment and family commitments render a dream getaway almost impossible to coordinate. One way to enjoy some peaceful time away from the office — without spending much money or time away — is to schedule a staycation. Staycations have been gaining popularity in recent years because they offer a chance to unwind and enjoy the fun of a vacation without ever venturing too far from your hometown. In many cases, resorts even offer offer locals off-peak rates that
will allow you to stay at a four- or five-star resort for the price of a highway motel. These two seasoned staycationers explored some desirable options right here in Arizona that are easy to get to, relatively affordable, and most importantly, relaxing and fun. Here are our top five picks for great staycation destinations in Arizona.
HYATT REGENCY SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA AT GAINEY RANCH The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa is located in picturesque Gainey Ranch. This expansive 27-acre resort is framed against the majestic McDowell Mountains with breathtaking vistas, palm trees and flowering cacti as a spectacular
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alfresco, nestled around terrace fire pits, creating a convivial atmosphere. Top off an evening of great food with a complimentary gondola ride along the resort's waterways, complete with singing gondoliers. Noh offers authentic sushi, sashimi and traditional Japanese dishes with a contemporary twist. Canyon Market is open 24/7, brews fresh Starbucks Coffee, and offers snacks, ice cream, sandwiches and salads. The Resort also features three bars and lounges, serving up cocktails, wine and cold beer. Pool and Spa: A 2½-acre water playground serves as the resort's focal point. Water lovers can take the plunge into one of the resort’s 10 pools for a refreshing and fun day in the sun. The kids will gravitate toward the sandy man-made beach and three-story waterslide. The opulent Spa Avania will nourish, purify and restore balance to your body and mind. There are 19 treatment rooms (including three couples rooms and five garden treatment rooms with their own private entrance), a French-Celtic mineral pool and lotus pond, trellis covered outdoor relaxation areas, a yoga room, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, men’s and women’s relaxation and locker areas, a steam and sauna, hot and cold plunges and a full-service salon. Innovative
therapies ensure total restoration. The spa specializes in holistic and organic skincare, massage, and body treatments for men and women. The Renewal Facial — a deep purifying facial highlighted by masks, serums and moisturizers that resurface, revitalize and hydrate the skin — is wonderful. Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road Scottsdale, Ariz., 85258 480.444.1234 www.scottsdale.hyatt.com
LOWES VENTANA CANYON RESORT Lowes Ventana Canyon, set at the foothills of Tucson’s Catalina Mountains, offers 398 rooms and suites, all with private balconies or patios. The resort sports two Tom Fazio designed PGA golf courses along with a spa and numerous dining opportunities. Rooms all include extended seating areas and are designed in a Southwest style with the warm earth tones of the desert. Beautiful mountain view rooms celebrate the Arizona desert with floor-to-ceiling windows and fully furnished private patios. There are numerous activities available at the resort, including night time star gazing,
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backdrop. The moment you step inside the breezy lobby, you realize you’re in for a memorable Southwest experience. The resort truly is a desert oasis. Shaded by towering palms and enhanced by manicured gardens and paths, the property has pools, waterfalls and lagoons seemingly everywhere. The resort offers 493 spaciously remodeled guestrooms and suites, including private casitas. Guestrooms feature southwestern decor with maple and cherry woods — plush accommodations that are warm and inviting. Hyatt Grand beds come with Hyatt Grand pillowtop mattresses and premium bedding. Each room is equipped with WiFi, ab iHome Stereo with iPod docking station, and a 37" flat screen TV. Dining: The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort has three dining choices. SWB, a southwest bistro, dishes out food with flare from wood-fired ovens and a Sunday brunch that is first class. For international tastes, Alto ristorante e bar serves up fresh and flavorful Italian dishes with an emphasis on seasonal offerings. Formaggio & Salumi Cellar, Alto’s unique collection of Italy’s best artisanal cheeses and meats, are complimented by its extensive selection of wines from around the world. Dinner is served indoors and
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Omni Scottsdale Resort
