The Entertainer! - July 2017

PHX METRO » JULY 2017

+

LORDS OF SUMMER

HAPPY NOW

MICHELLE BRANCH RETURNS HOME

Kirk Hammett spills on Metallica’s triumphant return to No. 1

A LWAY S O N Night Ranger Saturday, July 8

Tower of Power

Cheech and Chong

In The Showroom

with Special Guest Shelby Chong

Saturday, July 15

In The Showroom

Friday, July 21 In The Ballroom

Donny & Marie

Demetri Martin

In The Ballroom

In The Showroom

Saturday, July 22

Saturday, July 29

P L A Y

I N

Don McLean

Saturday, August 5 In The Showroom

S T Y L E

For tickets call the box office at 480.850.7734 or visit ticketmaster.com 1 01 & TA L K I N G S T I C K W A Y

|

SCOTTSDALE

|

TA L K I N G S T I C K R E S O R T. C O M

Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

IT DOESN’T

MAKE YOU

A

BAD “Delicious and full bodied.

A genuine, no-nonsense, 100% corn, well-made American pot still vodka that deserves every accolade.”

Paul Pacult, Editor, Spirit Journal

CRAFTED WITH ROASTED DARK MALTS AND REFINED HOP BITTERNESS

EXPERIENCE THE DARKER SIDE OF SAPPORO SAPPOROBEER.COM

PLEASE SHARE SAPPORO RESPONSIBLY. ©2016 SAPPORO U.S.A., INC., NEW YORK, NY

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

CONTENTS

5

14 ON THE COVER

NOT FADING TO BLACK

Ready to roar into University of Phoenix Stadium, Metallica is back and more metal than ever.

18

29

FROM PAGE TO STAGE

From the mind of James Garcia, 1070 explores controversial senate bill.

HAPPY NOW

With newfound love Patrick Carney, Sedona’s Michelle Branch found her way back to music.

on the cover: Metallica by Herring Herring courtesy of BB Gun Press

6

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

Times Media Group 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone 480.348.0343 Fax 480.348.2109 entertainermag.com

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine steve@entertainermag.com

executive editor

38

Niki D’Andrea ndandrea@timespublications.com

editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com

art director

Erin Loukili erin@entertainermag.com

CHEAP EATS Eating out doesn’t

designer

Jaclyn Threadgill

need to be pricey or unhealthy. Check out our list of 11 great places to dine on a dime.

circulation director

Aaron Kolodny aaron@entertainermag.com

contributing writers

CONTENTS THE METROPOLITAN

82

9

Top 25 • Jessi Colter • Jeffrey “Axe” Williamson • Phoenix Insider/La Gattara Cat Café • Metallica

THE EXTRAORDINAIRE 17

FIGHTING FOR HIS SOUL Jonny Lang returns

Extraordinary Rides • Michelle Branch • Tony Bennett

THE TOURIST

21

Tour du Jour • Verde Valley • Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ Anniversary

THE ARTIST

to his bread and butter, the blues, on his new album.

25

Anthony Hamilton • Arts Calendar • 1070 •

THE CRITIC

30

Coming Attractions • Ask Our Experts! • The Report Card

THE DINER

33

Best Food Events in July • Happy Hour • Diner Insider/Arizona Breakfast Weekend • Rosati’s • Cheap Eats • Donovan’s • U.S. Egg

THE CRAFTMASTER

45

Beer Over Here • BeerFinder Directory • Beertender • Beer Gear • Beer Pairings • Four Peaks • Sour Beers

THE HIGHROLLER

52

Casino Entertainment Calendar • Tears for Fears

THE GLADIATOR

55

July’s Best Sports Events • Naomi • Golf Section • Greg Schulte

THE YOUNGSTER

61

UltraStar Multi-tainment Center • The Best Family Events in July • Ricky Garcia

THE SHOWMAN

65

Goo Goo Dolls • Live Music Calendar • UB40 • Jonny Lang • Frank Iero • Delta Rae

THE NIGHTOWL

73

The Best Nightlife Events for July • R5 • Trapfest • Mad Mixologist

THE THINKER

Joseph J. Airdo, Alison Bailin Batz, Jordan Blitz, Dave Clark, Connor Dziawura, Daisy Finch, Israel Gonzalez, C.A. Haire, Kenneth LaFave, Carson Mlnarik, Randy Montgomery, M.V. Moorhead, Alan Sculley, Melissa Szenda ONE COPY PER READER

The Entertainer! is circulated throughout the Phoenix Metro area, especially concentrated in entertainment districts. ©2017 Affluent Publishing, LLC. A free online subscription is available to all readers simply by going to entertainermag.com/subscribe.

For calendar and news items, the deadline for submission is the 15th of the month prior to publication. Submissions are included based on available space and are used at the discretion of the editor. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations will not be returned unless it is specifically requested and submission is accompanied by a properly addressed envelope and sufficient postage. The Entertainer! makes every effort to authenticate claims and accurate times and event locations. We encourage readers to verify information prior to attending events or purchasing tickets.

DISTRIBUTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY:

76

You’re Not Gonna Believe This

480.348.0343 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

(602) 374-7133 SkylineLoftsApartments.com SkylineLofts@Weidner.com

Studio 1 Bed 2 Bed

A

rt Gallery • Yoga and Meditations Studio • 24-hour fitness center • Media Lounge • Heated Spa

(602) 892-3333 Proxy333.com Proxy333@Weidner.com

Studio 1 Bed 2 Bed

W

alking distance to all Downtown Phoenix has to offer • Outdoor kitchen with poolside TVs • Concierge Services • Modern Fitness Center

(602) 957-0051 TrendAt51.com TrendAt51@Weidner.com

R

Studio 1 Bed 2 Bed

ooftop Sundeck • Fire Pit • State-of-the-art Fitness Center • Lounge with Ping-pong and Billiards Tables • Mountain Views

#LifeatWeidner

FULL P8

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE METROPOLITAN

9

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE

‘Axe’ Williamson 12 La Gattara Cat Café 13 Metallica 14

TOP25 Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, $10 adults, $7 students, free for members and children younger than 15, on Thursdays and after 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Ocean of Light: Submergence TO SEPTEMBER 24 The U.K.-based artist collective Squidsoup is known for creating spaces using sound and light to build digitally mediated experiences. Ocean of Light: Submergence is an LED structure that envelops viewers in light and allows them to interact. The live data ecosystem demonstrates how placement of artworks next to each other influences viewers’ perceptions of them, helping to build a narrative for the exhibition.

Squidsoup is Anthony Rowe, Gaz Bushell, Liam Birtles, Chris Bennewith and Ollie Bown.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.874.4666, smoca.org, smoca@scottsdalearts.org, noon

SOS: Summer of Sharks

THROUGHOUT JULY To celebrate Shark Week, OdySea Aquarium is offering a variety of special programs, activities and educational opportunities.

Throughout the aquarium, patrons can see an array of sharks, from the exotic-looking scalloped hammerheads to the 300-pound lemon sharks. The 10-minute film

Underwater Giants, features one of the largest species of sharks, the whale shark.

OdySea Aquarium, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.291.8000, odyseaaquarium. com, various times, $34.95 for adults, $24.95 children.

All Time Low

Sutra Yoga Series

WWE Monday Night Raw and WWE SmackDown Live!

Bikes, Balcony and Beers

JULY 3 The guys behind All Time Low have hit anything but low after touring the world and topping the alternative rock charts. While you might recognize their emo haircuts and songs like “Weightless” and “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” they are touring to promote their new album, Last Young Renegade.

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829,0607, luckymanonline.com, 5:30 p.m., $29.50-$49.50.

JULY 3 AND JULY 4 Nothing says freedom like watching WWE Superstars live in action. No big name is spared in these events that feature the likes of Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. According to the WWE, you’ll be able to see John Cena after an extended break!

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, talkingstickresortarena.com, 4:30 p.m. July 3 for WWE Raw and 4;45 p.m. July 4 for SmackDown, $35-$105.

WEDNESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 30 Lustre Rooftop Bar and Sutra Studios are teaming up for a free yoga series. As part of the “100 Days of Summer” events at Lustre, a DJ will deep house in July and “music through the decades” in August. Guests are encouraged to bring a mat, towel and water.

Lustre Rooftop Bar, Hotel Palomar, 2 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.478.1765, lustrerooftopbar. com, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., free.

JULY 6 Slippery Pig Bike Shop teams up with Crescent Ballroom every Thursday for this community bike ride around Phoenix. The ride, open to all levels of bicyclists, runs about one hour and drops back off at Crescent for discount brews and burritos.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 8 p.m., free.

Game of Thrones Night

JULY 7 Pitcher Taijuan Walker is reportedly a fan of Game of Thrones and now he’ll be immortalized as a GOT WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

10

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

bobblehead! Buy a special package and receive a Taijuan Walker Night King Bobblehead and a baseline reserve game ticket. Use the offer code: GOT. On this night, the D-backs will take on the Cincinnati Reds.

Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com, 6:40 p.m., $19-$275.

Fiesta de Frida

JULY 7 The Heard Museum is celebrating the 110th birthday of Frida Kahlo with the aptly named Fiesta de Frida.

First Friday goers will enjoy music

by Rose Wax Vinyl Club, a poetry presentation by Divin Valentin about Kahlo’s spirit and more. Guests will also have the chance to participate in La Marcha de las Fridas at 8 p.m., with a birthday celebration complete with cake to follow. The event is being held in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The Heard Museum Campus, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.252.8840, heard.org, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., free.

The Little Mermaid

JULY 13 TO JULY 16 Everyone’s got a little bit of Ariel in them, just try not to sing out loud when “Part of Your World” comes on. Dream City Church, known for its large musical productions, brings this charming Disney production to the stage as its summer show. Catch the mermaids while you can at their matinee or evening shows.

Dream City Church, 13613 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, 888.224.2122, summermusical. org, times vary, $10-$32.50.

Maricopa County Home and Landscape Show

JULY 14 TO JULY 16 The largest home show in the Southwest is here to fuel your summer DIY list. From the decor marketplace, make your own bath bomb class and DIY seminars to the free consultations and dog demonstrations, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 602.485.1691, mchomeshows.com, 10 a.m., $8 adults and $3 kids.

on duets like “I Need You” and “It’s Your Love,” but also touch upon their solo hits like “This Kiss” and “I Like It, I Love It.” Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena. com, 7:30 p.m., $64.75-$449.

Cheech & Chong

JULY 21 Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong are in their 70s but their counterculture, drugrelated comedy routine has barely changed. The Grammy Awardwinning duo are still as real as ever and bring their larger-than-life hysterics to Talking Stick Resort for one night only.

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort. com, 8 p.m., $45-$90.

Shawn Mendes

Beauty and the Beast

JULY 7 TO JULY 16 If you still can’t get “Be Our Guest” out of your head after seeing it in movie theaters, you’re probably ready to revisit this “tale as old as time.” The story of Belle, a young woman from a provincial town, falling for the Beast is magical when it comes to life on the stage, presented

by Arizona Broadway Theatre.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.254.7399, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $37.50-$77.50.

Kendrick Lamar

JULY 12 With seven Grammy Awards on his mantle, Kendrick Lamar is still as real and down to earth as his most recent single “Humble” suggests.

The 29-year-old rapper is known for his beats as much as his socially aware lyrics. He visits town with Travis Scott and D.R.A.M. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena. com, 7:30 p.m., $87-$671.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

JULY 15 Shawn Mendes started on Vine and is only 18, but he’s proven he’s a force to be reckoned with.

The Canuck has scored hits with “Stitches,” “Treat You Better” and “Mercy,” and he brings those tracks to Glendale with Charlie Puth.

They’re sure to elicit screams from the teen crowd.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena. com, 7:30 p.m., $14.75-$62.75.

Daryl Hall & John Oates and Tears for Fears

JULY 17 Singer Daryl Hall says Tears for Fears’ music has the same kind of timeless quality as his songs with John Oates. The two throwback bands unite for an evening of hits like “Maneater,” “You Make My Dreams” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena. com, 7 p.m., $30.25-$399.

Dry Heat All-Star Comedy Review

JULY 22 Elayne Boosler headlines the 20th and final Dry Heat All-Star Comedy Review, hosted by comedians Michael Finney and Mark Cordes.

Proceeds benefit Hope for the Warriors. Cited by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 50 Comics of All Time, Boosler is known for her thoughtful and feisty political humor, along with her love of baseball and animals. She will share the stage with the likes of Bruce Baum, Jackie Flynn, Denny Johnston, Scott Land, Scott Record and Ritch Shydner.

Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, 602.267.1600, celebritytheatre.com, 5:30 p.m., $20 and $30.

I Love the ’90s Tour

JULY 22 Get your ’90s fix with one quick serving! Favorite throwback artists like TLC, Biz Markie, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath and Naughty by Nature provide the fun for this show. Audiences can expect to hear hits like “Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs” and “Just a Friend” during this nightlong dance party.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, ilovethe90stour. com, 7 p.m., $45-$326.

Khalid

JULY 23 He’s already gone platinum with his first single, “Location,” but there’s a lot more to come from 19-year-old Khalid. The up-andcoming Texas singer’s album, American Teen, is full of good vibes and R&B with lyrics reflective of heartbreak and longing.

Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, 602.267.1600, celebritytheatre.com, 8 p.m., $30$53.

Michelle Branch

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill: Soul2Soul

JULY 21 Country’s cutest couple took a break to focus on their family, but the two are back with another tour celebrating their impressive careers.

Hill and McGraw will share the mic

was buried alive in New York for a week and spent 44 days inside a transparent box in London—with nothing but water. His one-man show mixes his stunts and magic with the element of surprise as Blaine promises no two shows will be the same.

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress Street, Tucson, 520.547.3040, foxtucsontheatre. com, 8 p.m., $49.50-$344.

David Blaine

JULY 22 The illusionist has made a name for himself across the globe. He

JULY 26 Whether you’re a fan of Michelle Branch’s country, pop or alternative music, you must admit the Sedonaborn songwriter can write a good lyric. With a pocketful of tunes like “Everywhere,” “Are You Happy Now” and “Leave the Pieces,” Branch is

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

sure to get your emotions—and your heart—running.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentballroom.com, 8 p.m., $30-$125.

the lights on the screen come up Fridays in July. The films include Finding Dory on July 7, The Secret Life of Pets on July 14, The Jungle Book on July 21, and everyone’s favorite new Disney singalong, Moana, on July 28.

Wet ‘n’ Wild, 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale, 623.201.2000, wetnwildphoenix. com, 8 p.m., $31.99-$39.99.

there is to know about the special creatures. With birdwatching trips, presentations, garden tours, food and exhibits, this festival proves Sedona is the most beautiful place in America to see hummingbirds.

Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, 800.529.3699, hummingbirdsociety.org/ hummingbird-festival, times vary, $35-$90.

Demetri Martin

Moana Dive ’n’ Movies

JULY 28 Cool down as the sun sets with special family movie screenings presented by Wet ’n’ Wild. Some attractions close for the night, but

Sedona Hummingbird Festival

JULY 28 TO JULY 30 While you may not be able to catch a hummingbird, you can catch this festival celebrating everything

11

JULY 29 You might recognize comedian Demetri Martin from his Comedy Central show Important Things with Demetri Martin, as well as Taking Woodstock and House of Lies. This funny guy has a history of comedy and a wide portfolio behind him, including his recent movie Dean. He was also a staff writer for Conan O’Brien and Jon Stewart. His stand-up show promises to be funny and awkward.

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort. com, 8 p.m., $20-$85.

Super Hero Day at Salt River Tubing

JULY 29 If you really want to cool down, get to business and head over to the Salt River. For $17, you get a tube rental and shuttle to the river. Don’t forget the sunscreen, brews and your cape! July 29 marks the river’s Super Hero Showdown costume day and the perfect time to debut your favorite Batman or Spider-Man swag.

Salt River Tubing, 9200 N. Bush Highway, Mesa, 480.984.3305, saltrivertubing.com, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., $17.

AN OUTLAW AND A LADY

Valley resident Jessi Colter recalls spiritual journey in her new book Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

J

essi Colter feels she has a task: to maintain the vision and music of her late husband, Waylon Jennings.

“I’m so happy that he left me in a position of trying to keep the flame alive,” says Colter, during an interview at Handlebar-J in North Scottsdale. “The flame is alive in people’s hearts.”

The 74-year-old Scottsdale-area resident is a visionary in her own right.

She was the first woman to receive Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. Colter also played an important role in the “outlaw” country movement with Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, among others.

She is now recalling her spiritual journey in the recently released book An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music,

Life with Waylon and the Faith that Brought Me Home.

An Outlaw and a Lady covers Colter’s musical career, from singing in church to performing with Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. An Outlaw and a Lady also traces Jennings’ struggle with addiction and the effect it had on the couple’s marriage.

Written with David Ritz, the book chronicles Colter’s return to faith, and how Jennings shared that faith with her in the latter stages of his life.

“The whole thing was so out of my control in the sense of the way it came about with David Ritz,” Colter says.

“It was almost supernatural intervention. I had no intention of writing after Waylon’s book, which was such a beautiful book about the business.

“I had been approached several times, but I said the only way I would be interested was if it followed my spiritual journey and my heritage. My heritage is Arizona. The book is a homegrown organic book. I guess that’s what I am.”

She calls the process of going through every step of her life and losses “agonizing.” However, she is at peace when she recalls “one of the most incredibly supernatural experiences.”

Fronting a band in Santa Monica early in her career, she knelt to show grace to God and calm her nerves.

“I know what athletes talk about,” she says. “It wasn’t that. It was supernatural.

“I was afraid of coming out, so to speak, and being out front like that.

What happened then was so incredible.

It was a feeling I’ll never forget. I didn’t feel like I was afraid or shaking. It didn’t make me bold or arrogant. It was the most secure feeling and I knew that’s how it would be in our next world.”

That feeling kept her connected to her performance and her late parents; the same with Jennings and her children, including country singer Shooter Jennings.

“Now God has led me and kept me,” she adds. “The things he does are

so natural. It’s hard to describe. With this book, I was just so willing and happy to show how other philosophies didn’t work. I shared what does work and what did work for me.”

Colter recently released the album The Psalms and is planning another record for Sony, she says. She’s considering a Bob Dylan covers album or a collection with Shooter Jennings.

“I will definitely do follow-up work,” she says. “But lately, I’ve been a little lame on writing. Waylon liked to pick a song as if it would be a single—with everything he did. He put it that way and he was serious—a serious card player, a serious musician and a serious gambler. But I think about him often.”

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

12

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

has done well. Since attending his first state tournament in early 2007, Williamson has been regarded as the No. 1 “Super Smash Bros. Melee” player in Arizona. SSBMRank, a panelist of the game’s figureheads and experts, ranked Williamson No. 9 in the world in January. But being the best was never Williamson’s inspiration.

“It wasn’t necessarily my goal to become the best in Arizona, or the best in the world, or top 10 or anything like that,” Williamson says. “I just continued because it was really fun. It’s funny how that worked out.”

DEDICATED

REMEMBERING

HIS ROOTS A

Gamer ‘Axe’ Williamson honors Arizona while championing his craft Israel Gonzalez » The Entertainer!

s a champion eSports player of “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” the West Valley’s Jeffrey “Axe” Williamson loves the game and embodies the state in which he grew up.

“I always wear the flag and represent Arizona because it means a lot to me,” Williamson says. “It’s where I spent pretty much my whole life. So that’s why I wear the flag. I always remember that I’m playing and I’m trying to win for all the people who helped me get this far.”

Born in Germany to U.S. military parents, Williamson moved to Arizona as a youngster and was raised in Sierra Vista. Relocating to Phoenix in 2009, Williamson juggled work, school and competitive gaming, especially with Nintendo products.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

One series got Williamson’s attention: Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.”

Its second installment, 2001’s “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” features a cast of iconic Nintendo characters with whom players can fight. He played the game casually, but he had a fateful encounter in 2006.

“In 2006 there was an advertisement at my high school for a ‘Super Smash. Bros. Melee’ tournament,” says Williamson, who also briefly studied at University of Arizona in Tucson and DeVry University. “I entered the tournament and did really bad.”

He was determined to up his game, so Williamson entered in other tournaments with a friend.

“I just got sucked into it,” Williamson says. “I started practicing and wanted to enter a lot of tournaments, try to get better and make a name for myself.”

It’s fair to say that Williamson

In 2013, the “Super Smash Bros.

Melee” competitive scene blew up after its exposure in the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) tournament and a documentary. Two years ago, Williamson became serious about his talents. He signed a sponsorship deal with Mortality eSports in July 2014 and spent six months with it. He moved on to Tempo/Storm in July 2015.

Williamson quit his job in late 2014 to be a full-time pro gamer.

“It was a risk at the time because I wasn’t sure if I would make enough money,” he says. “Luckily, things worked out very well.”

Williamson competes as Pikachu, a Pokémon character that is rarely seen as having a viable choice to win games by those who play competitively.

“I thought it would be cool to be known as one of the best players who uses a character that’s not even that great,” he says.

Williamson is hoping to score big again this month, as he attends EVO 2017 July 14 to July 16 in Las Vegas (http://evo.shoryuken.com), and Dreamhack Atlanta from July 21 to July 23 in Atlanta (https://atlanta.dreamhack.com/17/). First, he participates in Boss Rush on Saturday, July 8, at SAK Gaming Lounge, 1849 E. Baseline Road, Tempe. Williamson occasionally attends “Super Smash Bros. Melee” events there on Tuesdays.

With all his success, Williamson has never forgotten his roots. Like other Arizona competitors, Williams rocks state gear and flags for big tournaments.

His signature garb is fashioning a cape out of an Arizona flag.

“We’re all kind of like a big family,” he says. “We’ve all been together for a long time. All of my best friends have been from Arizona. It’s where I started and developed as a smasher and competitor.”

For more information about Jeffrey “Axe” Williamson, visit twitch.tv/ AZ_Axe or twitter.com/TempoAxe.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

PHOENIX INSIDER

GREAT DEALS EVERY WEEK!

Purrfect Stress Reliever

Seniors and Military members save 30% every Tuesday!

Jordan Blitz » The Entertainer!

W

hen Melissa Pruitt traveled to Japan, little did she know it would change her life. While in the Far East, she stumbled across a cat café and fell in love with the concept that started in Taiwan. Upon returning to the Valley, she opened La Gattara Cat Café and Wine Bar in Tempe where, for $10 an hour, guests can get a dose of “real-life Prozac” by playing with free-roaming cats.

But there’s more to it than just making clients feel relaxed. She wants the cats to be adopted, but first, potential parents must see the animals’ true personality. Pruitt wants to eliminate shelters.

“My hope is to educate people about cats,” Pruitt says.

The café is decked out in all things cats—beanbags, carpets and furniture

13

from places like Ikea and Target. La Gattara Cat Café serves bottled drinks and pre-packaged food. The venue, which has a wall between the free-roaming cat areas and the food service area, can shortly make fresh coffee, tea and pastries. Alcohol service is in the offing.

Kickstart your spring cleaning by donating your used clothing and housewares at the Plus get extra savings with your North Phoenix Savers Super Savers Club Card!

Community Donation Center.

Your donated items become funding for our Savers Thrift Store North Phoenix nonprofit partner Big Brothers Big Sisters 3517 W Bell Rd of Central Arizona Phoenix, AZ 85053 and helped protect (602) 938-1616 planet Earth!

Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 9:00pm Sun: 10:00am - 8:00pm Donations Benefit:

La Gattara Cat Café and Wine Bar

1301 E. University Drive, Suite 136, Tempe, 480.659.0150, lagattaracatcafe.com, $10 per hour.

*Senior Day for those 55+.

Must show valid military ID.

savers.com

Free Summer Concert Series Jessica Fichot Band Friday, August 25, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Fusing styles and languages, taking the listener on a twisting journey out of the French chanson tradition.

Santa Pachita with Funky Bonz Friday, August 4, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

Santa Pachita is a 9-piece band that blends a variety of musical styles to create an entertaining night of dancing for everyone.

Robby Roberson Band Sunday, August 13, 2017 · 3:00 p.m.

Bringing original musical stories steeped in reality and imagination rich in American rootsy rhythms and flavors of rock, blues, gospel and jazz.

No tickets required, all shows are FREE.

Presented by:

All seating is first come, first served.

Suggested Donations: $5/child, $10/adult, $15/family.

Niki J. Crawford

Sure Fire Soul Ensemble

Sunday, August 20, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 9, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

Niki J. Crawford’s and her band bring the heat with a high energy funk and soul party that is guaranteed to leave you with a positive and memorable impression.

