Rawhide Western Town Chandler, AZ
Growing Up C
hances are you’ve seen a green wall, or living wall, in a large building lobby or a hip modern office. At first, plants seemingly growing out of the wall may seem like an odd idea. But more and more soil-free decorative gardens are taking root on vertical spaces in and around cities, parks, and even in homes. But what exactly are green walls and why are they suddenly so popular?
The Wild West is closer to home than you may think! Rawhide Western Town is Arizona’s largest Western-themed attraction. The authentic replica of an 1880s frontier town and legendary steakhouse is known world-wide as a “must-see Arizona Destination.” With dozens of Wild West attractions and unique retail shops, Rawhide offers guests non-stop action. The Rawhide Steakhouse serves delicious cowboy fare including mesquite-grilled steaks and mouthwaterin’ barbecue with all the fixin’s and live entertainment nightly. Rawhide is open to the public during scheduled events and festivals. Source: VisitChandler.com/listings/rawhidewestern-town-and-event-center/82/
Living walls originally took root in cities and offices where people longed for greenery but horizontal space was limited. To incorporate green plants into their surroundings, builders and decorators looked up. Not only do these living walls cover unseemly or bare places and offer visual appeal but they also promote health and wellness. How? Well, not only have green plants been shown to lift one’s mood, promote positive energy, and reduce stress but they have also been shown to be beneficial to your health. As you’ll recall from biology class, green plants take in carbon dioxide and pollution and emit clean oxygen for us to breathe. That’s right – plants literally clean the air! And who wouldn’t want that? After all, current studies show that our indoor air—where most of us now spend most of our time—is actually more polluted than outdoor air. Enter plants and green walls to the rescue! Large-scale living walls in public spaces usually rely on nutrient-rich drip irrigation rather than soil to keep the plants alive. But it is possible to recreate a smaller scale living wall in your own home, indoors or outside your window, with a less intricate recirculating watering system. Pre-designed home green walls can be ordered online or you can be creative and make your own living wall with self-contained plants. Plants can be scattered about or some people prefer to mount them inside a frame serving as a focal point for a living room or entryway. You can also try lining up plants on shelves or simply on a moveable bookcase or cart, which allows viewing from both sides. Suggested greenery includes ferns, grasses, and other low-water plants that need basically the same amount of light and water to make growing them easier. And finally, adding herbs to a kitchen green wall is not only pleasing to the eye, but also to the palate. Bonus: It will even smell good when you walk by. Your guests will be green with envy!
LIFEWISE
Location, Location, Location
M
odern movie making has allowed producers to create entire rooms, buildings, cities and even planets – all on a soundstage in Hollywood with the help of technology and a green screen. There may not be a real Jurassic Park near Costa Rica, populated with hundreds of extinct creatures, but you can visit those lush valleys in Hawaii at the Kualoa Ranch and use your imagination. Movie buff, travel hound or a bit of both, you’ll find numerous recognizable and famous film locations all over the country. Located at 2121 Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles is Fox Tower, which stood in as Die Hard’s Nakatomi Plaza. Further north, Alfred Hitchcock liked the isolated feel of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County when shooting The Birds. There, you can see the Potter Schoolhouse where kids learned a nasty lesson in ornithology. The Midwest is home to several nostalgic favorites. Although The Christmas Story takes place in Indiana, the Parker house (exterior) is actually in Cleveland. A fan of the cult classic purchased the home and turned it into an exact replica – inside and out – and it now serves as a museum for other devotees. Another notable Ohio movie was The Shawshank Redemption, which was shot in the shuttered Ohio Reformatory in Mansfield. Much of science fiction and dystopian scenery
is understandably digital creation, but the fantastically futuristic training center and quarters in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is none other than the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, known for its soaring atrium and glass elevators. Further east you’ll still find the Mountain Lake Lodge Hotel in Virginia where Baby was rudely put in a corner for Dirty Dancing. In New York there’s Katz’s Delicatessen where Sally showed Harry what accomplished actresses women can be in the bedroom. There’s a plaque marking the table of her infamous performance. Martha’s Vineyard is home to several locations that doubled for the shark-infested town of Amity in Jaws. Some iconic locales aren’t buildings but Mother Nature’s work. Moab, Utah is easily recognized as the true-to-life scene of 127 Hours, as well as some of Thelma and Louise’s ill-fated adventure. The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming was America’s first national monument but will be forever known as home base for Close Encounters of the Third Kind. If movies are your life or if you’re looking to add some novelty to your U.S. excursions, there are many books and websites dedicated to pointing you in the right direction. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover you live mere miles from where The Texas Chainsaw Massacre went down.
Skillet Chai Apple Crisp FLAVORFUL
LOCAL VENUE
INGREDIENTS 1 tb
Water
1/3 cup All-purpose flour
5
Sliced baking apples
1 tsp
Ground ginger
1/4 cup Light brown sugar
1 tsp
Ground cardamom
3 tbl
Melted butter
1/3 cup Old-fashioned oats
1/4 tsp
Kosher salt
2 tsp
1/4 cup Sliced toasted nuts 1/2 tsp
Ground cinnamon
Juice from one small lemon
Ground allspice
DIRECTIONS Combine oats, 1/3 cup flour, almonds, brown sugar, salt and all but 1 teaspoon spice mixture in medium bowl; stir in butter until combined. Place apples, granulated sugar, remaining 1 tablespoon flour, reserved teaspoon of spice mixture, lemon juice and water in large mixing bowl; stir to coat. Pour into a 10-inch cast iron or ovenproof skillet; cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Sprinkle oat mixture over apples. Bake at 375° F for 20 minutes or until filling is bubbling and topping is lightly toasted. Cool for 10 minutes.
Goodnes.com