Event Calendar November | December 2013
Ocean Prime 5th Year Anniversary Week Ocean Prime | November 11-17 480.347.1313 | OceanPrimePhoenix.com Ocean Prime Celebrates its 5th anniversary by offering guests a special five-course menu in addition to the regular dinner menu. Designed by executive chef Jagger Griffen, the anniversary menu features several of Ocean Prime’s most popular dishes and includes a glass of Prosecco with dessert. White Christmas Phoenix Theatre | November 20-December 24 602.254.2151 | PhoenixTheatre.com Celebrate the holidays with this true Irving Berlin classic! White Christmas is a great musical theatre story of the two World War II veterans with a successful song-anddance act. With love on their minds, they meet up with a duo of beautiful singing and dancing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which happens to be owned by their former army commander. The Nutcracker Symphony Hall | December 6-24 602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org A holiday celebration to share! Dancing toys, mischievous mice, waltzing flowers and sparkling snowflakes dance to Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score performed by The Phoenix Symphony. This holiday classic tells the story of Clara and her magical Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a thrilling adventure. Each year Ballet Arizona rings in the season with Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker, creating memories to cherish forever. A Holiday Jazz Celebration with Marty Ashby Musical Instrument Museum | December 21 480.478.6000 | TheMIM.org Marty Ashby will present a Holiday Jazz Celebration, this time with a full seventeen-piece big band! The evening will feature new arrangements of some holiday favorites as well as a few special twists and surprises. This year’s featured guest is trumpet master Sean Jones, one of the hottest musicians on the jazz scene today.
Cooler weather makes for perfect hiking conditions in Arizona. So now that there’s a chill in the air, hit the trails for some amazing scenery, a little adventure, and endless photo-ops. But with hundreds of hiking trails, where do you begin? Lucky for us, our area offers options for day trippers looking for a short nature walk to experienced hikers looking to test their limits. Be sure to pick up a guide book at a local book store for all the details on these and many other great hikes in our area. If you’re looking for a trail close to Phoenix, start with Camelback Mountain, one of the country’s best urban hikes. With trails for almost every level hiker, Camelback provides breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings. Put this one on your to-do list! Other great urban hikes include Piestewa (Squaw) Peak and South Mountain Park. Looking to get out of the city? Northern Arizona offers a myriad of exciting and breathtakingly beautiful hiking spots. No trip north would be complete without a trek up Humphrey’s Peak, the highest elevation in Arizona. Just north of Flagstaff, the hike up Humphrey’s is no joke at about 4.5 miles one way (leave about 3 hours for just one way). On a clear day, hikers can see the Grand Canyon in the distance. For a variety of trail levels in an unmatched lakeside setting, head to Prescott National Forest where hikers are rewarded with pristine views and cool mountain air at every turn. And for those looking for an easy hike, the West Fork Oak Creek Trail never disappoints. High canyon walls, shallow creek beds, and level trails make this the perfect hike for families. Don’t forget the camera... you will regret it! Heading east, you’ll find the White Mountains, with more than 180 miles of developed trails. Lushly forested, this trail system offers connected trails that are from 8 to 16 miles in length. Some are remote and not frequently traveled, so head here if you’re an experienced hiker looking to reconnect with nature. Hikers heading south will want to check out Coronado National Forest, a perfect spot to explore the desert lowlands during the mild Arizona winters. Just remember, before you start out on your journey, make sure you’ve packed appropriately. A light pack filled with plenty of water, topographical maps to help navigate varying elevations, sun block, and your cell phone should all be brought along. Also, bring layers for the cool mountain air as you ascend. And finally, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes, scorpions, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and other wildlife. Don’t disturb any animal you may encounter on the path. Happy trails!
Your Backyard
Hosting your entire clan for Thanksgiving dinner this year? Gulp! It’s quite an undertaking...especially if you’ve got a big family. In addition to all the gourmet fixings you have to purchase and prepare, you need to be sure you have the necessary space and accoutrements to pull off a successful fete. Don’t sweat it – we will help you pull off a party in style! Since dining is the main event on turkey day, first be sure to check that you have plenty of seating at the dining room table. If need be, bring in chairs from other rooms in your home (if there’s still not enough seating, it might be time to visit your favorite furniture shop to give your dining room an upgrade). While you’re at it, rethink your dining and great rooms’ curtains, area rugs, and decorative items so that they speak to the fall season and envelop your guests in warmth and comfort. Creating that fall feeling can be as simple as swapping out some light summer colors with rich, earthy autumn hues and adding some shimmering candles and harvest-inspired accessories. Next, try giving your Thanksgiving feast a dress rehearsal, complete with everything but the actual food. Set up the chairs to make sure people can easily get in and out of their seats, put out the linen tablecloths and napkins to ensure they are wrinkle free, arrange an autumn centerpiece to get the height just right, and set out wine glasses and water goblets to check for spots. Consider setting a separate kids’ table
in the same room that can be decorated with a festive children’s Thanksgiving theme. And don’t forget special touches such as name place markers, fancy folded napkins, and polished flatware to really set the stage. Quick tip: Designate a serving bowl, platter, and serving utensils to each dish on your menu to ensure everything has a place come mealtime. Prepping ahead can really save your sanity. Some hosts even like to put a note inside each bowl or basket identifying exactly which dish is supposed to go where so there’s no last-minute confusion. You’ll also want to make sure there’s plenty of seating in the great room during cocktail hour before and after your meal. Check for ample comfortable seating and plenty of cocktail table space for drinks and snacks. It’s always nice to have a spot to put a drink near every seat, so try to look around and make sure your guests can do just that. Occasional chairs are perfect for big events like Thanksgiving, Hanukah or Christmas and can be the perfect piece to place in corners and empty spots in your rooms, ready to be pulled out when needed. Worried that you still won’t have enough space for the in-laws and the rest of the family? It may be time to speak with a real estate professional about looking for a bigger, better home for entertaining. Who knows? By this time next year, you could be hosting the holidays in your new dream home!
Wisconsin Triple Cheese Fondue
Local Flavor!
The West Select | A New Western Classic Phoenix Art Museum | November 10-December 31 602.257.1222 | TheWestSelect.com The West Select is a Western invitational art sale and exhibition. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs, the works in the exhibition reveal iconic landscapes, wildlife, and depictions of the modern or “New West”. Proceeds benefit the Men’s Arts Council of Phoenix Art Museum, a non-profit organization that supports the programs and activities of Phoenix Art Museum through unique events.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
1 1/2 c shredded Butterkase cheese
Toss the Butterkase and Fontina cheeses with the flour in a bowl. Place a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with two inches of water. You may also use a conventional double boiler. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and pour the wine and sherry into the bowl. Stir in the shallots using a fork. Cook for 30 seconds stirring constantly.
1 1/2 c shredded Fontina cheese 3 tbsp all-purpose flour 3/4 c white wine 1/4 c dry sherry 2 tsp chopped shallots 1 tsp freshly ground pepper 1/4 c crumbled blue cheese 2 tbsp chopped scallions
The Melting Pot 480.607.1799 | MeltingPot.com
Add half of the cheese blend, and stir constantly until the cheese is melted. Add the remaining cheese blending a small amount at a time and stirring constantly. Fold in the pepper and blue cheese. Pour into a warm fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. Garnish with the scallions.