Featuring the

WokStar SportsBar

Full season listing

ChandlerCenter.org

21 Big Screens

213

31 Crafts on Tap

10425 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85253 (480) 483-1939 info@chopandwokaz.com

480.782.2680

JULY 8 • SAT ON

PAY-PER-VIEW

If you are a fan of the organ (and we know you are), gritty funk, and beautiful original soundtracks, these guys are for you.

Delivery till 2:00 am

as always, Open till 2:00 am every day Never a Cover Charge 31 Crafts on Tap

Sunday Brunch till 2 pm WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

14

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

HARDWIRED TO SUCCEED Metallica took a break and returned stronger than ever

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

Alan Sculley » The Entertainer!

I

t’s said absence makes the heart grow fonder. That seems to have been the case for Metallica.

Despite going eight years between studio albums and not doing a full-fledged tour for more than six years, Metallica has returned more popular than at any time in the past two and a half decades with its latest album, Hardwired…to Self Destruct.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide so far, an impressive—perhaps downright astonishing—showing at a time when rock artists have struggled to sell albums.

Now, Metallica didn’t totally drop out of sight over the half dozen years between the end of its tour supporting the 2008 album, Death Magnetic, and the release last November of Hardwired…To Self Destruct. There was a collaborative album with the late Lou Reed, Lulu, that was released to polarized reviews in 2011, an innovative 2013 concert film/drama, Metallica: Through the Never, a mini-tour in 2014, and since then, a few high-profile television appearances and occasional concerts, such a Lollapalooza in Chicago in 2015 and a performance prior to Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

But clearly a lot of acts would have lost some momentum by staying off the music world grid to that extent for the better part of six years.

Guitarist Kirk Hammett, though, has some thoughts about why Metallica returned so emphatically with Hardwired…to Self Destruct.

“I think, for right now, there’s a little bit of a vacuum in us and bands that sound like us,” he says. “There are a lot of great new bands out there, but I think people yearn for something that they know is made in a real sense.

I think there’s a bit of authenticity that comes with us that might not be attached to some of the more contemporary bands. I think that resonates with people. Whenever we put out an album, they know that we’ve gotten to this point in a really authentic way.

“We can be counted on to deliver in some form or another something that’s real and authentic and something that has integrity. I think that really means a lot to some people these days when a lot of music is just kind of like made by pressing a button, or you have these shows where someone shows up

with a computer and presses a button.

That’s supposed to be some sort of like live performance or something? And it’s not really. It’s not real live performance. It’s crazy. People can count on us showing up with our instruments and actually making music right there in the moment. And we deliver. Whatever you hear on our album, we can play live. I will not even like try to count how many bands are incapable of that. I think that’s part of it.”

The idea that Metallica stands apart in the music scene is a theme that echoed through this interview with Hammett. He noted that there has always been an outsider mentality to Metallica, and this existed from the moment in 1983 when he joined guitarist/singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and late bassist Cliff Burton (he died in a 1986 bus accident on tour) in the group.

“I think, at the beginning, it was an attractive thing for the three of us and for Cliff, too,” Hammett says. “That’s something we saw in each other, and when we made music, we always kind of saw ourselves as a band that was on the outside looking in at all the other bands.

We felt that way, and to a certain extent we still feel that way. That feeling has never, ever left us, ever.

“I don’t think that’s ever going to go away, even though we’re probably one of the most successful bands in the world, definitely one of the most successful heavy metal bands. You just can’t shake that outsider feeling, man. I can’t. Maybe that’s part of what drives us. That outsiderness shapes our musical thinking. I’m not going to dive into that too deeply, but I think it plays a big part in our overall attitudes and perspective.”

Certainly, Metallica had legitimate reason to feel untethered to any scene or genre when the group emerged with the 1983 debut album “Kill ‘Em All.” Their thrashy, fast-paced sound was different from anything else in heavy metal, and Metallica, along with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, came to be known as one of the “Big 4” bands that ushered in a harder and heavier strain of metal that contrasted notably from the more melodic metal of groups like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. The early Metallica albums, 1986’s Master of Puppets and 1988’s …And Justice for All, are considered by many to be two of the most definitive thrash metal albums of all time.

But it was the next album, 1991’s self-titled effort that is commonly

known as Metallica’s Black Album, that turned the band into superstars. Led by the blockbuster single “Enter Sandman,” the album found Metallica tightening up its heretofore lengthy song arrangements and bringing in a bigger dose of melody, without softening its sound.

Widely acclaimed as one of metal’s greatest albums, it had sold 16 million copies in the United States alone.

The next two albums, 1996’s Load, 1997’s Reload (a collection of leftover Load session tracks) and 2003’s St. Anger had some musical ups and downs as Metallica explored some different pockets within its signature sound.

Within the band, there were also issues, especially during the at-times contentious St. Anger sessions.

The 2004 film, Some Kind of Monster, documented the period during which Metallica nearly imploded and went to a therapist to help resolve the issues that took the band to the brink. It even temporarily became a trio with the 2001 departure of bassist Jason Newsted.

Metallica, though, rebounded after Robert Trujillo joined on bass in 2003, and the 2008 album, Death Magnetic was hailed as a return to form.

Now Hardwired…to Self Destruct is being seen by many as Metallica’s best work since the Black Album.

Stylistically, some see the hard-hitting double album as recalling the band’s …And Justice for All period, as songs like “Hardwired,” “Spit Out the Bone” and “Confusion” blast away behind jackhammer beats and rapid-fire riffing.

Even songs that slightly downshift the tempos (“Now That We’re Dead,” “Dream No More” and “Atlas, Rise!”) are plenty hard and heavy.

Hammett agrees there is a returnto-roots element to Hardwired…to Self Destruct, and says the band has naturally gravitated to this place musically.

“Certainly with Death Magnetic we learned that it was OK to embrace our past with sort of a revisionist approach to our musical past,” he says. “That’s what Death Magnetic kind of like started. To an extent, it’s continued with this album, too. We like to play music from all of the different eras, and at this particular point in our lives, playing the heavier stuff just is appealing to us.

It feels right to me and it feels right to the other guys in the band. I mean, it just does. It’s not something that we sat down and took a vote on. We’re just kind of always in together and moving along together. So, when something

15

feels right and feels fun and comfortable and exciting again, we tend to all kind of feel that together. That’s the case with this direction.”

The new songs are getting integrated into Metallica’s live sets on a run of outdoor stadiums in the states, including a Friday, August 4, show at the University of Phoenix stadium. The production for the shows figures to fit the massive scale of the stadiums.

“We have a different stage now that we haven’t really brought out on tour in the states yet,” Hammett says. “It’s a stage that’s amazingly clean and there’s not a whole lot of extraneous equipment or stuff. We’re going for a really open look. This is probably the biggest Metallica stage we’ve ever taken out…

We’re really, really excited about it and it’s something we’ve been honing for like the last six to eight months to get it right. So yeah, hopefully by the time we make it to your neighborhood, we’ll have it finely tuned.”

Hammett says playing stadiums is a different experience than even large arenas, and the band has had to learn some skills to connect with audiences in this setting.

“What happens is you kind of like, your movements get a little bit more grander,” Hammett explains. “You try to communicate with wider, sweeping gestures. You try to make as much eye contact as possible, which is super important in a big stadium because if you just sit there and you’re not making eye contact, you might as well be in a room somewhere looking down. And it’s really easy to get into that situation in a stadium because the stage, you’re a little more isolated from the crowd. You’re 15, 20 feet back (from the crowd), sometimes even more.”

That’s a lot more work, the guitarist acknowledges.

“You have to cover the stage. The stage is about 75 yards, 100 yards, which is as long as a football field. And it’s just more work. But we’ve been doing it for a long, long time. We’re accustomed to going into stadium mode.”

Metallica w/Avenged Sevenfold and Gojira

University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 623.433.7101, universityofphoenixstadium. com, 6 p.m. Friday, August 4, $62.50-$162.50.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

El Cortez 3130 North 7th Avenue • Phoenix, AZ 85013

Revitalized studios in Central Phoenix!

WORK HARD. LIVE EASY. EL CORTEZ.

Apartment Amenities: 8 Hardwood Floor - Faux Wood In Some

Call now to reserve a unit! 855.221.0691 or visit us at TRINITY-PM.COM for details www.LiveAtElCortez.com

8 Newly Restyled 8 Private Patio 8 Unfurnished & Furnished Available 8 Window Coverings

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE EXTRAORDINAIRE

17

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

Volvo S-90 T6

EXTRAORDINARY RIDES

C.A. Haire » The Entertainer!

P

otential buyers shopping for a European luxury sedan are probably familiar with the usual German and British offerings. Many are not aware that thanks to a large influx of foreign investment cash, Swedish automaker Volvo is still in the game, too. In fact, after spending a week in this model, I think the company is at the top of its game.

The S-90 T6 is Volvo’s flagship car, which is reflected in the price.

Starting price of admission is $53K. With options like leather trim, alloy wheels, 360-degree view cameras, heated seats (as well as heated water nozzles to wash the front headlights!), Bowers and Wilkins stereo, and power everything, the final tab was $66,105.

That included $560 for that nice blue

metallic exterior paint. This puts it in the same class as other Euro cars such as Audi A6, BMW 5-series, Jaguar XF, and Mercedes E-class.

At this price level, we might expect a large V-8 or V-6 engine. Nope. Many onlookers were surprised to find a tiny 2.0 liter four cylinder under the hood.

But with supercharged induction for bottom-end power and turbocharged induction for top-end power, (that’s not a misprint, it has both) peak horsepower is 316 with a healthy 295 lb-ft of torque.

This is hooked to an excellent 8-speed automatic, and an all-wheel drive unit providing 4-wheel traction. 0-60 mph time was brisk at about 6 seconds, an impressive task for a 2-ton vehicle.

Volvo issues this small engine to provide less mass on the front end.

This results in more precise handling in tight corners. It also gives excellent fuel economy rated at 22/31 mpg. In 500

miles of driving, I got 25 mpg overall.

On a highway trip from Scottsdale to an upstate ski lodge we observed 29 mpg.

As a bonus, that AWD system gave plenty of traction in the snow.

For car buffs tired of cheap plastic interiors, the Volvo S-90 will please. The cabin was a sea of high-grade leather, fancy wood, and real aluminum. No drinks or food allowed in this ride!

That Bowers and Wilkins stereo was the best sound system I have ever had in a vehicle, and well worth the $2,650 fee.

The only gripe I had was with the steering wheel which was covered in white leather. It looks nice but is bound to get dirty over time, even if grabbed with the cleanest of hands.

For those who prefer a lower price tag, there is the S-90 T5. It has a less potent 250 horsepower engine, 2-wheel drive, fewer luxury goodies, and starts at about $46K.

602-997-7575 9445 N. Metro Parkway East CastlesNCoasters.com

Arizona’s

ice #1 ChFo or Fun! 18 Rides

Over

AND

Attractions

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

18

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

SHE’S HAPPY NOW

Michelle Branch finds solace in new album and relationship with Patrick Carney Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

N

orthern Arizona-raised Michelle Branch needed to release an album.

After a tempestuous relationship with her label, Warner Bros., and the end of her marriage, it was time to get back in the studio and spill her feelings.

It may not have come to fruition if it wasn’t for The Black Keys’ drummer Patrick Carney.

“I met Pat at a Grammy party,” Branch says. “The Black Keys were nominated so they were having a Grammy party. He flagged me over and asked if I was Michelle and said, ‘Why haven’t you had an album out? What’s going on?’

“I told him I was stuck on Warner Bros. and they wouldn’t let me out of my contract. I finally got off the label and I was trying to figure out what to do next. He asked me to send him my demos because he’d love to help out.

That was the beginning.”

She innocently thought that it was the start of a new project. But it turned out to be much more. The two fell in

love and continue to be a couple.

“I didn’t realize what I was emotionally going through until being on the other side of it,” Branch says.

“We started this record as colleagues and friends, and halfway through the album we realized we were falling for each other.

“I remember telling my sister that I felt like I just met someone really important in my life. We were going to start a band or be collaborators or he would be a mentor. There was something different about him.”

What came out of the relationship was Hopeless Romantic, Branch’s first solo project since her 2003 Grammynominated album Hotel Paper.

“Now that the album is out, I can look back at it,” Branch says. “I was fresh out of a 10-year marriage. I parted with my label and started dating for the first time since I was a teenager.

It follows this arc of losing love and finding it again. My solace was writing during that period.”

Branch calls herself an “oversharer by nature,” so she didn’t feel uncomfortable sharing this journey with her fans. Friends and fans asked about the consequences of her ex-husband hearing

Hopeless Romantic.

“I don’t think he’s going to listen,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t think he has Michelle Branch albums playing at his house.”

COMING HOME Branch is on tour and will stop by the Crescent Ballroom on Wednesday, July 26. It’s a full-band gig, with Carney on drums.

“Those Black Keys fans who aren’t crazy about my music can at least come to the show and see Pat play drums on songs like ‘Everywhere’ and ‘Are You Happy Now?’” she jokes.

Hometown shows are important to Branch, who lived in Flagstaff until she was 11 and then moved to Sedona.

“In hindsight, I would love to live in Sedona now,” says Branch, the mother of a daughter, Owen. “As a teenager, it was so boring. We didn’t have a mall. Every weekend we’d ask my mom to drive down to Phoenix so we could go to the mall.

“Everything was geared toward tourists—new age shops, turquoise jewelry. We didn’t have a Hot Topic. We didn’t have a record store.”

She was turned on to music

Waived Administrative Fees when you mention Entertainer Magazine!

Offer valid through November 30, 2017.

Restrictions apply, contact property for details.

Proxy333.com ■ (602) 892-3333 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

through her parents’ record collection.

Her mom is a Mesa native, while her father was raised in Phoenix. They were at many of the same concerts together but didn’t meet until each of them relocated to Flagstaff. Branch visits them at least once a year—especially during Thanksgiving (“My mom is an amazing cook,” she says) or Spring Training.

“Usually, too, when I go home to Sedona, we end up going on hikes, cooking a lot and getting my Mexican food fix,” Branch says. “Mexican food in Nashville is atrocious. They put queso on everything. It’s this white cream cheese sauce.

“My first stop usually is the Tee Pee restaurant in Phoenix. If there’s a marriage or a birth or a death in my family, we usually all end up at the Tee Pee drinking margaritas afterward.”

Branch and family may just end up there after her show, which she described as a triumph.

“It’s been years since I’ve done a proper tour,” she says. “I’ve done acoustic set ups here and there. But to be back on the road and do a proper tour is something I’ve been begging to do and wanting to do for years.

“The band is amazing. I have two incredible female musicians in the band, my guitarist and keyboardist.

I’m excited to have more women in the band than men.”

The album, her new relationship and the tour are making Branch happy now.

“I had to make the album for myself,” she says. “If people listened to it, then that was the icing on the cake. It was such a huge hurdle for me. I’m just relieved that people like it and excited for people to come to the show.”

Michelle Branch

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx. com, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, $30-$125. The show is 21 and older.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

Kenneth LaFave » The Entertainer!

H

ow to be Tony Bennett: Have an innate gift for singing, nurture it with intensive training, select only the songs that suit your voice and temperament, and then work like a maniac to get your stuff into the culture.

And, oh yeah, start out with your first hit record at age 25 and keep going strong at age 90.

Bennett, whose career has spanned the sweep of American popular music for over six decades, will perform in concert Tuesday, July 11, at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theatre. Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Queens, New York, in 1926, the singer got his stage name from Bob Hope, who suggested it after hearing him in a New York nightclub in 1949. We asked the fabled

singer how he’s kept the music going.

“When I started out, my premise was to create a hit catalog, and avoid going for a (single) hit song that would get attention and then fade away,” Bennett recalls.

The plan worked, producing dozens of Top 40 records since Bennett’s first bona fide No. 1 seller, “Because of You,” in 1951. In addition to his iconic megahit, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” those have included “The Good Life,” “Rags to Riches” and “Who Can I Turn To?” While he started out in the autumn years of the older popular style, Bennett has stretched his musical profile over the last 25 years to include collaborations with major contemporary artists such as k.d. lang, Amy Winehouse, Bono, Lady Gaga, Michael Buble and Aretha Franklin.

As expansive as his taste has become, Bennett’s love of music remains rooted in the tradition of the Great

THE GOOD

LIFE

Tony Bennett sings and soars at 90

American Songbook.

“I got hooked on jazz in the ’40s, and it has remained my favorite musical genre ever since,” he says. “I consider it America’s classical music, as it was created here but loved all over the world.”

It was the era of the classic songwriters, “a host of master craftsman,” as Bennett puts it, “like the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter.

“I think in any musical genre there are compositions that are timeless and will last, and then some that are novelty pieces that may hit it big for a few weeks and then be easily forgotten.”

How does Bennett go about selecting the songs that fit his musical personality?

“I have to give a lot of credit to Ralph Sharon, my musical director and pianist who was with me for many years, as he always had a great ear for picking songs. He was the one who found my signature song, ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’”

About that biggest hit of all his hits: Bennett has never resented having to sing it on demand for the last 50 years. Asked if he is tired of it, his perfect stock answer is: “Do you get tired of making love?”

For a song to make it into his repertoire, it has to be more than just novel: It has to have something to say.

“I like to sing songs where the melody and the lyrics speak to me and I know that I can convey the song to an audience, and they will feel what I feel,” Bennett says.

Song choice is a vital part of a singer’s life, but it’s the style that makes the singer, and Bennett’s style wraps a large, warm sound around a phrase like a grandfatherly hug around a child. His way of bringing nuance to the most obvious melody or lyric means that even as hackneyed a song as “Fly Me to the Moon” feels fresh when Bennett brings it to life.

Bennett has never rested on any laurels, but always sought out the best musicians of every genre. His first love, jazz, was greatly enriched by two albums he recorded with one of jazz’s greatest masters of the piano, Bill Evans. The singer recalls their legendary collaboration: “Bill was a genius and I am so grateful we got to work together. Funny enough, we made two albums when I had left a major label and those albums are the ones that most music critics and

19

jazz lovers say are their favorites.

“Bill had a terrible addiction to drugs that took him away from us too early. A few weeks before he passed away we spoke on the phone and he told me, ‘Tony, just stay with truth and beauty,’ and I have used that as my artistic inspiration ever since.”

If the Evans albums were Bennett’s highest jazz profile, his pop profile was raised to its pinnacle when h recorded a series of astonishing jazz duets with Lady Gaga.

“I just love her,” Bennett says of Lady Gaga. “We get along so well and we understand each other. We are both Italian-American and our families also get along.

“I met her at a benefit gala in NYC that we were both performing to raise money for the homeless. I remember hearing her perform ‘Orange Colored Sky’ and I was so impressed with her voice and the way she played the piano that I met her backstage and asked her to sing on my Duets II album which we were recording at the time. She immediately said yes and it just kept ‎going from there. She is an authentic artist and everything she does has been thought out and perfected to the smallest detail.

I know she will have a long career.”

In the middle of a career devoted to musical excellence, Bennett has somehow also managed to paint. It’s more than just a hobby.

“I paint or draw every day. When I am on the road I bring a portable easel and watercolor paints and when I am home I have an art studio where I can use oils. Nature never disappoints so I love landscapes, but I like all subjects.

One of the greatest thrills of my life is to have three of my original paintings in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.”

There will probably never be a musician whose career enjoys the breadth and depth of Bennett’s but there will be new musicians. What is Bennett’s advice for them?

“I think with any artform, the key is to be yourself and love what you are doing.

Don’t listen to anyone who is pushing you to go in a direction that betrays your own talents and artistic identity.”

Tony Bennett

Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, 602.276.1600, celebritytheatre.com, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 11, $138 and $78.

Waived Administrative Fees when you mention Entertainer Magazine!

Offer valid through November 30, 2017.

Restrictions apply, contact property for details.

SkylineLoftsApartments.com ■ (602) 374-1733 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE TOURIST

21

VACATION » SIGHTS » DAY TRIPS » ADVENTURE » EXPLORE » TRAVEL

TOUR DU JOUR Welcome to “The Tourist,” a section for the more than 40 million visitors to our state, as well as the locals. But we’re not stopping at the border. Whether it be nightlife, natural wonders, golf, resort diversions, amazing cuisine or one-ofa-kind attractions, let us point out the best of the mileposts.

Enjoy!

Dillon’s KC BBQ Bayou CrackerJax Family Fun and Sports Park The entire family will be entertained at CrackerJax! Experience a variety of attractions including go-karts, 18hole miniature golf course, 300-yard golf driving range with two levels and 66 bays, bumper boats, batting cages, the Bungee Dome, Alien Invasion Laser Tag, volleyball courts, Water Wars arcade, restaurant and more. Ideal for birthday parties and corporate events of all sizes. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 10 a.m. to midnight.

Friday and Saturday. Driving range is open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

1601 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.998.2800, CrackerJax.com

Dillon’s KC BBQ Bayou is ready to serve its great food to diners in its new location—13 miles closer than its previous spot. Spend the day, choose a camp site or dine with us at this wonderfully huge venue that only Dillon’s Bayou and its award-winning barbecue can offer. Check out the general store, where you’re sure to find something necessary or unique. Our guests and employees are our greatest asset and we’re grateful for their loyalty. Visit one of our destination locations: Dillon’s Bayou at Pleasant Harbor and Dillon’s at The Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium.

Four Valley locations, dillonsrestaurant.com

O.K. Corral Visit the actual site of Tombstone, Arizona’s legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and see Wyatt Earp and “Doc” Holliday in daily reenactments. There are life-sized animatronic figures of the eight gun fighters, too. Experience the Corral as it was in the 1880s, with working blacksmiths, antique cowboy gear, Western buggies and four museum displays. Ticket includes admission to multimedia Tombstone history show and a copy of the October 26, 1881 Tombstone Epitaph newspaper with original reports of the gunfight.

326 E. Allen Street, Tombstone 520.457.3456, okcorral.com

EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS JUST FOR YOU. JOIN TODAY. See the Rewards Center for details.

9431 W. NORTHERN AVE., GLENDALE, AZ 85305 39594 DDWV Feb Entertainer Strip Ad APPROVED.indd 1

1/26/16 12:21 PM WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

22

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

A COOL ALTERNATIVE

Experience Verde Valley this summer Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

T

ourists travel to Sedona, Oak Creek, Page Springs and Cottonwood when the weather is more tolerable. But in the summer, we have those locales all to ourselves.

Here are some of the many places to enjoy in the Verde Valley.

WHERE TO STAY?

Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock

Nestled along the Red Rock Scenic Byway, the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock offers an upscale retreat where guests can continue their essential journey toward wellness, renewal and outdoor adventures. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock continues to perfect the guest experience through new partnerships, programming and interactive elements focused on Sedona.

As part of recent renovations, the upscale 219-room resort redesigned guest rooms, lobby and social spaces that reflect the natural elements of Sedona. Plugging back into the outside world is easy with VorTech Den, a space hidden within the lobby that captures the essece of Sedona’s vortexes. Charged with energy and purpose, the den is outfitted with plush leather chairs, cool workstations, comfortable seating areas, TVs and more. The creative space features sculptures, abstract paintings and ceramic vessels created by Arizona and Sedona artists. The resort’s redesigned guest rooms and suites provide a cool and calming place to recharge and recover from the day’s adventures.

The spacious accommodations offer refined comfort, private fireplaces and impressive views over the iconic red rock WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

formations and golf course.

Hilton Sedona’s recent partnerships with The Hike House Sedona and Pink Adventure Group offer travelers a wealth of outdoor adventures, recommendations, education and gear in the lobby.

From Pink Jeep Tours and guided hikes to evening socials and inventive programing, Hilton Sedona celebrates the red rock spirit of adventure.

In recent months, the resort completed its newest fitness facility, the Outdoor Warrior Pit. The one-of-a-kind boot camp playground is equipped with tires, ropes, sledge hammers and anchors. Resort guests can exercise at their leisure or attend one of the weekly classes led by seasoned instructors.

Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, 90 Ridge Trail Drive, Sedona, 928.284.4040, hiltonsedonaresort.com.

WHAT TO SIP?

Page Springs Cellars Sedona is often credited for being the home to Northern Arizona’s rich vineyard. However, that honor belongs to Sedona’s southern sister communities of Cornville and Page Springs. Many of the wineries in the area—including Javalina Leap, Alcanterra and Oak Creek Winery—are delightful, Page Springs Cellars shines as the crowning jewel in the region.

A family-owned winery and vineyard tucked into the volcanic landscape overlooking pristine Oak Creek Canyon, Page Springs Cellars produces Rhone-style wines, working primarily with Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Like other wineries, the tasting room offers tours and several wine flights for tastings, as well as varietals by the bottle and glass. Where it excels is in its picnics and “PINTXO” options. In the Basque region of Spain, bar snacks

are called pintxo rather than tapas or hors d’oeuvres, and in the tradition of Spain, Page Springs offers eye-popping pintxos for every palate, including more traditional cheese board, salads, dips and flatbread options and unique mason jar rillettes. Sprea mason jars that are perfect for sharing. They’re served with warm fresh bread, pickles, dried apricot mustard and Page Springs homemade jams.