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shopping in six retail shops and exploring the outdoors along the half-mile paved Window Walk Nature Trail. As guests wander the trail, they can find out more about the Sonoran Desert through the more than 200 signs lining the path. Highlights include a large Koi Pond and an 80-foot waterfall. Lowes Ventana Canyon charges a $25 resort fee that includes parking, use of the fitness center, unlimited local calls, one hour per day of tennis court space and a shuttle to nearby scenic Sabino Canyon. Dining: Visitors on the run can stop by Vista Barista for coffee and pastries, but those with more time can check out the offerings at Canyon Café. Open for both breakfast and lunch, the casual Canyon Café offers both indoor seating and outdoors on the terrace. Poolside meals are served up by Bill’s Grill while Cascade, a scenic lounge off the lobby, serves up signature cocktails and light bites. For the best dining experience on property, guests can book a table at Flying V Bar and Grill, which serves up Southwestinspired cuisine overlooking the 18th hole of the golf course. Before dinner, guests can select from one of 70 tequilas on the patio in front of the roaring fire. Once ready to eat, the not-to-miss dish is the restaurant’s tableside guacamole. One of Tucson’s most popular events happens every Sunday at Loews Ventana Canyon. The Blues, Brews and BBQ Sunday Brunch serves up a selection of breakfast favorites along with everything from BBQ ribs and burgers to salmon and sushi poolside to the background sounds of smooth jazz. Pool and Spa: The 7,000-square-foot Lakeside Spa celebrates the resort’s location in the beautiful Sonoran Desert with ▲
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desert-inspired body treatments and facials. The adult only Serenity Pool at the spa includes a hot tub. Spa guests can also enjoy spa cuisine, a salon for nail and hair treatments, facials, a fitness center, a boutique and a relaxation lounge. The water action takes place at the main pool, where kids can enjoy water toys while the adults lounge on chaises under the Arizona sunshine. Lowes Ventana Canyon 7000 N. Resort Drive Tucson, AZ 85750 520.299.2020 www.loewshotels.com
OMNI SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA AT MONTELUCIA The Omni Scottsdale Resort offers OldWorld Spanish charm inspired by southern Spain’s Andalusia. The resort sits at the foot of majestic Camelback Mountain, giving way to the name “Montelucia” — mountain of light in Spanish. Wandering the magnificent property transports visitors to another time and place. Walk down fountain-lined Alhambra Walkway, styled after the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain. Experience the Old World
surrounded by the more than 170 Spanish and Moroccan antiquities that dot the resort, including a set of 16th century hand- carved doors from Andalusia. There are 333 oversized rooms and suites, all designed in a Spanish and Moroccan motif featuring Cantera stone, dark woods, rich jewel tone accents, Divine Beds by Joya Spa and a master bath retreat with deep soaking tub. Every room has a large patio or balcony with luxurious chaise lounge and a full size table inside for intimate dining. Dining: Guests at the Omni Scottsdale Resort have a multitude of dining options. The signature restaurant is the AAA Four Diamond Prado serving Mediterranean flavors using fresh Arizona ingredients. Guests can order one of the many shareable tapas, choose from a selection of house made pastas or order up a Chilean sea bass. Diners can experience the intimacy of the restaurant or dine on the patio in front of the roaring fire. Mbar, adjacent to Prado, specializes in a wide selection of tequilas. For a touch of ultra modern Seville, but with a New American menu, CENTRO Lounge is open for happy hour and dinner. The bright white tables and floor-to-ceiling windows are a backdrop for small bites, classic comfort food, creative cocktails and
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locally brewed beers. Guests can dine inside and enjoy the 9-panel media wall, lounge in the outdoor spaces under the Arizona skies or snuggle up in front of one of the fire pits. For a quick bite, Crave Café serves coffees, house-made gelato, sandwiches and pastries. If guests prefer intimate inroom dining, a 24-hour room service menu is also available. Pool and Spa: The Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort offers a calming Moroccan-inspired décor and an over-thetop relaxation experience in the Whisper Room. Spa guests can experience a Hammam steam shower, work out in the fitness center or visit the salon. The signature Joyambrosia scent, extracted from the rare Queen of the Night flower, is used in the signature Joya Massage. Joya Terrace offers a private pool with luxury chaise lounges and a selection of bites and sips from the spa café, including bubbly or a smoothie and a selection of homemade flatbreads. Omni Scottsdale Resort also offers two additional pools. The Kasbah pool is the spot for fun in the sun. There are cabanas, lounge, restaurant and bar. Enchanting fire features surround the pool, which is open from 7 am to midnight daily. The adult-only Oasis pool offers a peaceful experience, complete with whirlpool spa, cabanas and The Pavilion, where guests can order up small bites or a signature Montelucia Mai Tai or glass of chilled Sangria.