In addition to the impressive on-site sipping and dining options, guests looking for something a little different are in luck at Page Springs. Thanks to a partnership with local massage therapists, the tasting room offers a variety of daily massages, including Thai, hot stone, therapeutic and aromatherapy options, amid its estate vines beside beautiful Oak Creek.

Page Spring Cellars, 1500 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville, 928.639.3004, pagespringscellars.com.

WHERE TO EAT?

Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante One of Arizona’s best-kept culinary secrets is nestled along Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, thanks to award-winning chef and restaurateur Lisa Dahl. There isn’t just one “secret,” though. There are four.

Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano.

Opened in 1995, Dahl & DiLuca delivers the beloved traditional Italian dining experience that rarely exists, serving classic Italian dishes in a romantic dining room draped in silk and adorned with gold and crystal chandeliers.

Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante, 2321 AZ-89A, Sedona, 928.282.5219, dahlanddiluca.com.

Pisa Lisa Pizzas are wood fired in an eclectic setting that pays homage to Dahl’s love for rock ‘n’ roll, which is at the heart of

the casual stop for organic salads, tapas, pizzas and handmade gelato.

Pisa Lisa, 2245 AZ-89A, Sedona, 928.282.5472, pisalisa.com.

Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill Perched atop a scenic bluff, floor-toceiling windows and an expansive outdoor patio deliver panoramic views of Sedona’s majestic red rocks from every table. Dahl uses a wood-fired grill and wood-burning oven to create handmade delicacies inspired by her travels to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill, 700 AZ-89, Sedona, 928.862.4444 mariposasedona.com.

Cucina Rustica

Rustic, Italian-Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed, fine-dining setting reminiscent of an Old World villa in Tuscany.

With multiple dining rooms and a garden-style patio for al fresco dining, signature dishes range from antipasti tapas plates to delicate pastas and hearty meat dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Cucina Rustica, 7000 AZ-179, Suite 126A, Sedona, 928.284.3010, cucinarustica.com.

A BONUS

Day Trippin’ in Cottonwood Old Town Cottonwood boasts Arizona Stronghold, Pillsbury Wine Company, Burning Tree Cellars, Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria, Small Batch Wine & Spirits and Fire Mountain Wines all littered along Main Street. It is one of the most convenient ways to sample the best the region offers. Tastings range from $10 to $15, and some even offer chocolates, games and other treats to enjoy during the visit.

For directions and a list of entertainment, visit oldtown.org.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS

A summer spectacular planned at the Fairmont Scottsdale Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

gift from the giant birthday box at children’s check-in.

merica is celebrating its birthday this month, but the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is feting its 30th birthday all summer long, with innovative attractions and activities through Labor Day. Here’s a sneak peek.

The Future is Now The Princess is blasting fun into the future with Techno Glo pool parties with fog, lasers, LED hula hoops and DJ Splash. New this year are the interactive Techno-Bot siblings, Beta and Blast.

Trailblazers Kids Club and Recreation Center is featuring a new BEAM interactive floor playground and virtual reality adventures. Guests can ride on a rollercoaster or glide above the clouds in an immersive, virtual reality 3-D simulator, which are complimentary at the Kids Club. Classic games, billiards, ping-pong, shuffle board and arts and crafts are also available in this family-friendly fun zone from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturdays.

A

Summer Splash Birthday Bash Activities Cool pools are front and center and this AAA Five Diamond resort has six, from it largest and newest pool, Sunset Beach, with 830 tons of white sand, to the 200-foot twisting waterslides at Sonoran Splash. The Princess was the first Valley resort to debut dive-in movies and 30 years later, this family-favorite tradition continues. Over on Sunset Beach, Mermaid University splashes up fin-tastic fun for kids ages 7 to 12 with resident mermaid, Moon, and her sea sister, Misty Mermaid.

Grown-ups can join the fun at the new Mermaids & Mai Tais class, offered the first Saturday of every month at Well & Being Spa’s rooftop pool. The new Funergy Team entertains with high-energy poolside games and music from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Other adult pools are more relaxing.

At the concierge, kids can choose their favorite pair of sunglasses as a birthday

Fairmont Friends to Meet and Greet Besides Beta and Blast, guests are greeted upon arrival by Bixby and Gibbs, the Princess’ adoring canine ambassadors.

Another favorite friend is Cecil, the resort’s desert tortoise in his habitat near Canyon Lawn/La Hacienda. At the lagoons, nature walks and fishing derbies are fun with Ranger Rick, who introduces families to the flora and fauna of the Southwest. At the Feathered Friends of Fairmont Hawk Talk, guests can meet and learn about the resort’s resident hawks and falcons from expert handlers of Sonoran Desert Falconry.

Top Resort Experiences for Grown-Ups Adults looking to relax and unwind can find sanctuary at Well & Being Spa with many rejuvenating treatments.

Guests can also try the Float Fit paddleboard yoga at the rooftop pool. Golfers can play like a pro at the nearby TPC Scottsdale. Curated wine and spirit tastings are unique with resort experts such as the Tequila Goddess at La Hacienda, Rum Princesa at Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar or the wine sommelier at Bourbon Steak, with pairings to fresh summer menus by renowned chefs.

Celebrating Summer Holidays Fireworks light up Saturday nights in the summer with extended displays on holiday weekends. Fourth of July Freedom Fest celebrates America, through July 4, with concerts on the Lagoon Lawn by the Spazmatics playing music of the 1980s (July 2); Drive, a contemporary country band, (July 3); and MJ Live, a Michael Jackson tribute band (July 4), along with parachutists and vintage air show (July 4). Then, as summer sails into the sunset, Fairmont Scottsdale’s Labor Day Dreamcation weekend (September 1 to September 4) waves bon voyage with a cruise ship theme, this year with Cuban flair including tastes of Havana poolside, cigar rolling and vintage cars on display.

23

Vacation Values The Summer Splash Birthday Bash Package starts from $169 per night with a $50 daily credit through September.

Overnight stays with the resort fee of $30 also includes complimentary halfday admission to the Trailblazers Kids Club for up to three children ages 5-12.

Special $30 Summer Experiences What would a birthday party be without gifts? Guests can take advantage of additional birthday offers such as discounted $30 upgrades per room category and signature experiences for only $30 at resort restaurants and Well & Being Spa to make their stay unforgettable and affordable. The celebratory specials include two Bloody Marys and Brazilian French Toast for brunch at Toro, a signature cocktail and watermelon guacamole at La Hacienda, a wagyu cheeseburger and beer at Bourbon Steak, Sundown Saturdays at The Plaza Bar with music and cocktail samplings or a shampoo/blow dry or express manicure at the spa. The TPC Scottsdale is offering a $30 weekday special for unlimited play all day on the Champions Course, Monday through Thursday until August (plus $2 basin fee and tax).

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, 480.585.4848, fairmont. com/Scottsdale.

Come See Where We Live See Over 140 Exotic Animals!

Big Cats, Bears, Primates, Wolves, Birds, Reptiles, Critters and more!

Guided Tours

10am, 1pm, 3:30 (feeding tour!)

Hours

Wed – Mon, 9am-5pm Closed Tuesdays

13441 E. Highway 66 Valentine, AZ 86437

Located on Historic Route 66 at mile marker 87, 29 miles east of Kingman, AZ.

(928) 769-1800

KeepersOfTheWild.org WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

UPCOMING CONCERTS AT THE MIM MUSIC THEATER FEDERSPIEL Sunday, July 9 | 7:00 p.m.

This seven-piece ensemble redefines brass-band music. Incredible skills meet youthful and charming freshness in arrangements that weave through mariachi, mazurka, Germanic folk tunes, and more.

EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS

DELTA RAE

Opening Act: Liz Longley Monday, July 24 | 7:00 p.m.

“If Fleetwood Mac came up in North Carolina, they might resemble Delta Rae.” —Rolling Stone

Monday, July 10 | 7:00 p.m.

RECKLESS KELLY

Influenced by past gospel musicians as well as current bands such as the Black Keys, Wilco, and Calexico, they create a unique style drawing from rhythm and blues, alt-country, indie rock, and folk.

Wednesday, July 26 | 7:00 p.m.

CATHERINE RUSSELL

PHAROAH SANDERS QUARTET

Thursday, July 13 | 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 28 | 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.

“There is no happier music than early jazz performed with spirit, understanding and a sense of fun. Ms. Russell and her crew brought them all.”

—New York Times

The legendary jazz saxophonist is from the spiritual elite of 1960s jazz, the last living member of John Coltrane’s last band, and is a master of styles ranging from free to mainstream.

JUDY COLLINS Fri. & Sat., July 14 & 15 | 7:30 p.m.

“The Austin-based band were American before there really was such a term.”

—A Taste of Country

AMADOU AND MARIAM Monday, July 31 | 7:00 p.m.

“A Judy Collins concert is a seamless flow of music and storytelling. . . .”

—New York Times

“Amadou & Mariam have, in the last few years, become the most popular sonic export from Mali.”

—New York Daily News

FEUFOLLET

JD SOUTHER

Thursday, July 20 | 7:30 p.m.

Tue. & Wed., August 1 & 2 | 7:00 p.m.

Feufollet is Americana at its finest. The band takes Cajun, honky-tonk, and stringband music as their starting point, and keeps an open mind about where their song craft will lead them.

“Souther did more than sketch out the emotional landscape for the introspective West Coast country-rock sound of the 1970s. He set the template.”

—No Depression

FOR TICKETS AND LINEUP, CALL 480.478.6000 OR VISIT MIM.ORG.

2017 Concert Series sponsored by

480.478.6000 | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE ARTIST

25

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

WHAT HE’S

FEELIN’ A

Anthony Hamilton brings his passion for R&B to the Celebrity

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

nthony Hamilton’s passion for music is so strong it’s nearly palpable.

The R&B star was bitten by the music bug as a teen, performing in his church’s choir in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fast-forward and he’s netted numerous Grammy nominations, a 2003 platinum debut with Comin’ from Where I’m From, a 2009 Grammy for his collaboration on Al Green’s “You Got the Love I Need,” and a soul-stirring Babyface-produced track from his fourth studio album, Back to Love.

His latest collection, What I’m Feelin’, is what he’s really feeling. For the album, he reunited with longtime collaborator Mark Batson, the man responsible for the 2005 song “Charlene.” The HamilTones, the singer’s background vocalists, appear as well, ahead of their debut album.

What I’m Feelin’ was inspired by the recording locale: Nashville.

“Doing it in Nashville was incredible,” says Hamilton, who returns to the Celebrity Theatre on Friday, July 14. “I did the whole thing there, except two songs, which I did with Salaam Remi in Miami. To be around Nashville music and to create down there among so much greatness was amazing.”

Batson has had a longtime effect on Hamilton. The two cowrote “Charlene” for Comin’ from Where I’m From.

“When I first heard it in the studio, it was a different thing,” Hamilton says, pausing before sharing his answer.

“I thought, ‘This sounds like a real record.’ It wasn’t a song. It was a record.

A true record. When I heard it on the radio, that’s when it really sunk in. It had that feeling around it; sort of like Motown records I’ve heard before. It

came on, the music played, the claps, I thought I had something there.”

Feb. 24, 2016, was a career-defining day for Hamilton, however. He performed at the last “In Performance at the White House” hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as part of a tribute to Ray Charles.

“Oh man, it was a big moment,” says Hamilton, a cameo actor on Fox Television’s Empire.

“It was a big moment in history for our president, as he was the first AfricanAmerican president. It was bigger than just performing in the White House. I’m connected to that history.”

He and one of his six sons, who range in age from 5 to 28, returned to the White House for Obama’s birthday.

“That was really huge,” he says. “I brought my son to celebrate with me.

Obama came over and talked to him.

He talked to my son and shook hands.

He’ll never forget that.”

Hamilton’s youngest sons are grasping their father’s impact on music. At first, they found the constant attention daunting, but as they’re getting into music, they understand.

“The kids are like, ‘Wow. They really love you,’” Hamilton says. “The little ones love Michael Jackson—Off the Wall and the Thriller albums. They have to hear it a couple times a week.

They watch videos and see people screaming for Michael Jackson. Then they see people screaming for me.

They looked at me and said, ‘Dad, you’re famous.’”

Anthony Hamilton

Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, 602.276.1600, celebritytheatre.com, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, July 14, $41-$61.

Waived Administrative Fees when you mention Entertainer Magazine!

Offer valid through November 30, 2017.

Restrictions apply, contact property for details.

TrendAt51.com ■ (602) 957-0051 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

26

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

1070

ARTS

CALENDAR

TO JULY 9 Arizona Senate Bill 1070 put Arizona at the forefront of the immigration debate. This timely play by New Carpa Theater focuses on one family and how they fought to survive the social and political upheaval. While the bill topped the news several years ago, the immigration debate is a driving force in today’s political discussion.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.258.9481, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $15-$40.

3 Redneck Tenors

TO JULY 16 The 3 Redneck Tenors offer downhome laughs with big city music.

The trio returns to Phoenix Theatre with its brand of sidesplitting comedy and music that ranges from gospel to country, Broadway to pop.

Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre.com, times vary, $35-$65.

KINGDOM OF SHADOWS JULY 5 Emmy-nominated filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz looks at the hard choices and destructive consequences of the U.S.-Mexico drug war. This free PBS Point of View

1070 TO JULY 9

3 REDNECK TENORS TO JULY 16

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JULY 7 TO JULY 16

KINGDOM OF SHADOWS JULY 5

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

screening series at the Chandler Downtown Library features stories that are meant to spark dialogue and inspire action.

Chandler Downtown Public Library, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, 480.782.2800, chandlerlibrary.org, 6:30 p.m., free.

Beauty and the Beast JULY 7 TO JULY 16 After finishing a successful run at its Peoria-based home, Arizona Broadway Theater heads to downtown Phoenix to present one of Disney’s most celebrated fairytales. Now that the family has seen “the tale as old as time” on the big screen, see it on stage. Your favorite characters will be there. Expect impressive sets, brilliant costumes and a talented cast of performers.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.258.9481, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $37.50-$77.50.

Discount Tire Free Weekend

JULY 8 AND JULY 9 School may be out, but the art history lessons can continue.

Grab the family and head to the Phoenix Art Museum for a free day of exploring the galleries and special interactive activities. With more than 18,000 objects of art from around the globe, ranging

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

from classic works to photography and fashion, there is something for everyone at the largest art museum in the Southwest.

Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.8800, phxart.org, times vary, free.

else what to do, what to think, where to go.” Enjoy a live performance and be back in time to send that Excel report to your boss.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.258.9481, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $6.

Margarita La Diosa De La Cumbia

Tribal Justice

JULY 9 The “Goddess of Cumbia” has been performing for 30 years and has recorded more than 35 albums with too many hits to count. The Colombian-born singer moved to Mexico early in her career and has since sold over 50 million albums.

Her latest release, celebrating three decades of music, went platinum after just two months.

Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, 602.262.6225, phoenixconventioncenter. com/orpheum-theatre, 7 p.m., $37-$85.50.

Two Old Broads: Unsolicited Advice JULY 10 TO JULY 20 Enjoy a short theater presentation, while having lunch in the middle of the work day! During this Lunch Time Theater performance features, “Two know-it-all broads who’ve lived long enough to tell everybody

JULY 12 Slated for broadcast on PBS in August, this documentary follows two Native American judges whose actions of reaching back to traditional concepts of justice are improving safety in their communities, reducing incarceration rates and creating positive futures for youth. Be the first to see this fascinating feature.

Chandler Downtown Public Library, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, 480.782.2800, chandlerlibrary.org, 6:30 p.m., free.

27

MARGARITA LA DIOSA DE LA CUMBIA JULY 9

TRIBAL JUSTICE JULY 12

Seussical JULY 14 TO JULY 30 Grab the entire family for this special summertime production which features all of your favorite characters from Dr. Seuss stories.

Audiences will be transported from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus and see The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and many others. A special

Jonny Lang Friday, July 21, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

18th Annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival Under the Artistic Direction of Vanessa Ramirez

Grammy® Award Winning Blues, Gospel and Rock Singer

The Family Stone

50th Anniversary Tour Saturday, November 4, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 30, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

Gaelic Storm Sunday, October 1, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

B – “The Underwater Bubble Show” Friday, November 10, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

Full season listing

ChandlerCenter.org 480.782.2680 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

28

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

“family pack” of tickets is available for a discounted rate. Presented by TheaterWorks.

Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 10580 N. 83rd Drive, Peoria, 623.815.7930, theaterworks.org, times vary, $14-$36.

SEUSSICAL JULY 14-30

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live! Eegah!

JULY 20 Expect wise-cracking robots, silly sketches and audience participation when the critically acclaimed TV show takes the stage in a first live tour. The cheesy B-movie experience features the show’s new host Jonah Heston (Jonah Ray), along with a host of popular others.

Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, 602.262.6225, phoenixconventioncenter. com/orpheum-theatre, 8 p.m., $39.50-$299.

Jonny Lang

JULY 21 Sixteen years ago, Jonny Lang released his debut album on a major label. His career has since spanned genres of blues, gospel and rock.

Along with being a recording artist, Lang is a songwriter, guitarist and co-wrote Eric Clapton’s Grammywinning “Change the World.”

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m., $38-$68.

Saturday Night Fever JULY 21 TO AUGUST 20 Humble paint store clerk by day, stallion dance king by night, Tony Manero lives for Saturday night at the disco. Based on the 1977 film starring John Travolta, this musical features the songs “If I Can’t Have You” and “Disco Inferno.”

Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, 623.776.8400, azbroadway.org, various times and prices.

Billy Cobham and the Spectrum 40 Band JULY 22 Billy Cobham is a founding member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and has had a strong influence on jazz and jazz fusion. Cobham will take the stage along with the Spectrum 40 Band for an electrifying and memorable evening.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7:30 p.m., $33-$48.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

JONNY LANG JULY 21

Free Summer Sundays

JULY 23 The Heard Museum is dedicated to the sensitive and accurate portrayal of Native arts and cultures and is recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, educational programming and festivals. There is no better time than during the summer to escape the heat and enjoy the museum. The galleries are free for this special day. Add the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibit for a nominal fee.

Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.252.8840, heard.org, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free-$7.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 LIVE! EEGAH! JULY 20

HOUSE OF STAIRS JULY 28

House of Stairs

JULY 28 This “cool” event allows audiences to chill out to the sounds of your favorite Arizona entertainers, and is a part of the “Live & Local” Fridays series, which offers summer happenings—for locals, by locals. House of Stairs is a jazz quartet that mixes pop and progressive soul, with the use of electronic instruments.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.TKTS (8587), scottsdaleperformingarts. org, 8:30 p.m., $12-15

Flight of the Butterflies ONGOING The most incredible migration of Earth is that of the Monarch butterfly. Track the remarkable journey as you are immersed in state-ofthe-art sound, seating and picture within the 280-seat Irene P. Flynn Theater. Discover where the butterflies mysteriously disappear to during the winter.

Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.716.2000, azscience.org, times vary, $3.95-$7.95.

FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES ONGOING

BILLY COBHAM JULY 22

FROM PAGE TO STAGE

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

29

New play traces the impact of Arizona’s SB 1070 Kenneth LaFave » The Entertainer!

H

ow many ways can you tell a story? James Garcia has been telling the same story for 30 years in at least four different ways: as a journalist, as a media representative, as a teacher, and most recently and compellingly, as a playwright.

To be sure, it’s a big story, involving a whole people, a sprawling geographic area and a span of history, with countless variations in the telling.

“I’ve had this as the background of my career my entire life,” says Garcia, whose play, 1070, will be produced at the Herberger Theater Center’s Stage West from Friday, July 7, to Sunday, July 9.

The story Garcia has been telling is that of Hispanic immigration and struggle in the face of antagonizing political opposition.

“I’ve done a swarm of work related to that. I covered immigration stories since starting out as a reporter in Laredo, Texas, in the 1980s,” Garcia says.

For newspapers in San Antonio and Austin, Garcia continued to examine the implications of immigration laws and to relate the stories of people affected by them. After moving to Phoenix in 1999, he made that area his specialty in a range of high-profile media positions, including feature reporter for KJZZFM. He also worked as a spokesman for nonprofits (he is today the director of communications and strategic public policy for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), and taught Latino politics at ASU. But along the way, Garcia also discovered the power of theater, and knew that it was yet another venue for making people aware of this pervasive issue. His early efforts were “not very good,” by his own admission. As with

anything else, Garcia needed to learn the specifics of the craft of playwriting.

Once he did, though, he dove in feetfirst, founding his own company, New Carpa Theater Co., in 2002. Since then, he has written and produced some 30 plays at New Carpa, including a piece about Arizona’s only Hispanic governor, Raul Castro, and a Hispanic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet substituting border politics for the original’s background of Danish royalty.

With 1070, Garcia relates events in the life of Dulce Avila and her family as they face life after the passage of Arizona Senate Bill 1070. Avila is a character drawn from thousands of immigrants who have dealt with immigration issues and pressures, but the bill was a real and very controversial piece of legislation.

Passed in 2010, SB 1070 made it a misdemeanor for an immigrant to fail to carry papers at all times, and imposed penalties on those sheltering, hiring and transporting unregistered aliens.

The bill was so draconian that the National Council of La Raza, the nation’s largest Hispanic advocacy group, led a nationwide boycott of Arizona that considerably crippled the economy for some time.

“It was one of the most significant events in Arizona history and a monumental event regarding conversation about immigration throughout the country,” Garcia says.

As a journalist and as a media spokesman for the Hispanic community, Garcia addressed 1070, but the power of the theater to go beyond facts and dig at root truths beckoned. He waited, and his timing paid off.

“I saw that the National Council of La Raza was returning to Phoenix for its 2017 convention and I knew the timing was right,” he says.

That’s the same group that led the boycott in 2010.

“They were actually founded in Phoenix 49 years ago. Their return to

Phoenix has all kinds of symbolism to it. They led the boycott, but they have been very vocal recently that things have actually improved enough that they can spend their dollars here.”

Garcia decided to produce 1070 in a small theater throughout June, and then take it to the much larger (and more expensive) Herberger Theater Stage West for a weekend in July— exactly when the La Raza convention will be taking place, just a few yards away. Garcia is hoping that many of the 4,000 convention attendees will want to see a dramatic production addressing the very thing the council has fought so hard to change.

In writing the play, Garcia says he “fell back on old journalism skills.”

“In a newsroom, when you’re doing as article about, say a health care bill, the editors will tell you, ‘Find a family affected by the bill and tell their story.’

That’s what I’ve done with 1070.”

The family in 1070 is “mixed status”—some with documents, others without. It’s a very common thing in the world of immigration, Garcia says, and one that has split up families.

“These are people who wake up one morning and find their world has been turned upside down.”

The play features Anna Flores as Dulce Avila. Flores is an ASU student and a graduate of Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix. Flores confirms the realism of Garcia’s script.

“I’m so grateful to be a part of this production,” she said in a press release, “not only because I think it’s a great part and a great play, but because as Dulce Avila, my character, I find myself experiencing on stage many of the same experiences my own family and friends have gone through.”

The ultimate, uplifting truth about SB 1070, Garcia says, is that “good people in Arizona and around the country, many with very different backgrounds, have been willing over the years to fight back.”

That, too, is part of the story.

1070

Herberger Theater Stage West, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.254.7399, herbergertheater.org, various times Friday, July 7, to Sunday, July 9, $15 and $25.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

30

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

COMING

ATTRACTIONS Austin Found

Dunkirk

NR - 95 MINUTES

PG-13 - 120 MINUTES

Linda Cardellini plays a woman who, fed up with her mundane lifestyle, hatches a scheme to make her family instant celebrities. But not everything goes as planned as her wild tempered ex-boyfriend starts to lose it. Skeet Ulrich, Kristen Schaal and Craig Robinson also star.

Opens July 7.

Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire, Canada and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. Stars include Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Styles and Mark Rylance with Christopher Nolan directing. Opens July 21.

War for the Planet of the Apes PG-13 - 120 MINUTES

Atomic Blonde

Andy Serkis returns as ape Caesar who this time is forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless colonel (Woody Harrelson). After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet. Opens July 14.

Spider-Man: Homecoming PG-13 - 100 MINUTES

Tom Holland plays a young man who begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero. He tries to fall back into his normal daily routine—distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man—but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything he holds most important will be threatened.

Opens July 7.

Wish Upon

PG-13 100 MINUTES

Joey King plays a young woman who is bullied in high school, embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father (Ryan Phillippe) and ignored by her longtime crush. All that changes when her father comes home with an old music box with an inscription that promises to grant its owner seven wishes.

She finally has the life she’s always wanted and everything seems perfect—until the people closest to her begin dying in violent and elaborate ways after each wish. Opens July 14.

R - 115 MINUTES

Charlize Theron plays a top-level spy for MI6, who is dispatched to Berlin to take down a ruthless espionage ring that has just killed an undercover agent for reasons unknown. She is ordered to cooperate with the Berlin station chief (James McAvoy) and the two form an uneasy alliance, unleashing their full arsenal of skills in pursuing a threat that jeopardizes the West’s entire intelligence operation. Opens July 28.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets PG-13 - 137 MINUTES

Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne play special operatives who embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha—an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other. When a dark force threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, the duo must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard the future of the universe. Opens July 21.

The Emoji Movie

PG - 90 MINUTES

T.J. Miller voices an emoji who, ashamed that he has multiple facial expressions while his colleagues only have one each, embarks on a quest to be like everyone else. Other voice talents include James Corden, Ilana Glazer, Jennifer Coolidge, Patrick Stewart and Maya Rudolph. Opens July 28.

For more movie reviews, in-depth celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes insights, tune in to breakthrough entertainment 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays on KPHX 1480 AM and BreakRadioShow.com.

Email film writer Joseph J. Airdo at joseph.airdo@gmail.com.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

31

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE CRITIC

LIGHTS » CAMERA » ACTION » SCREEN » ENCHANT » TRANSPORT

What movie should you see this month?

Ask our experts!

JOSEPH’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Although not as groundbreakingly entertaining than its preceding volume, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one high-flying out-of-this-world cinematic adventure that makes excellent use of a smart-yet-silly sense of humor, strong character development, visceral visual effects and—best of all—one groovy playlist of musical hits from the ’70s and ’80s. The characters are more spread out on their own excursions and that bogs down the flick’s fun. Baby Groot, however, makes this movie memorable and among this summer’s absolute best.

RANDY’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

It Comes at Night

Trey Edward Shults’ debut family drama last year was an impressive first feature. Now he tackles psychological horror with a family living guarded lives during a deadly viral outbreak. The result is a film that left me out of breath, in tears, with blood racing. Shults plays with your every emotion, fear and facet of the human psyche. While it may disappoint those expecting a generic, off-the-shelf horror film, it is deeper than that.

I’m not sure I will ever be mentally the same after this.

M.V.’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Wonder Woman

DC’s pioneering superheroine finally takes the lead in a feature film with this lavish origin story, set during World War I. It’s a nonfacetious superhero flick that’s wholeheartedly enjoyable, almost from beginning to end. The movie is colorful and playful, even sunny, and there’s an openhearted, unembarrassed sense of decency and heroism to it that’s highly gratifying after years of self-consciously “dark” comic-book sagas.

This tone is reflected in the warmth and emotional directness of star Gal Gadot’s performance. She has a quick throwaway scene involving an ice cream cone that made me fall in love with her.

ABOUT THE FILM WRITERS JOSEPH J. AIRDO is a film critic, producer and onair personality for Breakthrough Entertainment, a talk radio show airing 11 a.m. to Noon Saturdays on KPHX 1480 AM and BreakRadioShow.com that shines a spotlight on the practical perspectives of the topics and themes explored in movies. He has a pet duck named Frozen who is as opinionated about movies as he is.

Email him at joseph.airdo@gmail.com.

The Report Card

Our film writers grade what’s in theaters Movie

Joseph

Randy

M.V.

Alien: Covenant

D

C

C

Baywatch

C

D

D

Captain Underpants

C

B

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

C

C

Everything, Everything

C

C

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

B

B

The Mummy

C

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

C

Snatched

C

Wonder Woman

D

B C

C

C

A

FILM FACTS SOUNDBITE SPOTLIGHT

Five areas in the southeast United States were visited to research the history of stock-car racing for Cars 3: Charlotte, North Carolina; the shuttered North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina; Occoneechee State Park and Speedway in Clarksville Virginia; Daytona; and the Sonoma Speedway in California.

RANDY MONTGOMERY is a Los Angeles-based film critic who lived in, and still loves, Arizona. Living within walking distance of multiple major studios is a dream come true for this long-time movie buff. While not sitting in the dark and munching on popcorn with extra butter, you can find him riding roller coasters and enjoying the arts. Email him at randymwriter@yahoo.com.

“Ninety percent of this shoot has been absolutely pleasant and really fun down there and then 10 percent is either exhausting or really cold. But I think it just adds to the performance when you’re shivering and just want to get out of there because that’s what the film is about.”

- Claire Holt, 47 Meters Down

M.V. MOORHEAD has won five first-place Arizona Press Club awards for criticism. His reviews and other writings appear in Wrangler News (wranglernews. com), Phoenix Magazine and on his own blog, Less Hat, Moorhead (mvmoorhead.blogspot. com). A native of Pennsylvania, he lives in Phoenix with his wife, kid and three Chihuahuas with five eyeballs between them. Email him at mvmoorhead@cox.net.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE DINER

33

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

Happy Hour Guide 34

Diner Insider 36

Rosati’s Old Town Pizzeria 37

JULY FOOD EVENTS Organ Stop Pizza’s July Food Drive Challenge

JULY 1 TO JULY 31 Guests are invited to bring at least two approved nonperishable food items between July 1 and July 31 to receive 10 percent off their kitchen bill that evening. Patrons can help the United Food Bank while enjoying The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ and pizzas, pastas and salad.

Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa, 480.813.5700, organstoppizza. com, various hours, prices depend on meals ordered.

Sow will offer crisp chicken thighs, petite bone-in filets, slow-cooked beef shoulder and milk-braised pork butt. Roaring Fork’s menu will feature spit-roasted half chicken, slow-roasted pork shoulder carnitas, cedar-planked salmon and blackened redfish.

Salty Sow, 4801 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix, 602.795.9463, saltysow. com, 4 p.m., prices vary; Roaring Fork, 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.947.0795, roaringfork.com, 4 p.m., prices vary.

Kingfisher Road Trip: Great Plains/Midwest

Dinner on Us

JULY 4 Guests are invited to Salty Sow and Roaring Fork in Scottsdale to celebrate Independence Day with a special “Dinner on Us” (buy one entree, get one free) treat. The Salty

JULY 13 TO JULY 24 Chef Jim Murphy takes diners on a special trip to the Great Plains for an inspiring meal. Murphy, along with fellow chef/owner Jeff Azersky and executive chef Fred Harris, draw each season to see who will be responsible for the menus for each region throughout the summer. Road Trip menus feature a complete range of appetizers, entrees, desserts, cocktails and regional beverages.

Kingfisher Bar & Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road, Tucson, 520.323.7739, kingfishertucson.com, see website for times and prices.

Dinner in the Vines

JULY 15 This four-course meal is paired

with wines. The dishes include Genoa salami coronets with Boursin cheese; first course of roasted red bell pepper and tomato bisque with fried leek baked parmesan cheese straw; second course of mixed green salad with apple, jicama and citrus vinaigrette; main course of cabernet-braised short ribs, twice-baked poblano potatoes, French green beans with lemon thyme butter; and the sweet course of crème brulee in crisp phyllo shells and fresh berries.

Kief-Joshua Vineyards, 370 Elgin Road, Elgin, 520.455.5582, kj-vineyards.com, kjvineyards@ gmail.com, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., $75.

Donovan’s 40

features a Scotch maker and menu to be announced soon; email for details. Limited to just 24 guests, Chef’s Secret Garden Dinners bring an interactive kitchen space to life with a multicourse dinner featuring guest wine, beer and spirit makers.

Omni Montelucia’s executive chef Marcos Seville leads the charge in the indoor/outdoor space that has a grotto-style indoor kitchen with custom millwork, hammered brass finishes, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, as well as a 2,500-square-foot, outdoor herb garden with an array of citrus, herbs and exotic mints.

Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, 480.627.3161, sam. barraza@omnihotels.com, 6 p.m., dinners start at $110.

Grown-Ups Table

JULY 19 AND JULY 26 The Grown-Ups Table returns to Beckett’s Table, which features a three-course meal and drinks by Chef Justin Beckett enjoyed around the community table. Each week, Beckett will release the night’s themed menu on social media.

Previous Grown-Ups Table menus have included Spanish tapas, Baja peninsula and Asian wok.

Beckett’s Table, 3717 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.954.1700, beckettstable.com, 6 p.m., $45 plus gratuity.

Chef’s Secret Garden Dinners Summer Series: National Scotch Day JULY 27 This four-course, prix fixe dinner

7 Chef Fund Up

JULY 31 The “Arizona Seven” reunite for the 7 Chef Fund Up, a communal dining event hosted in support of fellow chef Kelly Fletcher (formerly of House of Trick and Zen Culinary) who suffered a life-threatening infection, rendering him bedridden in the ICU for weeks. This is a benefit to help ease the burden of his medical bills.

Crudo, 3603 E. Indian School Road Phoenix, 602.358.8666, crudoaz. com, http://7cheffundup.bpt.me/, 6 p.m., $150.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

34

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Brat Haus

3622 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. $2 off all drafts, $1 off bottles, cans, liquor and wine and food specials

Hard Rock Café

3 S. Second Street, Phoenix Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $3.50 domestic bottle and draft, $4.50 select craft beer, $5 premium well, house wine and double shot of Fireball

Buck & Rider

Hungry Monk

Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers

Lucky Strike Bowling

Craft 64

Luxe Lounge

4225 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix Weekdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 9:30 p.m. to close $6 signature cocktails, house pours and featured glasses of wine

1760 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler Daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. $1 off all alcohol, but ask about daily specials!

For example, Wednesday is $3 pints of craft beer all day!

4222 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 20831 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 117, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. $3 domestic pints, $4 local pints, domestic aluminum bottles and premium well drinks, $5 house wines

50 W. Jefferson Street, #240, Phoenix Daily 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. $2 domestic drafts, $3 craft/import drafts and well drinks, $4 premium cocktails, house wine and food specials

6922 E. Main Street, Scottsdale Daily 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. $1 off all beers and $2 off all wines

16000 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all day Sunday $3 well drinks, house wines and 16 oz. domestic drafts

Dirty Dogg Saloon

10409 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. $1 off domestic beers, well drinks and call

Duke’s Sports Bar & Grill

7607 E. McDowell, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3.50 domestic drafts and bottles, $5.25 house wines and $8.99 domestic pitchers

El Chorro

Pure Sushi Colony

5538 N. 7th Sreet, Suite 110, Phoenix Daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sat/Sun 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3 off regular-priced cocktails, wines by the glass and sake. $2 off regular-priced bottles of beer.

Wide selection of sushi, appetizers and signature cocktails and Japanese beers & bombers.

Rehab Burger Therapy

7210 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale Daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to close on Thursdays $1 Off all party starter appetizers, $1.50 PBRs, Domestic Pints $2.50, Premium Pints $3.50, $1 off shots, wines by glass and specialty drinks

Scottsdale Beer Company

8608 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. $1 off all Scottsdale Beer Company beers, well drinks, wines by the glass and food specials

Stockyards Steakhouse

5009 E. Washington Street, #115, Phoenix Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. $2 off draft beer and Saloon Snacks, $3 domestic bottles, $5 well drinks and $5 house wine with complimentary tenderloin sliders

Old Town Tavern

SunUp Brewing Co.

Park Place Bar & Grill

TapHouse Kitchen

7320 E. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bucket of beers (five beers for two people): $12 domestic, $16 Mexican imports, $20 premium

7373 E. Scottsdale Mall, #6, Scottsdale Tuesday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

See a full list of specials at www.peterscuisineaz.com.

322 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix Daily 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $5 select appetizers and $1 off beers

Hilton Village, 6137 N Scottsdale Rd #108, Scottsdale, AZ 85250 7 Days! 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $2 off all draft beer, spirits and wine on tap. $2 off all beer flights, house wine. $2 off all Tap House Kitchen custom cocktails, Tap “House" Margaritas and $1 off all well drinks. And more!

Philly’s Sports Grill

Tutti Santi

EVO

Pig & Pickle

Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap

Gallagher’s Sports Grill

Pure Sushi Bar & Dining

5550 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley Monday through Saturday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. $3 glass of house wine and domestic bottled beer and $5 El Chorro Margaritas and well drinks

4175 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale Daily 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. $3 beers, $4 well drinks, $5 wines and $6 cocktails

Five locations across the Valley Daily 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight $2.75 well drinks, $3.25 domestic drafts, $3.50 house wine and several food specials

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

1826 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, 1402 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, 4855 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix Daily 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday (Excludes UFC, Boxing, ASU events) 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. $4.50 Select appetizers, $3 Domestic Drafts, $3.50 Premium Drafts, $5 Guinness 20oz., $3.50 Coastal Vines Wines 2922 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale Tuesday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. $5 select small dishes, select cocktail and select wine and beer

20567 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale Mon-Fri, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sat/Sun 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3 off regular-priced cocktails, wines by the glass and sake. $2 off regular-priced bottles of beer. Wide selection of sushi, appetizers and signature cocktails and Japanese beers & bombers.

6339 E. Greenway Road, Suite 108, Scottsdale Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Select beers $3, well drinks $3 and select glasses of wine $5

9053 E. Baseline Road, Mesa, 2115 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek; Brewery: 4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday, 10 p.m. to close $3.50 Uncle Bears craft pints, domestic bottles, wells & house margs, $4.50 22 oz. Uncle Bears crafts, guest craft pints, Deep Eddy cocktails & house wine, $5.50 22 oz. guest crafts & sangria

Wasted Grain

7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale Wednesday through Sunday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Scottsdale’s Longest Happy Hour $5 shared plates, $5 drink specials

ntic Chicago Pizza Authe

b u P s t And Spor

Old Town’s Newest Live s Sports Pub! mus c ic ls

ia pec

ay lose d k ee to

W 3 PM

!

MARTINI MONDAYS!

Martinis Featuring Tito’s Vodka

TEQUILA & TACO TUESDAYS! Open Mic Night, Homemade Tacos Plus 3 Amigos Tequila Specials!

Ladies Night Thursdays!

Ladies Night - $4 House Wine & Champagne Cocktails!

Fireball Fridays!

FireBall Specials - Live Entertainment!

Whiskey & Wiener Wednesdays! DJ Saturdays!

Whiskey & Wieners! - Plus...Trivia & “Sing For Supper Karaoke!”

480.999.5400

RosatisOldTown.com

Live DJ spinning TOP 40 Hits!

7570 E. 6th Ave, Old Town Scottsdale

36

DINER

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

INSIDER Pays to>> Eat Pizza!

Jasmine It Kemper The Entertainer!

Arizona Breakfast Weekend returns this month

0 2 Craft Beers on Tap!

Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

V

Locally Sourced

Lunch • Dinner • Brunch

At Hilton Village 6137 N. Scottsdale Road #108, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480.656-0012 www.TapHouseKitchen.com SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMS • BREWERIES • VINEYARDS

is just one part of what we do...

K IN e& 

ap

...........................................................

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

alley chefs and restaurateurs are uniting for an event that celebrates the most important meal of the day: breakfast. The third annual Arizona Breakfast Weekend, sponsored by Hickman’s Family Farms, hits eateries July 27 to July 30.

Diners will enjoy special dishes at breakfast and brunch spots around the Valley. Breakfast Weekend will feature three dining price points ($7, $10 or $15). Breakfast is such a popular meal that some restaurants are offering “breakfast for dinner” option on July 28 and July 29; check website, ArizonaBreakfastWeek.com, for details.

At deadline, confirmed restaurants included The Original Breakfast House, Paul Martin’s, Ticoz, Perk, The Market

by Jennifer’s, and Hash Kitchen in Scottsdale and Arcadia.

The brainchild of and produced

by Arizona Restaurant Association, Arizona Breakfast Weekend gives chefs the chance to curate new recipes and to wow breakfast lovers by elevating and celebrating the morning meal.

“For two years now, Arizona Breakfast Weekend has been wowing diners around the state,” says ARA president and CEO, Steve Chucri. “We look forward to its continued success, and growth, for years to come.”

Nearly 50 restaurants participated in 2016, and it is anticipated that number will increase this year.

“We like to think that Arizona Breakfast Weekend presents restaurants with new opportunities—whether to offer diners a totally new menu or to tweak and expand their existing breakfast and brunch menus,” Chucri adds.

“Arizona Breakfast Weekend brings the same level of culinary excellence, creativity and diversity as diners have come to expect from Arizona Restaurant Week—but with the added benefit of starting off your day with us.”

.................................................................

Offset & Digital Printing . Large Format Printing . Screen Printing Graphic Design . Snapchat Filters . Decals . Wraps . Apparel . Embroidery . Signage Die-cut & Promo Products . Pop-Up Displays . Direct Mail . Packaging . & SO MUCH MORE...

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

‘KEEPING IT REAL’ PHOTO BY TIM SEALY'

Rosati’s Old Town brings the taste of Chicago to Scottsdale

Do The Dillo!

NOT your ordinary sports bar.

W

hen Bill Jachimek’s friend suggested he try Rosati’s pizza 20 years ago, he was skeptical.

“I always thought, ‘Well, it’s not going to be any good’ because most things they call Chicago pizza aren’t Chicago pizzas,” Jachimek says. “It was very good.”

Jachimek is now part of the Rosati’s family as the franchise owner of Rosati’s Old Town Pizza & Sports Pub. The company, founded in 1964 as pizzerias, has since added full sports pubs to its roster. Old Town Rosati’s is one of those.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant can seat up to 300 guests and features two patios, as well as a bar that hosts 80 patrons. Full pizzas start at $10.99, but slices can be purchased, too.

“We’re probably one of the larger ones in the country,” Jachimek says. “I think we’re one of the largest and probably the nicest one.”

Rosati’s Old Town Pizza & Sports Pub boasts 60 large television sets and a four-piece full-wall television. The sports pub hosts a variety of activities throughout the week: trivia at 7 p.m.

Wednesdays; live local entertainment

37

at 9 p.m. Fridays; and karaoke at 9 p.m. Saturdays. The public is invited to participate in any of those activities.

Jachimek is quick to say the events are never the focus of the Rosati’s experience.

“We’re mainly a sports bar, so we never want any of our other entertainment to interfere with sports because that’s why people come here,” he says.

Also gracing the interior is Rosati’s Old Town’s extensive—and impressive—Chicago memorabilia collection that takes Illinois guests back to where it all started.

“We have Chicago photographs,” he says. “We probably have close to 150. We have signed team jerseys from all the Chicago sports teams. We have football helmets, footballs, basketballs— all signed—and we have a lot of other memorabilia. We have Chicago fireman hats; Chicago policeman hats; Chicago street signs. If you’re from Chicago, you’ll feel like you’re at home.”

Rosati’s Old Town Pizza & Sports Pub 7570 E. Sixth Avenue, Scottsdale, 480.999.5400.

It offers an online rewards program, as well as beer and wine delivery. For a full menu, visit myrosatis.com.

Think BBQ!

(Or Ribs, Chicken, Pork, Brisket & Turkey)

Lunch Dinner Drinks Off-Track Betting Happy Hour 44 TVs (17 Hi-Def) Pool Tables Late-Nite Menu Best Food in Town!

1904 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016

ESTABLISHED 1997

(602) 287-0700 MyArmadilloGrill.com

3222 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018 (602) 314-5599 www.frasherssmokehouse.com WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

38

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

SANDBAR

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

T

CHEAP

EATS Get your grub on at these 11 affordable places CHEBA HUT

he Valley is filled with unique and affordable restaurants. Whether you crave takeout, delivery or a full, sitdown experience, you’re sure to find something to your liking.

But money is tight and it’s not always easy to dine on a dime. Here are some top Valley restaurants—ranging from Mediterranean to vegan alternatives to American classics—where you can eat well and save money.

Cheba Hut

825 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 602.281.6689 Other Valley locations: chebahut.com With décor and sandwiches themed after cannabis, Cheba Hut is going on 20 years strong after opening in Tempe.

Its favorites include White Widow, Chronic and Dank in a variety of sizes like nug, pinner and blunt. You’ll spend about $5 to $10 on them. Founder Scott Jennings says the key to Cheba Hut’s success is keeping the prices in check. “We love our customers,” he says.

“We’ve been trying not to gouge them.”

Cheba Hut will celebrate two decades of serving up munchies in January with a smokin’ concert to be announced soon.

Chicago Gyros

717 W. Union Hills Drive, Suite 1, Phoenix, 602.978.4976 Other Valley locations: chicagogyros.biz/ This Mediterranean restaurant features many classic Greek and Chicago favorites, such as pita dishes, patty melts and fish and chips. Most combos, which come with fries and a drink, average at $10. Located at Seventh Avenue and Union Hills for more than 10 years, this busy restaurant helps maintain the popularity of Mediterranean food in the city.

Chino Bandido

15414 N. 19th Avenue, Phoenix, 602.375.3639, chinobandido.com Serving a fusion of Asian, Mexican and Caribbean dishes, Chino Bandido was founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Frank and Eve Collins in 1990. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, offers bowls in the $7 to $8 range, depending on the number of items.

Options include carnitas, jerk chicken and teriyaki chicken.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

Green New American Vegetarian

2022 N. Seventh Street, 602.258.1870 Other Valley locations: greenvegetarian.com Who says vegan food can’t be affordable? This 100-percent vegan restaurant has many dishes priced around $4 to $10. From rice bowls like Karma Curry to the big WAC burger, Green serves up healthy and animal-free alternatives to common favorites. And when you’re finished, you can head over to the neighboring Nami, a partnering vegan establishment, for treats.

Half Moon Sports Grill

2121 E. Highland Avenue, Phoenix, 602.977.2700 Other Valley locations: halfmoonsportsgrill.com This Chicago-turned-Arizona “Windy City Sports Grill” features a great sporty Chicago atmosphere paired with a humorous theme. Whether you want their wings ($5.99 for six) or a classic chili cheese dog ($4.99), Half Moon is a great sit-down restaurant that doesn’t tread too far into expensive territory.

And if you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can even try their nuclear sauce wings that are dubbed “stupid hot.”

Noodle Bar

114 W. Adams Street, Suite C-103, 480.462.7059, noodlebarphx.com Noodle Bar is one of the most popular Japanese restaurants in Phoenix—and for good reason. The downtown location is walking distance from Valley Bar and the Orpheum Theatre, and makes for the perfect preshow snack. Noodle Bar has a great ramen and pasta menu, spearheaded by Chef Marco Di Santo.

While many dishes fall around $10, the Izakaya menu, which consists of small plates, is slightly more affordable.

Options like the Karaage Fried Chicken come with crispy marinated chicken, yakiniku, yuzu aioli and scallions for only $7.50, while Gyoza is minced pork, garlic chives, cabbage and ponzu for $5.50.

Pita Jungle

1001 N. Third Avenue, Suite 4, Phoenix, 602.258.7482 Other Valley locations: pitajungle.com Founded in 1994, Pita Jungle delivers a healthy alternative to traditional fast food, like wood-fired pizzas, shawarma and burgers. Pita Jungle specializes in Mediterranean dishes, most of which are priced at less than $10.

39

Sandbar

21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.585.5900 Other Valley locations, visit sandbaraz.com Located at Desert Ridge, Sandbar may seem like your typical Mexican grill and bar, but it is far from it. With its energetic and popular outdoor seating/ bar, as well as its standard indoor restaurant, Sandbar is a great hotspot.

But the real kicker is its Taco Tuesdays.

While most meals generally cost around $13, prices drop drastically on Tuesdays. Tacos are mostly $2, with margaritas and Dos Equis priced at $4 and $2, respectively.

PITA JUNGLE

Two Hippies Magic Mushroom Steakburgers

802 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.489.7373, magicmushroomburger.com This burger shop, which opened in 2008, is likely one of the most affordable joints you’ll find in the Valley. A burger, fries and drink will cost you a five-spot. Two Hippies is a throwback to the ’60s, from the décor and atmosphere to the back-to-basics burger pricing.

Valle Luna

3336 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.993.3108 Other Valley locations: valleluna.com Founded in 1983 by Tia Rita, Valle Luna has built a reputation as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Phoenix.

Although Valle Luna is slightly higher priced than many of the other restaurants on this list, its large portions give you more bang for your buck. For $12.95, Valle Luna offers many “combinaciones,” but if you’re looking to spend even less, you can order from the a la carte menu, on which its classic highvalue tacos are $4.25 each.