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Hilton Sedona Golf Resort & Spa
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Hilton Sedona Golf Resort & Spa
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia 4949 E. Lincoln Road Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480.627.3200 www.montelucia.com
Dining: The Grille at ShadowRock serves fresh regional cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner options include starters such as a lobster quesadilla or fish tacos, along with main plates such as steaks, salmon and prime rib. Diners can relax in the main restaurant or dine on the patio in front of a roaring fire overlooking the golf course and Sedona’s red rocks. The ShadowRock Bar is a full-service bar inside the grille that specializes in Small Batch Tequilas and Vintage Wines. Seasonally, guests can order small bites and libations poolside from Blue Water Café. Room service is also available during select hours. Pool and Spa: Celebrate the serenity of Sedona at eforea: spa at Hilton Sedona. The 25,000 square foot space features luxury locker rooms, tennis courts, genderspecific saunas and steam rooms, a 25meter heated lap pool, indoor/outdoor whirlpools, free fitness classes in the 2500
HILTON SEDONA GOLF RESORT & SPA Hilton Sedona Golf Resort & Spa is located about two hours north of Phoenix against the backdrop of the red rocks of Sedona. The luxury golf resort boasts an 18-hole championship golf course and putting greens. The resort is close to Sedona’s 40 art galleries, as well as the dozens of shops and restaurants. Nearby are all the outdoor offerings that make Sedona unique, including more than 200 miles of hiking and bike trails, off-road desert tours and horseback rides. The 219 rooms and suites at Hilton Sedona, each decorated with soothing Southwest desert colors and kiln-dried alder wood furniture from Mexico, offer breathtaking views of the Sedona red rocks or the golf course greens. Each room features the Hilton Serenity Bed with down-filled comforters and pillows. All rooms include refrigerators, wet bars and microwave ovens. Regular guest rooms have gas fireplaces while suites offer separate living rooms and dedicated dining areas. King Whirlpool Suites include a Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom. The pet-friendly resort includes a $20 per room per night resort fee that covers WiFi access, local calls, spa access (treatments available for a fee), tennis courts, fitness center and classes, discounts at the Pro Shop and kids under 10 eat free with an adult.
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Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
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square foot fitness center, separate clothing-optional sundecks, nail/hair salons and the Fitness Café day lounge. The spa specializes in holistic spa experiences, energy healing treatments and body therapies. In addition to the lap pool at the spa, there are two other pools at the resort. The ShadowRock Pool is the adult pool while families can have loads of fun at the Cascade Pool.
SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain is a AAA Four-Diamond luxury boutique resort and spa in the upscale enclave of Paradise Valley. The resort, perched on the north slope of Camelback Mountain, got its start as one of Scottsdale’s premier tennis resorts. Today, the resort is world-renowned for its Sanctuary Spa. There are a total of 105 casitas. The 81 mountain casitas are terraced into the side of Camelback Mountain. Each has contemporary interiors with wood, limestone, sleek furnishings and comfortable desert hues. Some have fireplaces and outdoor terraces. The 24 spa casitas surround the resort’s infinity edge pool and Sanctuary Spa. The color palette reflects guests’ desires for peace and tranquility. Some spa casitas have lava rock fireplaces, wet bars, large patios and outdoor soaking tubs. All rooms include lush goose down feather beds with Frette linens.
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Dining: The dining at Sanctuary on Camelback receives international accolades. The signature restaurant, Elements, is under the direction of Food Network’s Chef Beau Macmillan. It serves up farm fresh American food with Asian touches. Diners rave about the Korean style short ribs, organic salmon and bacon wrapped filet of beef. A favorite side is the brussel sprouts and pork belly hash. For before dinner drinks or a night cap, head to Elements’ deck, an outdoor patio in front of and slightly below Elements, overlooking the infinity pool with outdoor sofas and built in heaters. It’s an ideal spot for watching the sun set behind the Camelback. A fun spot for exotic drinks — or a glass of wine — is Jade Bar, adjacent to Elements. The bar offers great sunset views, or guests can opt to sit on the secluded outdoor patio with the blazing fire bowl for cool evenings. A full menu is also available at Jade Bar. Pool and Spa: The Asian-inspired Sanctuary Spa is a luxury retreat with both indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. Spa guests can visit the fitness center and movement studio, explore the meditation garden and reflection pond or opt for a treatment in the Watsu pool. The spa
boasts a 25-yard lap pool and, in keeping with its tennis heritage, it offers its guests use of five tennis courts. In addition to the spa pool, the resort’s signature infinity edge pool is located below Elements, with breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain. The infinity edge pool is adult only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but there are two smaller satellite pools on the property that are open to both children and adults. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain 5700 E. McDonald Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480.948.2100 www.sanctuaryaz.com ▲
Hilton Sedona Golf Resort & Spa 90 Ridge Trail Drive Sedona, AZ 86351 928.284.4040 www.hiltonsedonaresort.com
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goodhealth By Roger Teeter
Invest In Your Back Three simple changes in your life can lead to a healthier back
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FEELING GOOD AND LOOKING GOOD ARE TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES that require time and attention if we want to maintain a happy and healthy life. Over the past 34 years, I have been an advocate for back health and the benefits of inversion therapy, often traveling the world to share my own experience. I have interacted with countless people who invest more into looking good rather than feeling good. Just think about the amount of time and money you spend to acquire healthy skin or maintain your hair. If you have a bad hair day, you can wear a hat … but if you have a bad back day, then you aren’t going anywhere! The aches and pains we experience as we age, or as a result of our physical activity or work, can often be traced to our spinal health. Pain in our hips, knees, neck and other load-bearing joints, limb numbness and tingling, back pain or muscle spasms are all linked to our spine and back health. To remedy these issues, here are three ways you can invest in your back, start feeling good again, and get back to doing what you love. GOOD POSTURE The construction of your spine has four main elements: vertebrae, discs, the spinal cord and nerves. Vertebrae and discs make up the structure of your spine and protect the spinal cord and the nerves which reach every part of your body. The American Chiropractic Association says that good posture is the body position
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which best resists gravity. You can’t escape gravity, so walking and sitting in good posture allows you to minimize its impact on your spine. When I asked Dr. William Tontz, an orthopedic surgeon in Yuma, Arizona, to describe how our discs are impacted by gravity, he explained, “The discs between each vertebra are fluid-filled shock absorbers like you have on your car. When you get up in the morning, you may be 6’ 1”. When you go to bed at night, you’re actually about 6’ ½”; you lose about ¼ to ½ inch of height as those shock absorbers get squeezed and the fluid is expelled.” Daily height loss is noticeable during even the simplest of activities: you may notice that you have to adjust the rear-view mirror down when you drive in the evening. You are actually shorter because your discs have lost height.
Compressed discs can result in reduced flexibility and can cause muscle tension, as well as contribute to the circumstances which cause herniated discs, misalignments and pinched or aggravated nerves. Pills may cover up the symptoms of these issues, but they don’t address the root cause. Physical therapists and chiropractors can help restore good posture, but you can also do it in the comfort of your own home and with less cost with an inversion table. DAILY INVERSION Inversion has been around for 3,000 years, was documented as a medical treatment by Hippocrates around 400 BC, and much later became re-popularized in the U.S. in the late 1970s-early 80s. After inversion relieved my own longtime struggle with
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debilitating back pain, my wife and I decided to start our own inversion company, Teeter Hang Ups, in 1981. By inverting, you use your body weight and gravity to naturally relax your tight muscles and decompress your load-bearing joints and spine, allowing your body the chance to realign itself. Since starting Teeter Hang Ups, we have heard from thousands of the over 2.5 million people who invert using our products, and they all have amazingly similar stories about how inversion has helped them regain their back and joint health.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Sometimes when I’m on a live TV or radio show, one of our loyal Teeter customers calls and asks, “Inversion got rid of my back pain! Now what do I do?” Sticking with your daily inversion routine is important, but we also have to remember what probably caused that pain in the first place: a weak support structure. Your spine can do a lot, but pairing good posture with a strong core is the best way to prevent future back pain or injury. Now that the pain is gone, get active. Do some exercise and target your core with sit-ups, crunches and squats. These exercises while fully inverted help to ensure you are doing it in proper form without placing uncomfortable or damaging loads on your spine, which happens during traditional floor exercises. We all know the benefits of exercise and remaining active. With the increased flexibility and energy you have found through inversion, you can focus on improving your strength and cardiovascular health for improvement to your overall wellness. The return on investing in your back health really is priceless. By simply working on good posture, incorporating a daily inversion routine, and engaging in a healthy lifestyle, you will not only be feeling good, but you will be looking good too. You will be standing up straighter, holding your head higher, and chances are you will be smiling more because you will be able to enjoy the activities you love without back pain slowing you down. ▲
... you use your body weight and gravity to naturally relax your tight muscles and decompress your loadbearing joints and spine...