Zipps Sports Grill

1515 Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, 602.266.1600 Other Valley locations: zippssportsgrill.com This sports grill makes its mark throughout the Valley, with locations in Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe or Phoenix. Sports fans can grab a bite to eat, admire the atmosphere and catch a game while munching on the likes of a chicken breast sandwich ($6.75) or a Buffalo focaccia sandwich ($7.95).

Looking for a classic grilled burger?

Look no further than Zipps, where it is priced at $8.49.

PITA JUNGLE

SANDBAR

ZIPPS SPORTS GRILL

HALF MOON SPORTS GRILL

CHEBA HUT

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

40

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

D

onovan’s Steak and Chop House management wants the Biltmore-area restaurant to be known for more than its pricey dishes.

The mahogany-laden, stylish dining establishment is pushing its expanded happy hour menu, which is served from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We want people to remember that we have a bar and to give that a shot before they come in and dine with us,” says general manager Kaity Alverson.

With steaks that range from a filet ($52) to ribeye chop ($74), Donovan’s is striving to change its reputation as just a special occasion restaurant, she adds.

“We want guests to come in and do the full experience, to give themselves enough time to go into the bar, and then do the full three- or four-course experience,” she says.

“We can definitely be made affordable. If they come in and experience the bar and the happy hour, that’s definitely another side of Donovan’s, besides the super high-end side.”

Specials abound at Donovan’s.

Recently, the establishment participated in restaurant week, during which diners could purchase prix fixe meals for $33 or $44. The regular menu boasts a chef ’s prix fixe with a choice of starter, entrée and dessert for $52. Groupon deals are occasionally available.

“I always recommend the chef ’s prix fixe the first time,” she says. “If they try that option, they can test all the courses and get the experience. It’s more limited as far as options go, but at least we give you an affordable option.”

The menu at Donovan’s features USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, and a depth of wine variety that has earned the prestigious Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.

“We serve USDA prime cuts 100 percent, but we keep it as cost driven as we can,” Alverson says. “It’s the best value with what you’re paying for. We’re very unlike any other steakhouse. We know our prices are a little bit higher.

Our quality of meat is a little bit higher.

We do a side—the vegetable and potato, instead of doing it family-style where you pay for the meat and everything else is a la carte.”

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE FULL

Diners can indulge in Donovan’s without breaking the bank

EXPERIENCE

Diners can dress up their meat with béarnaise, peppercorn sauce, crumbled bleu cheese or Cajun seasoning, for an additional $3.

“Instead of doing the fancy-dancy 25 different herbs and seasonings on your steak, we offer a classic piece of meat that tastes like it should,” Alverson says. “Different restaurants have their own recipes and seasonings. We’ll get feedback that says the meat didn’t have much flavor, that it tasted like meat.

“Well, thank you. We do like to offer those accoutrements and additional offerings.”

Diners are waited on by a team of servers, all of whom are very knowledgeable—and some with a dry sense of humor.

“Nowadays, we’re overrun with restaurants,” Alverson says. “We have so many choices and options. What sets us apart is our service. It’s not just customer service, but our staff is knowledgeable. This shows that they all want to be here. They care about the high level of service and giving all diners the

full experience, whether it’s through Arizona Restaurant Week, Groupon, happy hour or prix fixe.

Alverson has been working in the area for 10-plus years. She sees many regulars at Donovan’s, which also has locations in San Diego and La Jolla.

Those who have been to Donovan’s 10 or more times, are honored with nameplates above booths. Inside the door, near the bar, is a wine locker façade.

The true wine lockers are $250 per year and it gives members the opportunity to purchase wine at a 20-percent discount.

That family feel extends beyond the customers.

“I was here when Donovan’s opened,” she says. “There are members of the staff who were here when we opened and still are today. There’s definitely a family feel, not just with guests, but with staff.

“No other steakhouse or restaurant has as much of a family feel as we have. Our staff truly cares about each other and the guests. It definitely speaks through.”

Donovan’s Steak and Chop House

3101 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.955.3666, donovanssteakhouse.com.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

41

HUNGRY? COME EAT AT SCOTTSDALE’S BEST HIDDEN GEM!

Stargazing, Homemade Tortillas, Fresh Southwestern Cuisine & AZ’s Best Margaritas offered nightly on our award winning Patio.

Proudly Celebrating 15 Years of the Valley’s Finest Margaritas & Tortillas

Featured on the Food Network’s “Best Of” Show (480) 945-4567 6910 EAST MAIN STREET, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 WWW.OLDTOWNTORTILLAFACTORY.COM

Open Daily at 11am

Happy Hour 11-6 Daily

Coming to Tempe!

REHABBURGERTHERAPY.COM

VER 1 BILLI N S LD! SINCE 1910

KOSHER BAKERY! WE CATER!

BREAKFAST!

LUNCH! Secret Menu Item!

nybagelsnbialys.com | (480) 483-NYBB | 10320 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85253 | M-F 6:30am – 5pm | Sat/Sun 6:30am – 3pm

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

42

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

THE RIGHT RECIPE

The Gebran family serves breakfast with a side of happiness at U.S. Egg

Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

I

t’s been 26 years since the Gebran family moved to Arizona from Iowa, bringing love and passion to the most important meal of the day.

U.S. Egg started as one restaurant in Tempe, but has since expanded to six locations across the Valley, with spots also in Phoenix, Chandler and Scottsdale.

With its full lunch and breakfast menu, featuring burgers ($9.89-$15.89), pancakes (to $10.99) and, of course, omelets ($10.89$11.99), U.S. Egg has become a favorite for locals and visitors.

“It’s what we know, it’s what we breathe and it’s something that we really enjoy and look forward to coming to work to do,” says Gebran

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Gebran, sitting in a booth at his North Scottsdale location.

A job in the restaurant business wasn’t a stretch for Gebran and his brothers, Michael, Mario and George.

They literally grew up in the Iowa restaurant owned by their father, Oscar.

Gebran inspired his dad’s move to Arizona after discovering the original U.S. Egg while attending ASU. The family was entrenched in Iowa, but the older brothers’ desire to move out of state helped Oscar realize Iowa wasn’t quite metropolitan enough to hold the family together.

“So here we are, 26 years later, and his plan worked,” says younger brother, George, with a laugh. “We’re all here in Arizona, none of us are in a different state and we’re working together.”

Even with expansions across the Valley, the brothers and father are still on their feet everyday, checking in or working at the restaurants. On a recent weekday afternoon, Oscar smiled and greeted customers as Gebran looked on.

“We take pride in what we do,” Gebran says. “We’re a family restaurant, which is something that’s becoming a thing of the past.”

Working with family may not suit everyone, but for the brothers, who

know their roles and positions within the restaurant, it fits perfectly.

“We’ve always gotten along, we’ve always had a good rapport,” Gebran says. “We don’t take each other too seriously outside of work.”

At work, however, the brothers are busy connecting with the community and improving the business. In Arizona, a game changer was the protein pancake, an idea that came to fitness buffs Gebran and his brother, Michael, in the ’90s.

“The key is the flavor,” George says. “It crunches because of the granola and then the blueberries give you the right flavor.”

Food isn’t the only thing for which the restaurant is known. U.S. Egg works with many Arizona charities, including the 100 Club, AASK, MANA House and Packages from Home. In July, they are working with Packages from Home on a letter-writing campaign that gives diners the chance to write letters to soldiers.

The hustle and bustle of successful restaurants doesn’t afford the brothers weekends off. However, the breakfast and lunch model allows them time in the evening to unwind and relax. The Gebran family flocks to mom’s house for

“mandatory” Sunday dinners.

“It’s something that keeps our family together,” George says. “Sunday dinners, the kids, the grandkids all get together.”

With almost 30 years under their belt, the brothers say it’s fulfilling to see their customers leave happy.

“It’s a blessing that we’re able to work with each other and have such a good relationship,” Gebran says.

“Serving the community and watching people come in and leave with the satisfaction from a good meal—what’s better than that?”

U.S. Egg

7119 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, 480.443.5558 3238 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.947.7344 131 E. Baseline Road, Tempe, 480.831.0070 402 E. Greenway Parkway, Phoenix, 602.993.2122 5840 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, 480.705.0868 2957 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.843.1249 useggrestaurant.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

43

Buy ANY DRINK get a

FREE GREEN TEA! Sapporo offers you a dining experience unlike any other featuring four unique options: interactive Teppanyaki tables, fresh sushi bar, innovative Pacific Rim dining room, and vibrant bar and lounge.

JOIN US FOR DINNER OR HAPPY HOUR.

“That’s a Damn Fine Donut!”

NOW HIRING!

14344 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 607-1114 | sapporoscottsdale.com

MADE LOVINGLY FRESH DAILY

ARIZONA

DONUT CO.

1030 W. Broadway Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282

OR CALL FERY DELIV

(480) 968-1321 www.AZDonutCo.com OPEN 24 HRS

WE PRICE MATCH ANY COUPON

DELIVERY AVAILABLE

At Hilton Village 6137 N. Scottsdale Road #108, Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480.656-0012 www.TapHouseKitchen.com SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMS • BREWERIES • VINEYARDS WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

W O N AR C O T TE , PIN

O I ZO D ON & A

RY

THA

B R E WE

T

45

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE CRAFTMASTER

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

Beer Over Here

Drink up at any of these Valley beer events this month Team Trivia

MONDAYS IN JULY Every Monday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Brass Tap hosts trivia night with a different brewery. This month enjoy Mission Brewery (July 10), The Shop Brewery (July 17), St. Archer (July 24) and Ironfire Brewery (July 31).

The Brass Tap, 1033 N. Dobson Road, Suite 104, Mesa, 480.610.2337, brasstapbeerbar.com/mesa/ events, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., free admission.

Crescent Community Bike Ride

THURSDAYS Join the Crescent Ballroom for a weekly community bike ride around downtown Phoenix. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the Crescent balcony and leaves at 8 p.m. for a 45- to 60-minute ride. Upon return, the Crescent Ballroom offers discounts on drinks and burritos.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 8 p.m.

Thursdays, free.

first Friday of every month, with July 7 featuring Goldwater Brewing Sublime Rose. The beer is smooth and crimson red, although not too sweet, and made with 100 percent certified organic Arizona cactus fruit, lime and other indigenous botanicals.

Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen, Crown on 7th, 5813 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 602.313.8713, centralkitchenaz.com, 5 p.m., free admission.

Flanny’s July Tap Takeover

JULY 20 Flanny’s will feature Tombstone, Dragon and Ballast Point beers at its Tap Takeover. Each beer will be priced between $5.50 and $12.

Tombstone Beers will include IPA, Dank Fruit DIPA, German Pils, Imperial Stout with Piloncillo aged in bourbon barrels, Brett Saison aged in Chardonnay barrels and Sour Wheat with mango and toasted oak. Dragon Beers will offer IPA, Witt, Stronghold, lager and DIPA. The Ballast Point beers will serve up Sculpin, Bonito Blonde, Tart Peach, Sea Monster and Barmy.

Flanny’s, 1805 E. Elliot Rd., Suite 104, Tempe, 480.659-0870, flannys.com, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., $5.50-$12 per beer.

Firkin Friday

JULY 7 The Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen hosts Firkin Friday the

Christmas in July

JULY 22 SanTan Brewing Company puts a new spin on Christmas in July with kegs of Winter Warmer and RailSlide and a visit from Santa.

Christmas music will fill the air all day. Patrons can pick up 32-ounce Canzillas and growlers while supplies last.

SanTan Brewing Company, 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, 480.917.8700, santanbrewing. com, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., prices vary.

Uncle Bear’s Brewing Event

JULY 22 Come try their beer and even pick up a free growler!

Fry’s Food Stores, 2800 W. Dove Valley Road, Phoenix, 480.994.6320, noon to 3 p.m., free.

Real Wild & Woody Beer Festival

JULY 29 This indoor craft beer festival features more than 350 craft beers.

Expect a variety of cask ales, barrelaged beers and unique blends that will satisfy any taste buds.

The afternoon rounds out with live acoustic music and interactive experiences. All $57 tickets include 20 craft beer samples and unlimited food pairings. Designated driver tickets are available as well.

Phoenix Convention Center, South Building, 33 S. Third Street, Phoenix, 602.262.7272, realwildandwoody.com, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., $57, designated driver tickets are $25.

OH NO! RACKS EMPTY?

SCAN HERE

SUBSCRIBE DIGITALLY FOR FREE!

The Entertainer! Digital Edition will be sent FREE to your inbox each month!

Receive a FREE gift just for subscribing! No Obligation.

For FREE Gift!

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

46

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

BeerFinder DIRECTORY Where to find the best craft beer bars in town

Craft 64

6922 E. Main Street, Scottsdale Craft 64 is proud to offer 36 local Arizona beers on tap in the heart of Scottsdale. Arizona beers only!

Mellow Mushroom Pizza

2490 W. Happy Valley Road, 5350 E. High Street, 740 S. Mill Avenue Locations throughout the Valley Incredible Pizza and amazing beer make Mellow the place to go for a craft beer experience.

Papago Brewing Company

7107 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale The granddaddy of Arizona beer bars, there is something for every beer lover at Papago.

Boulders on Broadway

530 W. Broadway Road, Tempe Boulders has the appeal of a neighborhood bar with a beer list that’ll make your eyes pop.

Hungry Monk

1760 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler Whether you want great wings or great beer, Hungry Monk’s selection is tough to beat.

Harvey American Public House

1524 E. Williamsfield Road, Gilbert First class food and first class beer, all set away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Goldwater Brewing Co.

3608 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale This new brewery is already making waves with their desert inspired brews--and names. Check out their Scotch’Dale Scottish style ale.

Spokes on Southern

1470 E. Southern Avenue, Tempe A comfortable bike-themed grill with 24 draft handles and food made from scratch.

Culinary Dropout

5640 N. Seventh Street, 7135 E. Camelback Road Locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe Located at The Yard, Culinary Dropout has everything you look for in a great restaurant experience, especially great beer.

Scottsdale Beer Company

8608 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale Quality craft beer made right here in Scottsdale.

Happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with $1 off all Scottsdale Beer Company beers, well drinks, wines by the glass and all small bites and starters!

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

4420 N. Saddlebag Trail Scottsdale Dierks Bentley has been known to kick back with a craft beer or two, and so can you at his digs.

Garage Wine and Tap

1534 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix With a small selection of great beers and a reputation for outstanding food, Garage should be on your list.

Thirsty Lion

2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway Tempe Plenty of great taps and plenty of room to hang out, let someone else do the shopping at Tempe Marketplace.

Copper Blues/Stand Up Live

50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix Have a beer and a meal at Copper Blues before the stand-up show. You won’t even worry if it’s sold out.

Brat Haus

3622 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale The name says it all--brats, pretzels, Belgian fries and plenty of craft “bier” to make everyone happy.

Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers 4222 N. Scottsdale Road, 20831 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale Do we need to say more? The name spells out everything you need to know.

Fox Cigar Bar

1464 E. Williams Field Road Gilbert Cigar fans, this should be your stop for cigars and great craft beer. Enjoy a walk in the humidor, the dark wood bar and a patio that is perfect for a cigar and a beer.

Philly’s Sports Grill

1826 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, 1402 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, 4855 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix Over 20 beers on draft, 15 craft beers on tap plus more selection in cans/bottles. Happy Hour: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Daily and Reverse 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sun-Thurs (excludes UFC, Boxing, ASU events).

Flanny’s Bar and Grill

1805 E. Elliot Road Tempe Home of the Third Thursday Tap Takevoer. The rest of the month is pretty good, too.

Phoenix Public Market Café

14 E. Pierce Street Phoenix The Phoenix Public Market Café is a casual urban hangout offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and great beer.

Main Ingredient Ale House 2337 N. Seventh Street Phoenix A charming old home is the location for this Coronado neighborhood hangout spot.

Pig & Pickle

2922 N. Hayden Road Scottsdale A restaurant that focuses on balance and quality, Pig & Pickle doesn’t skimp when it comes to their craft beer selection, either.

House of Brews Sports Bar

825 S. Cooper Road Gilbert Is it a sports bar or a craft beer bar? It’s both!

The PERCH Pub & Brewery

232 S. Wall Street, Chandler Located in historic Downtown Chandler, this brewery and pub not only has delicious craft brews, but is also home to a collection of beautiful, brightly colored rescue birds!

TapHouse Kitchen

Hilton Village, 6137 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 108, Scottsdale Taphouse kitchen has 20 handles of the most sought after craft beers, mostly local brew and 2 THK selection rotating handles that change with the season and taste of what we are craving at the time.

Ground Control

4860 N. Litchfield Road Litchfield Park Fresh roasted coffee and an ever-changing selection of good beer, including a fantastic import selection, make this one of the top spots in the West Valley.

The Brass Tap

1033 N. Dobson Road, Suite 104 Mesa Over 60 Taps of great craft beers and over 300 total craft beers from around the globe available! Casually upscale atmosphere, open-air patio that is cigar-friendly, nice menu, daily specials and knowledgeable staff. What more could you ask for!

Uncle Bear’s Brewery

4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix Stop by to enjoy some local craft beer including Uncle Bear’s and other guest taps as well as delicious bites and a great happy hour!

BEER GEAR

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

47

AHWATUKEE’S

ONLY BREWERY

AHWATUKEE 480.961.2374

Fast and Furious

4921 E Ray Rd Phoenix, AZ 85044)

KIDS EAT FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY 10 & UNDER WITH EACH ADULT ENTREE

Daisy Finch » The Entertainer!

E

xperimenting with the fine art of brewing and fermenting no longer requires a ton of time and money. FastBrewing and WineMaking launched a product for all brewers and beer lovers— the 14 Gallon FastFerment.

“We’ve eliminated approximately 80 percent of the work involved in making beer and wine at home,” says founder Mitchell Lesbirel. “There’s no racking, no transferring, and only one vessel to clean.”

The FastFerment works in one stage that allows brewers and winemakers to perform primary and secondary fermentation in the same unit. It contains a proprietary collection ball that gives users the chance to siphon off yeast and sediment or harvest it for later.

The FastFerment won gold at HomebrewCon 2016, and has earned three more gold medals at various beer-making competitions.

The 14G FastFerment is available for presale on its own or with additional accessories at fastbrewing.com.

MESA

QUEEN CREEK

9053 E Baseline Rd Mesa, AZ 85209

21151 E Rittenhouse Rd Queen Creek, AZ 85142

480.986.2228

ARIZONA OWNED & BREWED

480.882.3177

UNCLEBEARSAZ.COM

LIKE US! FOLLOW US! WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

48

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

BEERTENDERS Bartenders who really know their beer Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

T

apHouse Kitchen offers modern American cuisine, in addition to a respectable selection of craft beers. The tap lineup includes local options from Grand Canyon, Four Peaks and Papago Brewery. At the helm is chef Patrick Karvis, whose resume includes Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore and Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn. Michele Dryden, head bartender and manager, helped Karvis open TapHouse in 2014. Previously, she worked with him at the Hilton just down the street. She’s a bar veteran, however, it wasn’t until she moved to TapHouse that her eyes were opened to the world of craft beer. She hasn’t closed them since.

Dryden sat down with The Entertainer! to talk about her passion for beer, and how TapHouse is always true to the brew.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES CRAFT BEER SPECIAL? There certainly isn’t just one thing. I think that absolutely the camaraderie between brewers and venues like ours is something special, as is the relationship that craft beer brands have with their customers. A great example of this in action: Earlier this summer, we headed up to Flagstaff for a craft beer festival.

To see brewers—who would technically be considered “in competition with each other” in the traditional business world—working together and sharing with each other was very cool. I also think the way craft beer pairs with food, and how the trend of craft beer is really only coming into its own in recent years (and will continue to do so, I believe) also makes it more than special, but a movement.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN CRAFT BEER? When my husband and I moved to Phoenix from Chicago 10 years ago, I had experience in dive bars, so for something a little more elevated, I WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

went to work at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort, often working the pool bar.

There, I met chef Patrick Karvis—and was instantly a fan. When he made the decision to come start TapHouse, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

That decision changed my life. Since then, the daily education from brewers and tastings and partners has been a whirlwind, and a happily hoppy one at that.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE BEER CULTURE IN ARIZONA? First and foremost, we have fun. We have fun with each other, with our guests and with the beer itself, especially the brewmasters. We really are a community; a family. Also, there is no shortage of creativity in this town when it comes to beer. People right in your own backyard are innovating every single day.

WHY IS TAPHOUSE KITCHEN THE PERFECT PLACE FOR CRAFT BEER? Every single thing on our menu is made to pair with beer—or beers. Chef Karvis has created a modern American menu with innovative dishes, as well as something a little extra for guests. For every single item, there’s a beer and wine pairing listed right there to pair with it. And whether guests get the pairing or not, it opens such great conversation about beer, the craft beer community and more with every single guest.

We are very proud to have 20 craft beers on tap at TapHouse Kitchen, with just under half coming from local breweries. There are an additional 10 brews available by the bottle, including Lumberyard Brewing Co.’s Knotty Pine and Oak Creek Brewery’s Nut Brown Ale. The restaurant also offers four different beer flights, each of which feature four 4-ounce pours of beers. They include the Arizona Hwy flight that lets you taste four local beers. You can also create your

own four-beer flight or bartender’s choice.

TapHouse Kitchen has happy hour seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Specials include $2 off all taps (beer and wine), $2 off all house wine, $1 off well drinks, and $1 off all TapHouse cocktails. On the food side, there’s a selection of $6 small plates.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEERS AT THE MOMENT? I have several, including: • Uncle Bear’s Head to Tale Amber Ale from Phoenix • Avery Brewing’s White Rascal from Boulder • Lumberyard Red Ale from Flagstaff • Sonoran Smooth Rebel Double IPA from Phoenix

TapHouse Kitchen

6137 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.656.0012, taphousekitchen.com.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

GREAT BEER PAIRINGS:

49

CRUJIENTE TACOS BEER

“The beer that we offer at CRUjiente Tacos is just as important as the tacos we craft, and we similarly found balance and flavor depth in the Pedal Haus German Pilsner. This style of beer is straightforward and clean-tasting and balances spicy, more complex food. The hops and carbonation in a pilsner is a palate cleanser that will turn that next bite of the crunchy taco just as good as the first.”

—cofounder and chef Richard Hinojosa

Brewery: Pedal Haus Brewery, downtown Tempe Style: Pilsner Name: Pedal Haus German Pilsner This crisp, refreshing pilsner brewed by “in-haus” brewmaster and certified cicerone, Derek “Doc” Osborne has traditional German roots with a modern twist. The entire hop was used and coarsely filtered to create its delicate floral aroma. The golden reflective tones of the brew give it the true “pilsner” look and feel while pairing exceptionally well with savory food selections.

DISH

Dish: Crunchy Green Chili Pork Taco A collaboration between Chef Richard Hinojosa and Jason Morris, CRUjiente Tacos creates exceptional crunchy tacos and daring street-style tacos with global influences. Hinojosa is the master of

crunchy tacos and has three variations on the modern taqueria’s menu including the crunchy green chili pork taco ($6). The fresh, made-to-order hard corn shells are crisp and heaping with juicy and tender green chili pork that is braised for several hours to obtain depths of flavor. The sharp pepper jack cheese, cabbage, and pico verde add flavor intensity with spice, salt and citrus in every bite. The impressive beer selection is carefully chosen at CRUjiente Tacos and among the list is a Pedal Haus German Pilsner which is a smart match for the crunchy green chili pork taco as it slices through the fattiness of the succulent braised pork, does not overpower the spice in the pico verde, and balances the citrus flavors of the taco.

CRUjiente Tacos

3961 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.687.7777, crutacos.com.

SOUR BEERS

A new way to beat the Arizona heat Dave Clark » The Entertainer!

S

our beers, also known as sours, tend to be greatly beloved or avoided like the plague. The sour beer category is as wide ranging as the imagination of the beers’ creators. Knowing more about what they are and how they are made will help a person truly enjoy beers from this exciting and fast-growing category.

Belgian brewers are credited with creating many sour styles, many of which can be attributed to specific breweries. The Flanders red style was made famous by the Rodenbach brewery, while the Flanders brown style is showcased in beers brewed

by Liefman’s, especially its classic Goudenband. The red, like Rodenbach Grand Cru, is beer aged in oak barrels, which provides a substantial tart, winelike character.

The Flanders brown style is aged in stainless steel vessels, creating a less

sour, more malty beer. The farmhouse saison was perfected by Brasserie du Pont with Saison du Pont. This beer is crafted in the French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia, producing flavors of citrus, black pepper and the area’s signature “farmhouse funk,” an unofficial term for the tart, Earthy essence found in the beer.

The Gueuze style was perfected by Cantillon and this style is an extreme example of a sour with flavors and aromas of horse blanket and aged cheese—certainly an acquired taste.

Each of these breweries mentioned are Belgian breweries.