I’ve been inverting for more than 30 years, and I attribute being virtually painfree to making time to invert once a day (twice if needed), as do a good number of people who have found back pain relief with inversion. Dr. Tontz says, “People who invert daily do far better than people who invert for three weeks to relieve their pain, reinjure again in a year, and then start inverting again until their pain is relieved.” In other words, make inversion a daily routine like brushing your teeth and you’ll begin to see the long-term benefits. Just like any other exercise routine, start slowly by inverting to a shallow angle or for just a few short minutes. Progressively increase your effort as your comfort and experience improves. People are often amazed at how much better they feel by inverting for three to five minutes a few times a day.
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Taco-Topia Comes to Scottsdale The 5th Annual Arizona Taco Festival will be staged at Salt River Fields on Oct. 18 and 19
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weighed for presentation, taste and texture. Cumulatively, the scores lead to an overall Grand Champion title and $1,000 checks each day. Outside the judges' tent, this exciting festival rages on with live Lucha Libre wrestling, a now-legendary Tequila Expo with more than 30 brands participating, and live surf and salsa bands on the main stage. A contest stage also will feature “Best Sombrero” contests, interactive entertainment and the always popular “Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant.” Tequila Expo Tent, Sat., Oct. 18. The main tent hosts the popular Tequila Expo. Inside, patrons can sample from more than 100 tequilas. A tasting pass is $20 for 10 samples of fine tequila.
Ay Chihuahua! Beauty Pageant, Sun. Oct. 19. Sunday at 2pm, watch more than 15 sassy Chihuahuas strut across the Yelp Contest Stage. Live Lucha Libre Wrestling. Enjoy live Lucha Libre wrestling all weekend long from comfortable seating around the ring. Also, get a chance to meet the wrestlers themselves during the meet-and-greet. Tickets and Parking. General admission tickets are $12; kids 12 and under FREE. General admission two-day passes are $20. VIP tickets are $85 in advance online and $100 day of and include limited drinks from the VIP bar, taco tokens, and private restroom facilities. Parking is FREE for all patrons. Purchase tickets online at www.SaltRiverFields.com/events.aspx. ▲
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THE 5TH ANNUAL ARIZONA TACO FESTIVAL is set to bring another year of fiesta fun with more than 50 teams competing for $10,000 in cash, while an expected 25,000 attendees nosh their way through more than 100 types of tacos throughout the weekend. Arizona Taco Festival, Sat. and Sun., Oct. 18 and 19, will run from 11am to 7pm each day, offering $2 tacos in chicken, pork, beef, seafood, veggie, dessert, and anything-goes varieties, as well as salsa, guacamole and other related Mexican fare. Restaurants, caterers, amateurs, and nightclubs are prepared to sell enough tacos to cumulatively dish out 100,000 total tacos for attendees. The Arizona Taco Festival pits these participants against each other in a doubleblind competition. Tacos are submitted to more than 50 National Taco Association judges sequestered in a closed tent for truly anonymous scoring. Points are awarded and
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Jetset Party in Scottsdale Airpark says Lehman, who has signed on as the event’s official honorary chair. Weekend Jetaway will take place in a private jet hangar within the Scottsdale Airpark on Saturday, Nov. 1. It will feature live music and both gourmet food and drink from chefs across the Valley including Alliance Beverage, Proof Canteen at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort Troon North, Talavera at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort Troon North, Sassi, SOL Cocina, The Yacht Club, Tom’s Thumb Marketplace, The Melting Pot and many more as well as dancing, a luxurious silent
auction and even games — with the winner from the evening taking home a free trip for four on a private jet. Tickets are all-inclusive of food, drinks and entertainment and start at $100 per person. Sponsorships are available now and range from $500 to $10,000. Silent and live auction packages are also being accepted through the end of the month. To get involved at any level, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.weekendjetaway.org or contact committee team member Alison Bailin at abailin@hmapr.com or 602-318-3775. ▲
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FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, PGA golf superstar Tom Lehman has been working to elevate. And he isn’t referring to his golf game. “In 2009, I had the great honor to become a founding board member of Elevate Phoenix, a unique and often lifechanging program for Arizona youth that provides in-school teaching; after-school mentoring/tutoring; career instruction/ post-secondary preparation; character, life skills and peer leadership development; community service; adventure activities; and reading/literacy improvement within urban public schools,” says Lehman, a DC Ranch resident. Currently, Elevate Phoenix is serving 4,500 local students at a cost of just $222 per student. As the nonprofit organization got off the ground, it was funded wholly by contributions from businesses and civic organizations. However, with an eye toward growing the number of children it serves, Lehman and Elevate Phoenix are pleased to announce the launch of its first-ever signature fundraising event, the Weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic, presented by AXA Advisors Southwest. “Weekend Jetaway is the brainchild of local wealth management firm AXA Advisors Southwest and partners as both a way to bring its own staff together on a volunteer effort and raise funds for a local nonprofit – we are especially proud the funds will be used toward our local kids,”
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By Alison Bailin Batz
Tom Lehman to host weekend Jetaway Culinary Casino Classic on November 1
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realestate
By Michelle Talsma Everson
Out-of-State and Second Home Buyers Expert real estate tips for this important buying demographic
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A large number of both winter visitors, out-ofstate and international home buyers are still finding value in the Valley of the Sun
Bramlett
A RECENT REAL ESTATE REPORT from Arizona State University (ASU) reveals that nearly 20% of Valley homebuyers are from out of state. In addition, nearly 12% of homebuyers purchased local homes that are used as second homes or vacation houses. Because of statistics like these, it’s important to keep out-of-state and second home buyers in mind when marketing upper end residences, according to real estate expert Gary Colin of Keller Williams Realty/Sonoran Living. “A large number of both winter visitors, out-of-state and international home buyers are still finding value in the Valley of the Sun,” Colin explains. “Move-in ready homes
on the water, golf course properties and homes in gated communities can be purchased here for a fraction of the cost of other states. Home sellers need to be aware that, according to statistics, these buyers can make up nearly 30% of the homes purchased, even over this past summer.” Colin goes on to explain that turnkey properties that are ready to move into and lifestyle options are both important factors to discerning homebuyers. “From my experience, turnkey properties with little improvements needed are very in demand as those looking for that second home or retirement home and want to be able to move in quickly and make minimal home improvements,” he says. “Of course, lifestyle plays a big role in the selection as well, whether it be waterfront, golf course or gated communities, these type of amenities seem to attract buyers who want to enjoy all that the Valley has to offer.” He offers more pointers for today’s home sellers: • Don’t overlook Canadian buyers. In fact, having an affiliation with a brokerage who has both national and international exposure provides a seller and a buyer significant advantages as many agents
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• When marketing your home to out-ofstate and second home buyers, keep in mind that it’s about the lifestyle perks too. “A majority of buyers are looking for that turnkey property that offers community benefits that complement their leisure.” As with all things in real estate, it’s all about timing, too. “With the Super Bowl and the Phoenix Open coming up, now’s the time to cater to out-of-state and international buyers as they’re going to be in the Valley,” Colin says. For more information, contact Gary Colin at Keller Williams Realty/Sonoran Living at 602.501.4580 or gary@garycolin.com.
Canadian buyers There are many subtleties to keep in mind when selling homes to Canadian buyers. Heather Villalobos, an escrow officer with Magnus Title Agency, notes that one is FIRPTA, the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act. Villalobos says that, according to FIRTA, foreign sellers are subjected to a holding of 10% of the sales price if the home is more than $300,000 or if the buyer does not plan to reside in the property for more than 50% of the time. For more details, consult a professional escrow officer or real estate expert.
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refer their clients to other agents that they trust. For example, Keller Williams Realty has more than 100,000 agents with 22 Canadian branches that have over 2,300 individual agents. • out-of-state buyers will often come to the Valley for two to three weeks a few months prior to survey the market. Then, they will most likely contact a name brand or internationally recognized real estate group to begin their search. “When spending $350,000 or more, they look for professional representation that can assist in transactions so that the sale is seamless, giving traditional listings with a realtor a strong advantage,” he notes.
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