German brewers also contribute importantly to the sour world with their low alcohol and highly sour Berliner Weiss and their salty, citrusy Gose beer styles.

What’s important to remember is that sour beers range from slightly tart to wildly sour to mouth puckering.

It is truly difficult to group them all under one heading. The location of the beer’s production is also key, due to the naturally occurring microflora, giving a regional identity to each of these classic beers.

Beers can become sour many different ways, and the outcome can be substantially different. Yeasts and bacteria, many times in combination, are what make a beer sour. Yeasts, such as brettanomyces or bacteria such as lactobacillus and pediococcus are the most popular organisms found in sour brewing. Some brewers employ a shortcut known as “kettle souring,” during which lactobacillus is added to the boil kettle, souring the wort, before the beer is boiled and finished.

Russian River, Jolly Pumpkin, Cascade and Almanac are examples of American breweries that excel in sour beer brewing.

In the beer market, there is huge

rise in popularity in sour and fruit beers.

Many brewers are creating tart works that incorporate both. Certain sour styles such as Berliner Weiss are brewed with fruit, probably to the chagrin of the German originators of the style. Even traditional Belgian brewer Rodenbach has jumped on the bandwagon by producing Fruitage, a pleasantly tart but not sour beer made with fresh fruit juice of cherries and elderberries, that drinks very refreshingly at just 4.2 percent ABV. Arizona Wilderness is the area’s leading producers of sour ales. Its Blood Orange Gose is a slightly salty, fresh citrus refresher, while Bear Wallow Berliner Weiss, is kettle soured, creating a palate cleansing bite.

Dave Clark is a Certified Cicerone, nationally ranked BJCP Judge and former professional brewer who lives in Gilbert.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

50

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

FOUR PEAKS AND A THOUSAND STORIES

Company celebrates 20 years as Arizona’s brewery Dave Clark » The Entertainer!

I

n 1996, craft beer wasn’t even a thing. Some people referred to this trendy beverage as “microbrew;” others weren’t sure exactly what to call it.

That year, though, Andy Ingram experienced the English beer culture while studying abroad and returned with a vision. The result was a modest brewery in Tempe, later known as Four Peaks. It changed the beer landscape in the nation’s 48th state.

“I was a 26-year-old moron doing what I loved to do,” Ingram jokes.

He may have been flying by the seat of his pants back then, but Ingram and his partners made many great business decisions that would eventually turn this small, neighborhood brewery into a powerhouse.

Recently, Four Peaks celebrated its 20th anniversary with an all-day celebration that featured a performance

by Blues Traveler, as well as throwback beers brewed during the past two decades. Revelers flocked to Four Peaks’ Wilson Road property, packing the taproom to capacity.

Naturally, there was a time not that long ago when Four Peaks wasn’t on every store shelf and in many Valley bars. The beer that Arizonans have adopted as their own had a very modest start, and like many breweries, trials and tribulations almost doomed the project before it got off the ground.

MODEST BEGINNINGS Ingram started as an assistant brewer at Coyote Springs Brewery in Phoenix, under the tutelage of Clark Nelson.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

They shared their ideas and dreams of opening their own place. Around the same time, another group of more seasoned businessmen, led by Jim Scussel, were hatching a plan to open a brewery.

The two parties crossed paths and eventually decided to work together.

The first major challenge was when they found an old dairy building on Eighth Street in Tempe, then a rundown part of the city. In a leap of faith, they signed a lease before they had secured the financing, determined to find a way to get it done. They quickly discovered they needed a “plan b.”

“There was a lien on the property and the bank would not secure the loan,” Ingram explains.

Undeterred, Ingram and his group sold Grundy tanks, small, stainless steel tanks used for fermenting beer. At that time, fledgling breweries were aplenty, and these classic tanks were exactly what they needed.

With Grundy tank proceeds and financing from friends and family in hand, things were a go on Eighth Street.

TAKING SHAPE There was also the issue of what to call this new venture. The original working name of Cactus Creek Brewing Company didn’t excite the partners.

After discussing hundreds of monikers, they voted secretly on paper.

“Though no one had Four Peaks as their No. 1 choice, the name was the only one to appear on all the ballots,” Ingram recalls.

And with that a new brewery was born.

Though the business plan called for a full-service restaurant and bar,

finances limited that idea to a production brewery. A few years later, an angel investor’s funding provided the green light to the bar and restaurant.

The ownership group was then set in stone: Ingram oversees the brewing operations and Scussel is the financial guy. Randy Schultz is the front-of-house manager while Arthur Craft is the master of the kitchen.

WELCOME THE BEER In a bit of serendipity, Ingram crossed paths with brewing industry rogue Dr. Paul Farnsworth, who was about to close Tucson’s River Road Brewing.

Farnsworth wanted to see his house yeast live on. This was the type of English yeast Ingram was looking for, so he gladly accepted the gift that would later become the Four Peaks’ house yeast.

With the help of former Young’s Brewery veteran-turned-consultant, Barry John, recipes were devised for Impale Ale (the precursor to Eighth Street Pale Ale), Oatmeal Stout, Peach Ale and Leroy Brown Ale. “Barry stressed the importance of balance in all beers, even the ones that are traditionally unbalanced such as IPAs or barley wines,” Ingram says.

They considered distributing their beer locally and approached a local Tempe watering hole known as Casey Moore’s.

“They said they’d give us a shot for a week,” Ingram explains. “If the beer sold, we’d get a chance to stay on.

Thankfully our beer has been on at Casey Moore’s ever since.”

After establishing itself with beers distributed into the marketplace via bars and stores, the focus shifted toward turning the production facility into a

full-blown brewpub. Headed by Arthur Craft, the Eighth Street brewpub quickly became the place to be and the place to be seen. The success of the Eighth Street restaurant spawned a second full-service restaurant in Scottsdale and later a third at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Wilson Road production facility, necessitated by the ever-increasing demand for its beer statewide, appeared four years ago, equipped with a spacious tasting room.

A SUITOR COMES CALLING Four Peaks was acquired in late 2015 by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI). Despite initial backlash within the brewing community, Four Peaks weathered the storm and remains strong, thanks to the original ownership group’s day-to-day operations.

The owners saw their hard work pay off and now Four Peaks beers can be enjoyed beyond the borders of Arizona.

Trying to get a brewer to choose his favorite beer is a lot like asking him to pick a favorite child. Eventually, Ingram could single one out.

“My favorite beer is Eighth Street Pale Ale because it’s the most balanced,” Ingram says.

Though Ingram believed in himself and his brewery, he never expected to be where he is today.

“It’s been an amazing wild ride,” Ingram says.

Four Peaks Eighth Street Brewery

1340 E. Eighth Street, Tempe, 480.303.9967.

Four Peaks Wilson Tasting Room

2401 S. Wilson Street, Tempe, 480.634.2976.

Four Peaks Scottsdale Grill & Tap

15745 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, 480.991.1795.

Four Peaks Sky Harbor Pub Terminal 4, Gate A20, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Boulevard, Phoenix. fourpeaks.com.

CRESCENT CROWN MOBILE APP LOCATE EVENTS, BRANDS & BREWS ANYWHERE. App Available on iTunes & Google Play

Search for CRESCENT CROWN in the app store

STILL RULING

52

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Success is lingering for Tears for Fears Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

T

ears for Fears cofounder Roland Orzabal is thinking about his future. Now middle-aged, the musician behind “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” wants to be sure that 2017 is a year to remember.

“I’m 55 and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep doing this,” says Orzabal, who is joined in Tears for Fears

by Curt Smith. “So, I just want to make

sure this year is a good year.”

Part of 2017 will be spent coheadlining a tour with Hall & Oates, a jaunt that comes to Gila River Arena in Glendale on Monday, July 17. The band travels south to headline Casino del Sol on Thursday, July 20. The run includes many days off in between gigs, something that Orzabal isn’t used to.

“I couldn’t believe it when our manager called us and told us about the

days off,” he says with a laugh. “We’re used to zigzagging across America, creating this whole circle and ending up in the same place we were a week ago.

Fingers crossed, in such words, it should be a walk in the park.”

Tears for Fears is slated to release its seventh full-length album in the fall on Warner Bros. Records. Orzabal calls it a “top-secret project,” one that collaborators like the English pop band Bastille haven’t even heard. He’s not sure that fans will experience the songs on tour, either.

“This is in discussion,” he says.

“The first thing I said was, ‘For god’s sake guys, we have to put out something (an album) so we can play something.’ I know the album’s not due to be released until October, but it would be nice, in my opinion—and I’ve expressed my opinion on Twitter—if we played at least one songs off the new album and release it to the public in some form so they don’t just have it on their phones.”

According to Tears for Fears’ spokeswoman, the tour will feature the hits.

Orzabal says he has played the album, whose title cannot yet be revealed, for a few people in the industry in England.

They described the release as “clubby.”

“Do you know what that means?

Most of it is very danceable,” he says.

“Most of it is uptempo. There are a few emotional songs, but most of all they have crazy electronics. It’s very modern.

“I was quite surprised myself during the playback. I thought, ‘I think we may have accidentally made a great record.’”

Tears for Fears has been working on the album, its first in 13 years, for five years. Last year, the band had to delay

its work when Orzabal’s wife was treated for an undisclosed illness.

“That held everything up,” he says. “So, we had to cancel a tour. We stopped working on the record, and we started again at the end of last year.”

Now that the project is “in the can,” Orzabal is focusing on the tour, which features songs like “Shout,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” “Mad World” and, in some cities, a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

“I count myself very lucky that our songs have resonated and held on,” Orzabal says. “I’m also very lucky that artists have chosen to reinvent the songs as well. It makes it more interesting for me, I must say. I feel very privileged in many ways.”

To keep current, Orzabal relies on the musical tastes of his 22-year-old son, who introduced him to Metronomy, Frank Ocean and “countless others” “I do listen to an awful lot of new stuff, but vicariously,” he says. “That’s how I keep it fresh.”

Hall & Oates, Tears for Fears and Allen Stone

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 623.772.3800, gilariverarena. com, 7 p.m. Monday, July 17, tickets start at $30.25.

Tears for Fears

AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol Resort, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, casinodelsol.com/ events/tears-for-fears, 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 20, $30-$65.

UNCOVER UP TO

$50,000!

NOW – JULY 27

The Diamond Treasure Hunt is your map to major winning — you could pull the Black Diamond card and win $25,000 cash! Every Monday and Thursday, hourly winners will be invited to select a prize card from an exclusive treasure chest, from 4PM – 7PM. Your quest for cash doesn’t end there. Stay for the Grand Finale Drawings on July 27!

4PM | 2 WINNERS | UP TO $50,000!

5PM | 2 WINNERS | UP TO $50,000!

6PM | 2 WINNERS | UP TO $50,000!

7PM | 2 WINNERS | UP TO $50,000!

Find your buried treasure at Desert Diamond West Valley Casino!

Where jackpots hit close to home.

866.DDC.WINS |

| DDCAZ.COM

See the Rewards Center for details. Must be 21. Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Rewards Card necessary to participate. Management has the right to alter/cancel without notice.

Please play responsibly. An Enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM 44875 DDWV The Entertainer Diamond Treasure Hunt AD 9.25 x 5.25 APPROVED.indd

1

6/13/17 1:43 PM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE HIGHROLLER

53

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

JULY 8

JULY 1

Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment’s Diamond Center, ddcaz.com/sahuarita/ entertainment/

Deorro

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, releasevip.com

War/Tierra/Malo with Special Guests Felipe Esparza and Paul Rodriguez Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, casinodelsol.com

Hot August Night: A Tribute to Neil Diamond

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment/

Thaddeus Rose Band

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 2 Str8Up Band

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment

Fortunate Son

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 4 He Said She Said

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 5 Route 66

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Stanley Serrano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 6 Chuck E Duo

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 7 Western Fusion

Boney James

Joe Costello Syndicate Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Night Ranger

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

JULY 9 Nick Swardson

Basketball Jones

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, releasevip.com

JULY 18

I Love the ’90s: The Party Continues with TLC, Biz Markie, Coolio, C&C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams, and Snap

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

Journey

Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, casinodelsol.com

He Said She Said

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 19 Silhouette

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Stanley Serrano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 20

JULY 11

Casino del Sol’s Ava Amphitheater, casinodelsol.com

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 12 Jukebox 6

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Stanley Serrano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 13 Lynyrd Skynyrd

Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, casinodelsol.com

Uncorked Band

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Karen and Marcus Duo Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 15 Craig Morgan

Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment’s Diamond Center, ddcaz.com/sahuarita/entertainment/

Dirty South

Tower of Power

Casino del Sol’s Conference Center, casinodelsol.com

He Said She Said

JULY 23

Tears for Fears

AZ Blacktop Duo

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 21 Cheech and Chong

Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheatre, casinodelsol.com

JULY 25 He Said She Said

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 26 Thaddeus Rose

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Walkens Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

JULY 27 Dwight Yoakam with Brandy Clark and King Leg

Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheatre, casinodelsol.com

AZ Blacktop Duo

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

JULY 28

Mogollon

DJ

Paradise Kitty

Badfinger

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment/

JULY 22 Los Angeles Azules

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

DSB—An American Journey

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment/

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

JULY 29

Donny and Marie

Soundwave

Walkens

Demetri Martin

Paradise Kitty

DSB—An American Journey

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment/

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com/ entertainment/

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE GLADIATOR

55

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, westworldaz.com, azgetoutdoors. com, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 16, tickets start at $8 online.

JULY’S BEST

SPORTS EVENTS

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

Prescott Frontier Days and World’s Oldest Rodeo

TO JULY 4 The 130th annual event features seven days of rich western culture and history. The parade on July 1 honors rodeo legend Monty Henson, otherwise known as Hawkeye Henson, a three-time Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association worldchampion saddle bronc rider. A rodeo dance will be held Thursday, July 28, to Saturday, July 1, in the BMO Harris bank parking lot.

Throughout Prescott, 928.445.4320, worldsoldestrodeo. com, various times and prices.

WWE Monday Night Raw and WWE SmackDown JULY 3 AND JULY 4 WWE will treat the WWE Universe to back-to-back events featuring Superstars from Monday Night Raw and WWE SmackDown Live. Among those scheduled to appear are John Cena, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, Becky Lynch, Bayley, The Miz, The New Day, Sasha Banks, Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens, Charlotte, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Natalya, Baron Corbin and The USOs. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, talkingstickresortarena.com, Monday Night Raw, 4:30 p.m.

July 3, and SmackDown, 4:45 p.m.

July 4, tickets start at $20. Combo packages are sold out.

Robbie Ray Strikeout Counter Bobblehead

ARR Summer Series Race No. 3

JULY 4 Throw on your stars and stripes and join fellow runners for this July 4th tradition. The 4-mile loop starts and finishes at Rio Vista Park, running along the wash. After the race, stay and enjoy a free barbecue with hamburgers, veggie burgers and hot dogs. Bib pick-up and race-day registration is open from 5:15 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.

Rio Vista Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, 602.9548341, arizonaroadracers. com, 6:30 a.m., $40 at the race only.

Fourth of July 5K Freedom Run/Walk

JULY 4 This year, the Fourth of July 5K Freedom Run/Walk continues its partnership with That Others May Live Foundation, a nonprofit that provides critical support, scholarships and immediate tragedy assistance for the families of U.S. Air Force Rescue Heroes who are killed or severely wounded in operational or training missions.

Golf Links Sports Complex Ramada No. 3, 2400 S. Craycroft Road, Tucson, 520.820.6447, taggrun.com, 6 a.m., $20-$30.

Phoenix Mercury vs.

Washington Mystics

JULY 5 The three-time WNBA champions, led by Olympic gold medalists Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, take on the Washington Mystics in an evening game.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.252.9622, talkingstickresortarena.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $11.

Game of Thrones Night

JULY 7 The Arizona Diamondbacks have a Star Wars Night, so why not Game of Thrones? Purchase an exclusive D-backs Game of Thrones ticket package and receive a Taijuan Walker Night King Bobblehead and a baseline reserve game ticket.

Use the offer code: GOT. On this night, the D-backs will take on the Cincinnati Reds.

Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com, 6:40 p.m., $19-$275.

Mountain Man Triathlon

JULY 9 Compete in the 33rd event surrounded by beautiful views of the San Francisco Peaks, Lake Mary and Mormon Lake. This is the fifth oldest triathlon west of the Mississippi River. The competition starts at the boat docks, about 10 miles south of Flagstaff, on Lake Mary Road at mile post 333.

Lake Mary Road (register for complete address), mountainmanevents.com, start time TBD, $100-$195 for sprint, $115-$215 for Olympic.

Arizona Get Outdoors Expo

JULY 15 AND JULY 16 AZGO Expo is an outdoors-lover’s dream. It features products and services from all outdoor activities, ranging from yoga to fishing. Guests will experience the latest hunting, fishing and camping gear and technologies, outdoor education and safety clinics, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, a catch-andrelease fishing pond and exhibitors from across the industry.

JULY 22 Pitcher Robbie Ray has been on a tear the first half of the season.

Celebrate his success by being one of the first 20,000 through the gates and grabbing a Robbie Ray Strikeout Counter Bobblehead.

As a bonus, ticketholders will be able to see Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals play.

Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com, 5:10 p.m., $19-$275.

Jam on It Southwest Regional Championships

JULY 28 TO JULY 30 Jam on It hosts large youth sporting events “Under One Roof” throughout the United States. In this case, 16 basketball courts will create a maze through WestWorld.

WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, westworldaz.com, jamonittournaments.com, check website for times, $10-$30.

Phoenix Rising Football Club vs. San Antonio Football Club

JULY 29 Phoenix Rising FC is the highestlevel professional soccer franchise in Arizona’s history. Established in 2013, the club enters is in its fourth year in the United Soccer League, which has been awarded Division 2 status by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Tickets sell out quickly, which is one of the reasons why Major League Soccer (MLS) recently announced Phoenix Rising FC is among 12 applicants being considered for a MLS Expansion Franchise.

Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, 751 N. McClintock Drive, Scottsdale, 623.594.9606, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, phxrisingfc.com, 7:30 p.m., $10-$35.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

56

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

T

rinity Fatu answers the phone enthusiastically.

As WWE Superstar Naomi, Fatu was still the SmackDown Women’s Champion and very proud of it.

After all, it was the culmination of a years-long effort to climb the WWE ladder.

“It’s been a long journey for me, but I think that’s what makes this moment and where I am now so much more meaningful for me and the fans,” says Fatu, a star of E!’s reality show Total Divas and wife of fellow Superstar Jimmy Uso, born Jonathan Fatu.

The first African-American woman to win the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship, Fatu is among the Superstars who are slated to appear as part of SmackDown Live! on Tuesday, July 4, at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Monday Night Raw comes to the venue the day prior.

Professional wrestling wasn’t even in the cards when Fatu attended her first live event.

“When I was 21, I went to my first live show and I instantly knew it was something I wanted to do—or at least try,” Fatu says. “At the time, I was cheerleading for the Orlando Magic. I was looking for the next chapter in my life.

I went to a wrestling show and I’ve been wrestling ever since.”

What impressed Fatu was the beauty, athleticism and talent of female wrestlers like Alicia Fox and Kelly Kelly.

“I was blown away—especially at the six-Diva tag team match,” she says.

“It was a swimsuit match; we don’t do those matches anymore. I thought, ‘I want to do that. I can do that. How do I get into it?’”

During her research, she discovered the independent company Florida Championship Wrestling. She tried out and was accepted in 2009.

In January 2012, she made her WWE main roster debut as a member WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

FEEL THE

GLOW

Trinity Fatu wrestled with negativity before becoming SmackDown Women’s Champ of The Funkadactyls, backup dancers to Brodus Clay and Tensai. Before heading solo, she teamed with Tamina and Sasha Banks.

“It took me almost eight years to get from Florida Championship Wrestling to champion,” she says.

“There were many times in my career when I wasn’t sure if I would get there.

People said I wouldn’t get there. It just fueled my fire and made me go further.”

The positivity of fans and family helped get her through the tough times.

“We love what we do,” says Fatu, who maintained her title against Lana during the June 18 pay-per-view Money in the Bank. “We’re passionate about it.

We’re sensitive about our craft and our work. We’re constantly getting bashed about it. It sucks. Nobody wants to hear bad things or be criticized. It’s all a part of growing and getting better, though.”

Fatu describes her role as Naomi as a full-time gig. Her “days off” aren’t such. She constantly trains, does interviews and watches film.

“It’s so competitive,” she says.

“Things change every day, every week.

We can never have an off day or break.

We don’t have an off season, either. This is year-round.”

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for Fatu. She starred in The Marine 5: Battleground with fellow wrestlers Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and his wife, Maryse Ouellet; Curtis Axel; Heath Slater and Bo Dallas.

Fatu recently debuted a new entrance, complete with electronic music and neon clothing. The journey was documented on Total Divas.

“The whole process of finding the costumes, the lighting and the makeup was hard,” she says. “It took two years to persuade the WWE to try this new look.

I was relentless. I knew it defined me as a performer and the division. That’s why I didn’t give up on the idea.

“If you really set your mind to do something, it’ll happen for you. Sometimes you just have to be patient.”

SmackDown Live!

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, talkingstickresortarena.com, 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, tickets start at $20.

Monday Night Raw

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, talkingstickresortarena.com, 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, tickets start at $20. Combo packages are sold out.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

57

GOLF SECTION

Arizona Golf – Resort Style

Painted Mountain Golf Resort

The Painted Mountain 18-hole championship golf course offers great conditions, amazing amenities and excellent value. It features a complete golf resort experience that’s open to the public, and annual memberships are available. Our par-70, championship golf course and complete short game practice facility offers tournament and league play.

Come and enjoy exceptional dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, served daily, with live entertainment at the Painted Mountain Restaurant, Patio & Lounge.

Shop at the Trends Sports Boutique for fine ladies’ and men’s golf apparel, as well as women’s fashions, unique gifts and accessories. Ask us about scheduling a charity golf tournament fundraiser as Painted Mountain is the perfect venue.

Come see why we are your place to play!

6210 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, 480.832.0156 (tee times), 480.832.0158 (dining reservations), paintedmountaingolf.com.

Happy Hour

Exceptional golf is a tradition at the Arizona Golf Resort. Well known for some of the most picturesque and challenging par three holes, the Arizona Golf Resort offers 18 holes of PGA-rated championship golf. The lush fairways are lined with massive cottonwood and eucalyptus trees, serene lake settings, mature vegetation, expansive fairways and gently sloping, well-manicured greens. The 6,542-yard, par-71 course boasts a slope of 120, a rating of 70.8 and offers an excellent test for all skill levels.

Full practice facilities include driving range, putting and chipping green area and greenside sand bunker facility. Arizona Golf Resort also offers certified club fitting, PGA staff and instructors, individual/junior lessons, and golf schools and clinics.

Its retail shop features all brand-name men’s and ladies’ apparel, accessories and merchandise. Multiple popular dining options from snacks to fine dining are available.

425 S. Powr Road, Mesa, 480.832.1661 (tee times), arizonagolfresort.com.

7 Days a Week

UFC 213 Saturday, July 8th

HAPPY HOUR from 3pm-7pm Discounts on all domestic bottles, draft, wine, appetizers and select UFC 214 cocktails Saturday, July 29th (excludes PPV and special events)

REVERSE HAPPY HOUR Sun.-Thurs. 11pm-2am

At all 3 locations.

Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, NFL & NCAA satellite packages

Philly’s on Scottsdale 1826 N Scottsdale Road • Tempe (SW corner of Scottsdale & Mckellips)

Philly’s on Priest 1402 S Priest Drive • Tempe (SW corner of Priest & 14th Street)

Philly’s on Warner 4855 E Warner Road • Ahwatukee (SE corner of Warner & 48th Street)

480.946.6666

480.968.6612

480.247.8655

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

GEM OVER THE

DIAMOND

Broadcaster Greg Schulte brings baseball to life for D-backs fans Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

G

reg Schulte vividly remembers the first time he sat behind the microphone: age 20 in Rock Island, Illinois. The red light illuminated and he thought one thing.

“I have to talk,” he says with a laugh. “So, I started reading the news. I was really nervous then. I really was.”

Schulte nailed it and, decades later, he celebrated calling his 3,000th game as the radio voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I loved baseball ever since I was a little kid,” Schulte says in a Chase Field conference room. “To me, it is the best sport.”

Schulte was hired by Jerry Colangelo and the D-backs in 1995, three years before the team hit the field for its inaugural game.

“It was a lifelong dream,” Schulte says. “I had done minor league baseball, college baseball, NBA basketball, the first four years of Cardinals football, and ASU football, basketball and baseball.

My one true passion, though, was to get to the MLB.”

LIFELONG DREAM The son of a John Deere employee, Schulte grew up in the Quad Cities WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

area of Illinois, just north of St. Louis.

He became obsessed with listening to St. Louis Cardinals games called by the team’s radio voices, Harry Caray and Jack Buck.

“We had television, but I would listen to the transistor radio at night,” he says. “We didn’t get a lot of baseball on the television. Maybe one game on a Saturday.

Now you can pick up a phone and watch a game, or watch it on television. Back in those days, it was all about radio.”

Schulte loved baseball, but knew the odds of making it to the majors as a player were stacked against him. He turned to radio.

“I could picture in my eyes nightly what they were talking about,” Schulte says. “There was a porch in right field that had a screen in front of it. They would say a ball hit the screen. I could envision that.

“In my mind, as I was playing games or watching games, I was calling the games at a very young age. I would imagine how I would call them. That’s how I grew into a passion for radio.”

Schulte attended a six-month broadcast school in Milwaukee before attending St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. He then married his wife, Nancy, and started his broadcast career of 45 years and counting.

He moved to Arizona in the 1970s, following his parents’ relocation to Sun City. At the time, he was broadcasting University of Iowa basketball. When he

arrived in the Grand Canyon State, he applied at KTAR and was hired.

He spent 14 years at KTAR prior to joining the D-backs. His resume also includes a 15-season run with the Phoenix Suns, working alongside Hall of Famer Al McCoy, first as a producer, then as a color commentator for the last two seasons.

The move to Arizona gave him the opportunity to listen to and meet Vin Scully, who was calling Dodgers games carried on KTAR. Upon his hiring by the D-backs, Schulte was further mentored

by Thom Brennaman, who anointed him “the Gubnuh,” and Bob Brenly.

“It was a name bestowed on me by Thom Brennaman,” he explains. “We were at dinner in Atlanta. I had a sport coat on. I was dressed up. Thom said I looked like ‘a Southern Gubnuh,’ as he called me using a Southern drawl. He used the ‘Gubnuh’ part on-air the following night, and the nickname stuck.”

Schulte is now in his 19th season, and his 11th season with radio partner Tom Candiotti. He delivered the call of Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off, ninth-inning single to win game seven of the 2001 World Series over the New York Yankees.

He was behind the mic for Randy Johnson’s historic achievements, including his perfect game on May 18, 2004.

In addition, Schulte called several no-hitters such as D-backs’ Edwin Jackson on June 25, 2010; the Cardinals’

PHOTO BY SARAH SACHS/ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

58

Jose Jimenez on June 25, 1999; and Anibal Sanchez on Sept. 6, 2006, vs. the D-backs. He fondly recalls Aaron Hill’s cycles on June 18 and June 29 in 2012.

“I enjoy my work,” he says. “I have a terrific boss here in (D-backs President and CEO) Derrick Hall. He’s the absolute best. He’s so uplifting. You just want to do anything you can for him.”

The feeling is mutual.

“There is one voice that is truly synonymous with D-backs baseball and that’s Greg Schulte, who has been here since the beginning,” Hall says. “He not only does an incredible job each night of describing the action for our fans, but he has always represented the organization with class away from the ballpark and he’s become an invaluable part of our history.”

Fans frequently approach Schulte to share their highlights. But those aside, one group of folks makes Schulte particularly proud of his job.

“I’m the eyes for people who can’t see the ballgame,” he says. “I think the best compliments I get yearly—whether it’s phone calls, letters or emails—are from people who are blind. They tell me I’m their eyes and they really appreciate the color that I bring into their lives.

“They love the description of each and every play they imagine.

I can’t imagine being blind or even sight-impaired. That’s about as good a compliment as you can get.”

Schulte makes it sound easy. He sits in his broadcast chair and speaks with Candiotti about “something we have a passion for”—baseball.

“He played the game for 16 years in the major leagues,” Schulte says.

“We also know the history of the game, having grown up about the same time.

“We grew up loving the sport.”

Schulte and Nancy, with whom he has two children, Scott and Stephanie, live in the Valley and are preparing to celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary.

“Nancy and I have a lot in common,” he says. “We love sports. We love to travel. We’re best friends. It just kind of works.

“We married very young, but we waited almost seven years to have children.

We didn’t rush into a family. I think we were better equipped to manage children and a family that way. We will celebrate anniversary No. 44 in November.”

Those are his keys to a successful marriage. So how did he succeed behind the mic?

“I’m prepared nightly,” he says. “I think my upbringing listening to a lot of baseball and the Hall of Famers really allowed me to put as good of a broadcast on the air nightly as I possibly could.

“I try and call a game as it should be called. I don’t try to bring a lot of craziness into it. I understand how hard it is to play the game. I want fans to understand that. When a player strikes out, I’ll credit the pitcher trying to get him out. I want to give the fans as much entertainment as we possibly can.”

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

59

HITTING A

HOME RUN

State Forty Eight teams with the D-backs for a holiday giveaway Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

T

he State Forty Eight’s Stephen Polando, Michael Spangenberg and Nicholas Polando consider themselves the Arizona Diamondbacks’ good luck charms.

After all, since the Chandler High School graduates’ apparel line aligned with D-backs, the baseball team has made a run for the playoffs. The snakes and State Forty Eight are preparing for an Independence Day-themed giveaway on July 1. The first 20,000 fans will receive a State Forty Eight T-shirt emblazoned with an American flag fashioned out of a bat, an Arizona state map and stripes. More projects are in the works.

“For me, I’m a total sports fan— Arizona no matter what,” Spangenberg says. “The Diamondbacks have been struggling for a bit of years. We saw the potential. Even if they didn’t do well again, there are a lot of people who come to the ballpark. That’s happened for 19 years.

“We’re stoked about their success, though. We know how winning in sports can really ignite a community.

The Cardinals during their Super Bowl run brought everyone together. It’s an awesome time.”

Founded as a simple T-shirt line honoring Arizona, State Forty Eight took the business to the next level after it was chosen as one of the “Emerging Designers” at Phoenix Fashion Week in 2014. Since then, the line has expanded and can be found online at statefortyeight.com and in local businesses across the Valley including Sibley’s West in downtown Chandler and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We didn’t want to make the

clothing too busy,” Spangenberg says about the clothing’s simple design. “We did want something that was simple that people would recognize right away.

We wanted to stress that Arizona is a really cool place to live.”

And Chandler is “cool” for State Forty Eight’s headquarters, a 1,099-square-foot multiuse space that functions as its office, workshop and showroom. Previously, the trio was working out of its home.

“It was a good problem to have, growing out of our home office,” Spangenberg says. “We wanted to take it to the next level. We’ve always been smart about putting profits back into the business. We really felt comfortable.

It was time to take that leap of faith. It’s so much more motivating to have an office. When you have employees and meetings, it makes the business a lot more official, in my opinion.”

The collaboration with the D-backs has been a year in the making, thanks to friendships forged between the two entities.

“There was never any type of pressure,” he says. “They blew us away with their presentation. They had State Forty Eight logos throughout the ballpark. All the employees were wearing State Forty Eight that day. They showed us a lot of love. It’s our biggest financial commitment to date, being in business for four years. It’s really paying off.”

Spangenberg is impressed with the D-backs’ follow through promotion of the giveaway. Advertisements abound with Paul Goldschmidt wearing the T-shirt. His teammate, Chris Owings, donned the shirt during a national interview. The apparel has been featured in the television broadcasts of the games leading up to the July 1 event.

“Advertising has been

everywhere—on billboards around Phoenix, TV and even a couple people out of state told me they heard Pandora commercials about it. It’s been awesome and we’re pumped.”

This isn’t State Forty Eight’s first foray into sports. In 2016, it was behind a Bruce Arians shirt.

“We wanted to demonstrate our appreciation for Bruce Arians and the Cardinals with this design,” Spangenberg says. “The goal was to provide Cardinals fans with another option to support the home team that was different than the traditional sports team apparel.”

And Arians—with his colorful personality and signature look of thickframed glasses and a Stetson cap—was the obvious inspiration. Taking it a step further, State Forty Eight partnered with the Arians Family Foundation, which supports the development of programs that strive to prevent and reform the abuse and neglect of children.

“We are grateful to partner up with

the Arians Family Foundation and give back,” Spangenberg says. “This collaboration is rewarding because it allows us to work with the coolest coach in the NFL and do something good for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts.”

Spangenberg is thrilled that State Forty Eight has been so successful.

“You have to pinch yourselves sometimes and ask, ‘Is this really happening?’” he says. “We have a vision and it wasn’t necessarily to be sports heavy, but where else can you get in front of so many people who love Arizona besides sports?”

State Forty Eight is also working on projects with the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Coyotes.

“It all starts with hard work,” he adds. “It’s humbling to be wanted, but we can’t do too much at once.

Otherwise, you’re going to drown. We want to focus on the Diamondbacks deal, hit a home run and get the appropriate ROI on it.”

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Arizona’s

e c i o h C 1 # un!

For F u

18

Over Rides AND Attractions

Desert Storm Double-Loop Coaster • Four 18-Hole Mini-Golf Coourses • Zip Line • Go Karts Giant Arcade • Sea Dragon • Sky Diver • Dark Ride Bumper Boats • Splashdown • Ramrods Carousel • Flying Bugs • Patriot Coaster • Magic Carpet • On The Ropes ... And More!

602-997-7575 9445 N. Metro Parkway East CastlesNCoasters.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE YOUNGSTER

61

FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

BEAT THE

HEAT

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

L

aurie McCartney stepped out of her office at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle one spring morning and was surprised to see the lobby flooded with children.

At first, she thought it was a field trip. Then she realized that the entertainment venue’s philosophy is working.

“We hope to bring excitement, consistency to the brand and, bottom line, let everyone who doesn’t know about UltraStar know we’re here,” says McCartney, UltraStar Multitainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle’s marketing director.

“This is the place to enjoy movies,

discounts, specials, birthday parties or corporate events. There’s something for everybody to do here.”

This summer, the focus is on kids and their families, with UltraStar offering three special packages.

The UltraStar Cinemas’ Summer Series runs through August 4, during which time, kids’ movies will be shown at 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

The 2-D films amount to 50 cents per movie, with a 10-movie package for $5.

Individual films are available for $1, too.

The scheduled movies are The Lego Batman Movie from July 3 to July 7; The Neverending Story from July 10 to July 14; Storks from July 17 to July 21; Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs from July 27 to July 28; and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 from July 31 to August 4.

Enjoy 50-cent movies and discounted bowling at UltraStar until August

“It’s an awesome deal,” McCartney says. “It’s nice and cool in here. We want people to have fun and enjoy their summer.”

UltraStar’s bowling alley, Tin Pins Down, is serving up the Family Fun Deal from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For $49.95, families are given 90 minutes of bowling, five pairs of shoes, five $5 game cards and a large cheese pizza. It’s an $88 value.

For those who enjoy laser tag, it’s included in the $59.95 version of the same package.

Specials are offered during the week as well, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday to Friday until August 4. The Summer Fun Pass is $10.95 per person for unlimited bowling with shoes, or $15.95 per person for unlimited

bowling and laser tag, shoes included.

Officials at UltraStar, which will be connected to Harrah’s via skybridge this fall, hope to give families a taste of fun this summer without breaking the bank.

“We’re trying to offer an affordable option for families, so they don’t feel pinched in the summer heat,” McCartney says.

UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle 16000 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 520.568.3456, ultrastarakchin.com.

ARIZONA’S LEADER IN MUSICAL THEATRE

SEPT 1 - 24

AZBROADWAY.ORG WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

62

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

THE BEST FAMILY EVENTS IN JULY Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

My Favorite Monster Exhibit

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10 Experience the whimsical side of monsters at the i.d.e.a. Museum. My Favorite Monster, through fun art and hands-on activities, looks at the popularity of these imaginative creatures in media and their role in storytelling.

The i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa, 480.644.5552, ideamuseum.org, various times, $9 for those 1 and older, free for members and children younger than 1.

Fidget Fest

SATURDAYS Kids are invited to Rocket Fizz for its Fidget Fest, during which there will be spinning games, contests and prizes. Children and adults can also enjoy free soda and candy tastings.

Sugar-free, gluten-free and kosher candy is available.

Rocket Fizz, 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 132, Scottsdale, 480.306.8144, facebook.com/ rocketfizzscottsdaleaz/, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., free admission.

play games during Summer Splash at Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace. The schedule is: “Under the Sea Soiree” on July 6 in Tempe, July 4 at Desert Ridge with Ariel and Moana; “Superhero Sensation” on July 13 in Tempe and July 11 at Desert Ridge with Spiderman and Iron Man; “Royal Fiesta” on July 20 in Tempe and July 18 at Desert Ridge with Elena of Avalor; and “Frozen Fiesta” on July 27 in Tempe and July 25 in Desert Ridge with Anna and Elsa.

Tempe Marketplace, The District near Barnes & Noble, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, tempemarketplace.com/, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., free.

Desert Ridge Marketplace, The District near AMC Fountain, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, shopdesertridge.com, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free.

The Little Mermaid JULY 7 TO AUGUST 19 The Hale Centre Theatre will be transformed into a magical underwater kingdom when The Little Mermaid swims into the Gilbert venue.

The Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert, 480.497.1181, haletheatrearizona. com, various times, $20-$30.

WEEKLY IN JULY Kids can meet their favorite characters, win prizes, dance and

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Teddy Bear Picnic Day

JULY 10 AND JULY 11 Kids and their parents and grandparents are invited to two Teddy Bear Picnic Days in the Valley. Meet author Paula Goldsmith, who will read from her baby bear book, The Adventures of Baby Cuz: A Trip to Arizona.

Children will learn to read, spell and bring out their creativity as they personalize their books. Goldsmith will sign book purchases for $10 each or $25 for three books; cash only.

Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa, 480.644.3860, mesalibrary.org, paulasstories.com, 11 a.m. July 10, free admission.

The i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa, 480.644.5552, ideamuseum.org, paulasstories.com, 11 a.m. July 11, free admission.

write thank-you notes, eye contact, shaking hands and phone etiquette.

Camp dates for ages 6 to 8 are July 12 to July 15, and ages 9 to 12 attend July 18 to July 21.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, 10755 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, 480.510.6346, itsallaboutetiquette.com, 10 a.m. to noon, registration required, $225.

Movies Under the Stars

JULY 15 Bring blankets and lawn chairs, and watch Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark under the stars at The Crown on 7th, a Central Phoenix infill project on Seventh Street, just south of Bethany Home Road.

Okra Cookhouse & Cocktails will feature Southern-inspired eats like pork rinds, nachos with jalapeños and cheese sauce, two-piece fried chicken with hush puppies and a soul burger with fries.

Movies Under the Stars, Crown on 7th, 5813 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, crownon7.com, 7:30 p.m., free.

Movie Nights at Goodyear Ballpark

Kids’ Night Out

Summer Splash

games, sports, jumping in a bounce house and on trampolines and obstacle courses. They wind down by watching a movie and having pizza and refreshments.

Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics and Dance Center, 3110 E. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix, 602.992.5790, arizonasunrays.com, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., $30.

JULY 8 AND JULY 22 Kids can enjoy special events for them at Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics and Dance Center.

The theme on July 8 is “Party in the USA” and there will be a luauthemed event on July 22. Ages 3 to 14 may enjoy an evening of gymnastics, dance, organized

Summer Etiquette Camp for Kids

JULY 12 TO JULY 15, AND JULY 18 TO JULY 21 Certified etiquette instructor SueAnn Brown, owner of It’s All About Etiquette, will offer fourday summer etiquette camps for children ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. Kids will learn dining skills, how to set a table, proper introductions, how to

JULY 28 Grab lawn chairs and blankets, and don your favorite jammies to watch Angry Birds under the stars at Goodyear Ballpark. In this animated tale, an island inhabited by flightless birds is visited by green pigs. Find out what the pigs are up to and why the birds are so angry. Parking and admission are free.

Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, 623.882.3120, goodyearbp.com, 7 p.m., free.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

‘BEST FRIENDS WHENEVER’

63

Ricky Garcia says fans are a priority in his career Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

R

icky Garcia knows how to entertain.

The 18-year-old multihyphenate performer starred in the Disney Channel’s Best Friends Whenever, and is one-third of the pop-rock band Forever in Your Mind, who was discovered by Simon Cowell on X-Factor.

Garcia has nearly 900,000 followers on Instagram and Forever in Your Mind recently released a new single titled, “Smooth,” which has garnered 400,000 views on YouTube.

Still, the teen has to find time for himself.

“I’m going to the beach today,” he says proudly. “The beach is one of my favorite places. I like to stay active. I don’t like to sit in my place. That’s fun and relaxing, but I just try to stay active.”

He also prefers to stay in touch with fans, as he will do from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 5, at the Outlets at Anthem. While the meet and greet is open to the public, one winner will be chosen to be the shopping center’s social media reporter for the day.

Entrants are asked to submit a 1-minute MP4 video or YouTube link showcasing their social media reporting skills along with a completed application to MeetRickyGarcia@OutletsAnthem. com. For an application, visit outletsanthem.com.

VIP passes are available as well via a contest held July 1 to August 1. Forty winners will be chosen for a private meet and greet with Garcia and 50 more winners will receive front-of-the-line

passes. To win one of these VIP passes, fans must visit Outlets at Anthem between July 1 and Aug. 1 and take a selfie with one of the Ricky Garcia photo displays located throughout the center.

Selfies are submitted via Instagram with the hashtag #MeetRickyAtAnthem.

Winners will be chosen randomly from all properly submitted selfies.

“Meeting fans means the world to me,” Garcia says. “It’s amazing to know that I have people who support me no matter what I do. They’re following every step of my journey.

“It makes me really emotional, really.

I hear about depression and bullying.

I’m hoping that the little 2- or 3-minute pop song, listening to me and the guys, takes some of the pain away. I don’t want anyone to feel they’re not wanted. It’ a horrible feeling and that’s what’s happening in schools today. I was bullied. I understand. I’m always here for them.”

Now that Best Friends Whenever is no longer on the air, Garcia is chasing other pursuits, but focusing on Forever in Your Mind, who is in the studio working on new material. The band was signed to Hollywood Records, a subsidiary of Disney.

“In a sense, music is like acting,” he says. “I think you have to be trained.

You can’t be afraid of experimenting and trying new things. It’s all about creating.”

The new singles “Missing” and “Smooth” are part of that evolution.

Both songs head in a new direction for the group, marking a more “mature” sound, says Garcia, who recently starred in the movie Bigger Fatter Liar.

“The music is still in the genre of young pop—rootsy and vibey,” he says.

“It’s like Justin Timberlake—older R&B sounding. Before we were a little more rock. We still have the rock, though. For the most part, fans have been reacting great to it. I’m really happy with it.”

He will continue to act, sing and entertain as long as he’s having fun.

“It’s rewarding in entertainment,” he says. “I know I’m doing what I love and I’m having a great time doing it.”

Ricky Garcia

Outlets at Anthem, 4250 W. Anthem Way, Phoenix, 623.465.9500, outletsanthem. com, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 5, free.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

PRE S E NTS

“ Be Ou r Gue s t ”

FAMILY SAVINGS AVAILABLE! Call the HTC Box Office for details!

Jul y 7 - 16

602.252.8497 | HERBERGERTHEATER.ORG | 222 E. MONROE | PHOENIX, AZ 85004

ARIZONA’S LE ADE R IN MUSIC AL THE ATRE

JULY 21

AUG 20

7701 W. PARADISE LN. | PEORIA, AZ 85382 | 623.776.8400 | AZBROADWAY.ORG

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE SHOWMAN

65

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

THE DIRTY

DOZEN

There’s no toying with the Goo Goo Dolls’ setlist Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

R

obby Takac can’t believe he is still making music after 31 years as the bassist/vocalist in the Goo Goo Dolls. Spending summers hitting the road with frontman John Rzeznik and drummer/Phoenix native Craig Macintyre is fulfilling.

“It’s just amazing to me that people are still excited about it, too,” he says.

“We’re having great summers still. John and I both have babies now. We’re grown-up Goo Goo Dolls now, but we’re having fun.”

Goo Goo Dolls and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips are set to spend this season touring. The jaunt, in support of the Goo Goo Dolls’ new

EP You Should Be Happy, comes to the Comerica Theatre on Sunday, July 16.

The EP was recorded at EastWest studios in Los Angeles and produced by Drew Pearson, who first collaborated with the Goo Goo Dolls on its previous release, Boxes. The first single, “Use Me,” was written by Rzeznik and Pearson.

“We decided on an EP for a couple of reasons,” Takac says.

“When you release a full album, you put these 12 to 14 songs out. A couple of them are pushed by the record company and some get noticed by the press. The human attention span has gotten very short. It felt like, to us, that releasing less songs was more advantageous.”

Takac does eye a return to complete collections, though, that allow fans to get a 360-view of the Goo Goo Dolls.

“For me, I write and sing a couple songs on every record,” he says. “The depth of a full album allows you to do a lot of different things. Making a body of work that functions for 40 straight minutes is a whole different skill than writing one pop song.

“I miss it. I think that full albums really allow people to get into the band a little bit more. Hey man, it’s too bad, but it’s just the way it is.”

Despite regularly releasing new material, the Goo Goo Dolls still feel required to play certain hits at each show.

“We refer to it as the ‘Dirty Dozen,’” Takac says with a laugh. “There are 12 songs that we’re pretty sure we have to play every night. That leaves us with another eight songs.

“We like to do a lot of the new songs. They’re fresh to us and they keep

the show exciting for us. We like to put in new songs for people, too. It’s difficult for us to make a setlist, but that’s probably the easiest problem you can have as a rock band.”

That problem lies on Rzeznik, who has been honored with the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award. Since 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls have scored 14 Top 10 radio hits, including “Name,” “Slide” and “Iris,” the latter of which spent 12 months on the Billboard charts.

“John knows how to write a great song,” Takac says. “Those songs ruminate on a big level—a lot. I think our fans have just been awesome and stuck with us. I was trying to figure out how we turned into those dudes who have been in a band for a few decades and still make records we like to play and listen to. I think it’s a combination of the fans and our work ethic that makes it still work.”

Musicians have certain dynamics, Takac adds.

“The interesting thing about a band is that there are no real social norms to conform to,” he explains. “You can become whatever you want. As long as the people who are involved really feel like they’re doing the right thing together, you can stick it out.

“It takes a certain amount of ego and a certain amount of emotional and public dysfunction to get into this to begin with.”

The rest of the year is looking more like functional than dysfunctional, though. Takac’s daughter is starting kindergarten in September, and Rzeznik and his wife are celebrating their daughter’s first birthday later this year.

“We’re going to try to keep the schedule pretty light after this summer for a while,” he says. “We’re going to write music and record a bit, and figure out when to release new music, and move on from there.”

Goo Goo Dolls w/Phillip Phillips

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, comericatheatre.com, 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 16, $48.50-$195.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

66

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $40-$70

J. Cole

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

JULY 1 Avenue of the Arts 18 Year Anniversary

Roselit Bone

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Stan Sorenson

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$8

Taide

Copper Blues, 5 p.m., free

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10-$15

BroLoaf’s Eighth Annual Patriotic Meltdown

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Chris Chapman

Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

Dear Lemon Trees

Rhythm Room, 6 p.m., $10-$12

Deorro

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $30-$55

Iron Maidens

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $15

Las Cafeteras

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $32-$37

Music of the Grateful Dead by The Noodles

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Nineball

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

Punk White and Blue

Joe’s Grotto, 7 p.m., $8-$10

The Purge 2

Club Red – East, 5 p.m., $10-$15

The Rocket 88s

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Steel Panther

Livewire, 8 p.m., $22

Bruce Vaught

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

JULY 2 Carvin Jones Band

Rhythm Room, 6 p.m., $5

Kathy Mattea

Musical Instrument Museum, 6 and 8 p.m., $35-$45

Numenorean w/ Wormwitch Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Oscar Rock

Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

JULY 3 All Time Low

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $29.50-$49.50

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Livewire, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35

Coach Taylor

Talking Stick Resort Arena, $44.75$350

Pat Martino Trio

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $35-$40

Promise of Redemption w/ Best Ex Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12

JULY 7 Banana Gun

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

George Bowman & Bluesmen Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Guitar Wolf

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

John Ettinger

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., free

Lucy Kaplansky

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35

The Midnite Vibe

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

Diana

One OK Rock

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Hans Olson Band

Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $15

Necrot w/ Undergang, Of Feather and Bone Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $12

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $25-$75

Paquita La Del Barrio Y Diego Verdaguer

Celebrity Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $61-$121

Paranova

Club Red – West, 6:30 p.m., $10-$12

Sam O.B.

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12

Surf Broads at Día De Las Luchas Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $5-$12

The Technicolors

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $12

Throw Logic

Pub Rock Live, 7:30 p.m., $6-$12

Yard Art

FiftyOne West, 7 p.m., $7

JULY 8 Alfredo Olivas

Celebrity Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $41-$101

Missy and Heine Anderson

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

The Dukes w/ We Were Stereo Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $5-$10

Goya

Yucca Tap Room, 7 p.m., $10

Joe Vito & The Calamari Kids w/ The Ricky Fitts, Daisy, Sunday at Noon Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $5

Paris Chansons

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $35-$45

Prince Royce w/Luis Coronel

Comerica Theatre, 8 p.m., $49.50$849.50

Stanley Serrano Band

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

The News Can Wait w/ Naturalist Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10

SK8

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $17-$21

JULY 4 Borgeous

Maya Day + Nightclub, 12 p.m., $15

The Steady 45s

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

JULY 5 Enjoy

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Katchafire

Marquee Theatre, 5:15 p.m., $22-$42

Otep

Club Red, 6 p.m., $20-$25

Pat Roberts & The Heymakers Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $8

The Selfies

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

JULY 6 The American Indie

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Kendrick Lamar w/ Travis Scott, D.R.A.M. JULY 12

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $99-$570.25 While internet rumors of a secret album titled NATION. never came to fruition, DAMN. did. Now Kendrick Lamar is gearing up to bring the touring production of his fourth studio album to Glendale. Judging by performances like his massive production at Coachella, Lamar is sure to bring the spectacle, performing favorites from throughout his career at this arena show.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

SOB x RBE

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $15-$18

Song Behind the Story

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $15-$25

Soul Power Band

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

JULY 13 Catherine Russell

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $32-$42

CloZee

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$15

JULY 9

Laurie Morvan Band

Adrenaline Mob

Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Afton Showcase

Rhythm Room, 6:30 p.m., $11-$14

Deftones w/ Rise Against

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 6:30 p.m., $30-$125

Dragonforce

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $8-$10

Mutoid Man

Rebel Lounge, 9:30 p.m., $15-$18

Salem’s Bend w/ White Light Cemetery Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Club Red, 7:30 p.m., $18-$20

Federspiel

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $30-$40

Taide

Copper Blues, 5 p.m., free

JULY 10 Architect

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Eagle Rock Gospel Singers

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $20-$25

Joe King Carrosco

Rhythm Room, 7:30 p.m., $8-$10

Sports

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $10-$12

JULY 11 B.o.B

Club Red, 7 p.m., $25-$30

JULY 14 Anthony Hamilton

Celebrity Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $41-$61

Erik Nakamoto

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

Okilly Dokilly JULY 15

191 Toole, 9 p.m., $10-$12 Phoenix’s own Ned Flanders-themed metalcore band Okilly Dokilly will be stopping by 191 Toole in Tucson for what is sure to be a raucous performance. Yes, you heard that right: The “Nedal band” mimics the nerdy Simpsons character, complete with the iconic mustache and green sweater.

First or Last

Okilly Dokilly

P.O.D. w/Alien Ant Farm

Joshua Radin & Rachael Yamagata

PopTop

Sherry and LeBohn

Shawn Mendes w/Charlie Puth

Simply Presents: Healthy & Hydrated

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $30-$44

191 Toole, 9 p.m., $10-$12 Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

Judy Collins

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $14.75-$227

Love on the Brain

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $60-$70 The Listening Room, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $20

Jeff Senour and Dylan Elliott of CTS Silence the Voice

Luxxe

FiftyOne West, 5:30 p.m., $10

Naughty Professor

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

People Who Could Fly

The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $40-$55

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $15 Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $7-$10 Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12

The Sugar Thieves Tower of Power

Tony Bennett

Post Nothing

Trapfest Phoenix 2017

Kyle Phelan

R5

Westfield Massacre

Rich Berra Band

JULY 16

Rock Lobster

Beth Lederman

Coast 2 Coast Interactive Showcase

Ryan Caraveo

Dirty Heads

Harrison Fjord

JULY 15

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $78-$138 Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

JULY 12 Black Bottom Lighters

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $15 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $5-$7

Kendrick Lamar w/ Travis Scott, D.R.A.M.

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $99$570.25

The Legendary Guitar Master Duke Robillard Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $12-$16

T-Rextasy

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $7-$10

67

FiftyOne West, 7 p.m., $10 Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $26-$38 Copper Blues, 5 p.m., free Copper Blues, 9:30 p.m., free Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $15-$20

Azizi Gibson

Club Red, 7 p.m., $20-$23

Big Business

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $12-$14

Judy Collins

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $60-$70

Furious George

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

Pressroom, 8 p.m., $45-$250 RockBar, 6 p.m., $12-$15

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$8 Mesa Amphitheatre, 5:45 p.m., $30

Marquee Theatre, 6:15 p.m., $25 The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20

Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $3-$5

Tana Mongeau

Club Red – East, 6 p.m., $30-$190

Trey Odum

Yucca Tap Room, 1 p.m., free

JULY 17 As We Are

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10

Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Daryl Hall & John Oates w/ Tears For Fears

Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $30.25-$399

Palm

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12

The Sword

Crescent Ballroom, 8:30 p.m., $20-$23

Whiskerman

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $8-$10

Goo Goo Dolls w/Phillip Phillips

JULY 18

Honest Mollusk

Arsonists Get All the Girls w/ I Set My Friends on Fire, Kingdom of Giants

Comerica Theatre, 8 p.m., $48.50$500 Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

JJ Thames

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $12-$14

Earth, Wind & Fire w/Chic featuring Nile Rodgers

Naughty Professor

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., $64.75-$520.25

<PIG> w/ Julien-K, Ghostfeeder

The Flusters

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

68

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Delta Rae

Mesa Amphitheatre, 6:30 p.m., $49.50

The Turtles

Levi Platero

Sun Dried Vibes

Zealyn w/ Amy Guess

Gina Sicilia

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Logic w/ Joey Bada$$

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Third Eye Blind

Comerica Theatre, 7 p.m., $49.95$1,500

Thou w/ Cloud Rat

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $13-$15

JULY 19 Beach Fossils

Gila River Arena, 7:30 p.m., $64.75$528 Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $43-$75 Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $10

JULY 22 Birdtalker

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$15

The Bonafide Band

Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

I Love the ’90s

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $16-$18

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., $45-$325.25

Chris Isaak

The JJ’s Band

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $60-$90

Digitour: Goodtimes

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $25

DJ Shadow

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $25-$28

Jimmy Thackery

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

JULY 20 Afton Showcase

Rhythm Room, 6:30 p.m., $11-$14

Blackberry Smoke

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $30-$50

Feufollet

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $25-$32

Jonny Lang

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $37-$48

New Heart

FiftyOne West, 6:30 p.m., $10

Shakewell w/ Ramirez, Germ Club Red, 7 p.m., $20-$40

Third Thursday Songwriter Showcase

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $12

JULY 21 Jonny Lang

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

Loser’s Way Home

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

Mad Dog & The 20/20’s

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Puscie Jones Revue

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10

Rozwell Kid

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $12-$14

Sabrina Carpenter

Comerica Theatre, 7 p.m., $119-$225

Wyves w/ Vista Kicks, Banana Gun, Bear Ghost, Mind Upside Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $10-$15

The Yellow Payges

Rhythm Room, 6 p.m., $8

JULY 23 Dave Henning

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$8

Divided Heaven

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Dom Dolla

Maya Day + Nightclub, 12 p.m., $0-$10

Jim Bachmann and the Day Drinkers Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

Chandler Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $38-$68

Khalid

Blackberry Smoke

Nicolas Jaar

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $27-$30

Cheech & Chong

Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $45

Flotsam and Jetsam

Club Red, 6 p.m., $18-$20

Guitar Shorty

Rhythm Room, 8:30 p.m., $12-$15

Playboi Carti

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $35

The Sink or Swim

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., sold out Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$30

Playboi Carti

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $35-$45

Post Animal

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Valley Queen

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10

JULY 24 Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $32-$38 Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $12-$15

JULY 25 Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie

Comerica Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$245

Cassidy Jayde

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Little River Band

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $36-$72

Sydney Sprague

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

True Flavor Blues

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $7

UB40 Legends Ali, Astro & Mickey Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $40-$60

JULY 26 AJR

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $16-$64

Leopold and His Fiction

Last Exit Live, 8:30 p.m., $10-$12

Lucky Devils

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., free

Michelle Branch

Dry River Yacht Club

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Dwight Yoakam

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $46-$195

The Geibral Elisha Movement The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

The Life and Times

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $12

Los Lonely Boys

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $34-$47

Mason

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Pharoah Sanders Quartet

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 and 9 p.m., $30-$45

The Selfies

Copper Blues, 5 p.m., free

JULY 29 Arise Roots w/ Dubbest

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10-$12

The Bonafide Band

Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

Emery

Nile Theater, 7 p.m., $10-$30

Froth

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $12-$14

Darrin Kobetich with Paul Barton

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $30-$125

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

The New Schematics

Jeff Rosenstock

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Quantum Split

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Reckless Kelly

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $35-$40

Taking Back Sunday

Rialto Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $30

JULY 27 All Get Out

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12

Armand and Angelina

The Listening Room, 7 p.m., $20 donation

The Ghoulies

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Reik

Rialto Theatre, 7:45 p.m., $56-$89

RJ

Pub Rock Live, 9 p.m., $15-$20

Wes Williams Band

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10-$12

JULY 28 Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Croatia Squad

Maya Day + Nightclub, 10 p.m., $0-$10

Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $15

Paralysis w/ Xenophile

Yucca Tap Room, 6 p.m., free

Sugaray Rayford Band

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $12-$15

The Walkens

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

JULY 30 The Bonafide Band

Yucca Tap Room, 2 p.m., free

Ioannis Goudelis

The Nash, 6 p.m., $5-$8

Mason

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Matoma

Maya Day + Nightclub, 12 p.m., $15

The Whistles & The Bells

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $8-$10

JULY 31 Amadou and Mariam

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $45-$60

Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Unsane

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$15

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

69

NOT SLOWING DOWN Fans are still falling in love with UB40

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

R

eggae legends UB40 are witnessing a renaissance.

With singer Ali Campbell’s return after a nine-year break, the band has seen its massive greatest hits tour succeed.

“When people ask us about our longevity, love, I tell them that when I started UB40 in 1979, reggae was 11 years old,” Campbell says via telephone from England.

“Before that, it was rock steady and before that it was ska. It was a baby genre. That’s why, 30 years later, people still like it. It’s the youngest form of music.”

It’s still influential, he adds, with the release of reggae-tinged songs by Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Justin Bieber.

“Reggae’s having a massive influence and long may it continue,”

Campbell says.

The timing is perfect, as Campbell returned to the group in 2013. After he left in 2008, the group carried on and replaced Campbell with his brother, Duncan. That didn’t pan out, so the departures of founders Mickey and Astros followed.

In 2013, Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey came together to play a couple U.K gigs. They parlayed that into a fullblown reunion with an 11-piece band and world tours.

“We’re back together again,” Campbell says proudly. “When I left my own band, nine years ago now, the other guys—the ‘dark side’ as I call them—split the fanbase. They didn’t need to split the fanbase. I don’t know why they did.

“When me and Mickey came back to the fold, we told Astro, ‘We’re waiting for you now.’ We have 11,000 people at some of our shows now. We played arenas last year where there were

15,000 people. We’re winning the war, as it were.”

UB40, who plays the Marquee on Tuesday, July 25, is continuing the battle by recording a new album due on February 14, 2018. Campbell wouldn’t spill too much about the collection, other than to say it’s the band’s best effort.

“It’s all a secret, but everyone who’s heard it is going crazy for it,” Campbell says. “It’s going to be a biggie. It’s a return to form—not that I’ve been out of form.”

The Marquee date is part of UB40’s fourth American tour in two years.

Campbell relents that it’s great to be back on the road again.

“I know I sound like a Willie Nelson song, but it is good to be back on the bus, with my peers, seeing Arizona and them places there.

“I didn’t think I would miss touring. I was at a stage where I was sick of touring. I wanted to stay home. But

you don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.”

Now, the focus is on having fun and spreading the message of UB40 with songs like “Rat in Mi Kitchen,” “Red Red Wine” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do.” “We’re just concentrating on being in really lovely places and situations, drinking lots of good wine, smoking and singing songs for our very happy public.”

UB40 Legends Ali, Astro and Mickey, w/ Matisyahu and Raging Fyah

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 25, $40 and $60.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

70

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

Jonny Lang reexplores the blues on forthcoming ‘Signs’

A RETURN

TO FORM

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

G

rammy Award-winning blues guitarist Jonny Lang is amazed that he can dedicate his life to playing music.

He doesn’t know why he’s been successful, but, he says with a laugh, it’s pretty clear it’s not due to his “good planning.” It’s been hard for him and his wife, former Kids Incorporated cast member Haylie Johnson, to juggle their schedules with those of their five children—all of whom are younger than 9.

For four years, he squeezed in time to work on a new album, Signs, which is set for release September 8 in North America. He’ll preview tracks during a concert at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Friday, July 21. Fans can immediately download the song “Make It Move” via jonnylang.com.

“Between touring and taking care of my little ones at home, I don’t have WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

too much time to make a record,” Lang says. “Trying to find the spots in the schedule to get it done and finish it have been challenging. Since I had kids, it tends to be a little bit longer of a process.”

Lang was a kid himself, 15, when he earned his first platinum record.

Inspired by Albert Collins, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, Lang has evolved into an adept showman whose style has aligned with Stevie Wonder and contemporary gospel music. With Signs, he has reaffirmed his commitment to the blues.

“A lot of my earlier influences have been coming to the surface, like Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf,” he explains. “I have been appreciating how raw and unrefined that stuff is. I had an itch to emulate some of that and I think it shows in the songs. Still, I let the writing be what it was and that was sometimes not necessarily the blues.”

Each time Lang steps into the studio, it’s an eye-opening experience.

Whether it’s exploring new techniques and genres, or maybe collaborating with a longtime friend for the first time, the studio has become a school for Lang.

“Being in the studio is a great thing,” he says. “It forces you to look at yourself under the microscope. When you do that for a long time, it’s pretty hard not to improve. I learn something new every time I go in and make a record.”

Lang is quick to add that he didn’t discover anything he “needed” to improve.

“I wanted to become a better songwriter,” he says. “I wanted to try to refine the things that are important to me so my songs can relate to other folks.”

Signs was produced by Lang, Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders. He also recruited the help of Josh Kelley, with whom he has been friends for “years.”

“I haven’t gotten the chance to work with him until recently,” he says. “He’s awesome. He’s an amazing singer and artist in his own right. He’s

a great producer and a great person to cowrite with.”

Kelley helmed “Bring Me Back Home,” one of seven songs that Lang and the singer-songwriter cut together.

“I’m saving the other ones for who knows what, but I definitely wanted that one to be on this record,” Lang says.

He admits that Signs is a personal album, but it isn’t literally autobiographical.

“The main goal is for folks to be able to relate to what I went through,” he says. “If I can’t make it work using just my personal experience, I use my imagination to fill in blanks.”

Jonny Lang

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 21, $38-$68.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

A HESITANT FRONTMAN

LIVING A HAPPY LIFE

Americana storytellers Delta Rae are thriving after release of new EP Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

D

elta Rae bassist Grant Emerson is taking a break from a long van ride to his eclectic band’s next tour stop. The traveling may wear on the six-piece act, but, Emerson reports, everyone is on cloud 11.

“We played last night at the Minnesota Zoo,” he says. “It was incredible. We got five standing ovations during the show.”

Thanks to the backing of Big Machine Label Group, the company behind Taylor Swift’s success, Delta Rae is finding its way. Executives Julian Raymond and Scott Borchetta helped perfect the sound of the band, who scored a hit with the 2013 collaboration with Lindsey Buckingham, “If I Loved You.” It was released via its former label, Sire Records.

The result of the Big Machine signing is the EP A Long and Happy Life, a collection that features four songs highlighting tight-knit harmonies of the Hölljes siblings Brittany (lead vocals), Eric (vocals, piano) and Ian (vocals, guitar) alongside Liz Hopkins (lead vocals, tambourine, auxiliary percussion) with Mike McKee (drums) and Grant Emerson (bass).

The Durham, North Carolinabased band melds country and Americana storytelling, over gospel and rock vocal stylings. The first single, the title track, was crafted by Eric and Ian, who weaved four book titles from authors they admire into the song. Delta Rae wrote nearly 70 songs for the EP, which is centered around the vocals of Brittany Hölljes and Hopkins.

“Our A&R guys, Julian

Raymond and Scott Borchetta, pushed us to write our best music,” says Emerson, whose band returns to the Musical Instrument Museum on Monday, July 24.

“They helped us craft a focused song. Luckily, we landed on a country label to make country music. They were pushing us to be more focused and to write a lot of songs to find out which ones would make the final cut. It’s really great to have all of the others in our back pockets to play live or to include on another record.”

Previously earning a slot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Delta Rae is mindful of its fans. Hopkins, Emerson and McKee are former teachers and they understand the sacrifices that educators make. During its tour, Delta Rae is offering free tickets to and an on-stage acknowledgment of educators via the Tickets for Teachers program. For additional details and to nominate someone, visit deltarae.com.

“We’ve met some incredible teachers who are spirited and inspiring,” Emerson says. “We know that they work sun up and sun down and don’t know when to quit.

“We’re doing this to show our appreciation for them and all that they do. I hear so many stories: Teachers love their classes and they’re investing their own money for notebooks, craft projects and special trips.

They don’t make a lot of money. We think this is the least we can do— give them a free night out.”

Delta Rae w/Liz Longley

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.478.6000, mimmusictheater.themim.org, 7 p.m. Monday, July 24, $32-$38.

71

After My Chemical Romance, Frank Iero embraces his inner nerd Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

F

rank Iero knows he’s a nerd.

Best known as the rhythm guitarist/backup singer for My Chemical Romance, Iero now fronts Frank Iero and the Patience. It was a move that didn’t come easily.

“I never wanted to do that,” Iero says. “That wasn’t on my bucket list. I considered writing the songs and getting someone else to sing them. However, it felt weird to do that, like I was faking or hiding. With the songs I had been writing, I was trying to be as honest and forthright as possible.

“To hide at the end of the cycle of creation felt wrong.”

To keep being honest, Iero fought his demons and stepped behind the mic after discussions with his wife, friends and family.

“I had to give it a try or regret it,” he says. “I found out I was able to do it on my own terms.”

That dictated that Iero be himself.

“I had this image of a frontman as almost like a caricature,” he says. “They get up on stage (and swear). That’s not me. With some people, it works. But to get up on stage in a room full of people, it was scary.”

Iero has since found comfort in it as he celebrates the release of his second album, Parachutes. The band performs with Deftones, Rise Against and Thrice at Ak-Chin Pavilion at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 9.

“When that tour came down the pipeline, I think everybody just started to salivate,” says Iero, who had to initially cancel plans to promote Parachute after a bus crashed into him and his bandmates while unloading for a gig in Sydney, Australia.

“It’s amazing and super flattering that they wanted us to be on the tour.

It’s really rad to be on a tour that I would have bought tickets for.”

Fans can expect to hear Parachute’s songs, most of which have “grown a lot since we recorded them.”

“That’s one of my favorite things about music and creating things: You get to have this initial release when you write the songs,” Iero says. “Then they change and evolve by the time you record them.”

Parachute was recorded with the help of legendary producers Ross

Robinson and Steve Evetts in California.

Iero says he loved getting Robinson’s advice, the particulars of which he wouldn’t share.

“He was an incredible partner,” he adds. “He finds a way to ask the right questions—so much so that you find out things about yourself as a person and as an artist.

“It’s too personal to share. It really is. I’ve never been pushed like that or questioned like that. I thought I knew what certain songs were about and where they came from. But by working with Ross, I learned that a lot of these songs and feeling stemmed from even further back. They were from something else that happened earlier on. The songs are about something totally different. That kind of insight opened the doors for me lyrically.”

Like singing in front of thousands of people, the transformation in the studio was scary.

“You’d think that being yourself is a little bit scary, but I find comfort in being awkward,” he adds. “It’s more uncomfortable when I pretend not to be awkward.”

Deftones, Rise Against, Thrice and Frank Iero and the Patience

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.7200, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster. com, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9, tickets start at $22.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

THE NIGHTOWL

73

SIP » UNLEASH » MIX » MINGLE » PULSE » SHAKE

THE BEST NIGHTLIFE EVENTS FOR JULY Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

Deorro JULY 1

Los Angeles native Deorro has become one of the most sought after young producer/DJs in the business in the last two years. The young house prodigy has amassed an inspiring discography, including a cache of original productions, collaborations/remixes with Steve Aoki, Chuckie, Axwell, Cazzette, Krewella, Laidback Luke, Carnage, Diplo, MakJ, Tommie Sunshine and R3hab. He has amassed more than 140,000 followers and over 20 million plays.

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, relentlessbeats.com, 11 a.m., $20.

Prok and Fitch JULY 1

Hailing from the U.K.’s south coast, Ben Prok and James Fitch shared a mutual love of house music, leading to their debut release “Outro Lugar.” In the last couple years, Prok and Fitch have become one of the most respected and successful DJ outfits in electronic music. Their 2016 Green Velvet collaboration, “Sheeple,” remained at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats.com, 10 p.m., $15$20.

Borgeous JULY 4

John Borger, known by his stage name, Borgeous, has had three No. 1 tracks on the Beatport chart, including “Tsunami,” which was produced with DVBBS. It was regarded by Billboard Magazine

in 2013 as “the most played tune at Tomorrowland.” His single, “Invincible” became the No. 2 song of 2014 on SiriusXM’s BPM Radio, with the follow-up track, “Wildfire,” reaching No. 14. Recently, he released “Feel So Good,” which received thousands of streams.

Māyā Day + Nightclub, 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, mayaclubaz.com, noon, $15.

They frequently argue, they confess, but each new track has found its way to fans. Technoboy’s sound is “more melodic with a strong ’80s influence,” while Tuneboy finds his work to be more “dub and instrumental.”

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats.com, 9 p.m., $15 and $30.

Trapfest Tucson JULY 14

Sharam Jey JULY 7

Sharam Jey kickstarted his career in the early ’80s and has since released two albums, various mix/ compilations and more than 100 releases. He’s behind remixes for Moby, Gossip, Faith No More, Faithless, Diplo & Don Diablo, Mason & Roisin Murphy to name just a few. His latest record label, Bunny Tiger, instantly spread five No. 1 and 20 Top 10 tracks on the Beatport Nudisco chart. Sean Watson, Klu, Benni Beatnik and Cormac open.

Bar Smith, 130 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats. com, 9 p.m., $10.

Basscon Presents TNT— Technoboy ‘n’ Tuneboy JULY 13

Known for their individual production skills, Technoboy and Tuneboy decided to try collaborating in 2002 and it’s been democratic to the core since then.

Trapfest Tucson drops at Club XS with the impressive lineup of Party Favor, who is a remix favorite for dance music elite; his rapid-fire beat prodigy, Loudpvck; the bicoastal production duo who recently released the monster track, “Bones,” Hard Trap pioneer, SayMyName; and quasi hip hop/electronic producer, JSTJR. Club XS, 5851 E. Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, relentlessbeats.com, p.m. Friday, July 14, $25 and $45.

Dirty South JULY 23

With an ear for melodic and emotive song writing, Dirty South (also known as Dragan Raganovic) was a natural fit for the Anjunafamily with his label debut “I Swear,” featuring Anima. Taking the record into the contemporary deep house world, Dirty South’s “I Swear” reflects the soulful music found on his Drift radio show.

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, relentlessbeats.com, 11 a.m., free for women, $10 for men.

Trapfest Phoenix 2017 JULY 15

Celebrating its fifth year, Trapfest Phoenix 2017 will feature Montreal-based, bombastic bass-drop designer Snails as the headliner with main stage support from Party Favor, who is a remix favorite for dance music elite.

Rapid-fire beat prodigy 4B, hiphop/electronic producer, JSTJR and hard-hitting bass duo Two Owls round out the main stage lineup.

The venue’s outdoor patio will feature ATLiens, Bailo, Havok Roth and Woolymammoth, for a deeper look into the more experimental side of Trap.

The Pressroom, 441 W. Madison Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats. com, 8 p.m., $50-$375.

Lee Foss JULY 29

After many years of involvement in the musical community through his labels Emerald City and Hot Creations, and his collaborative projects Hot Natured and Pleasure State, Lee Foss has released his full-length solo debut album Alchemy. Alchemy has been a long time coming for Foss, who relied heavily on analog synths and vintage drum machines with some occasional guitar and live bass for the collection. Hear the tracks when he comes to the Monarch Theatre.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeatss.com, 10 p.m., $15.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

74

FAMILY AFFAIR

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

R5 sheds pop band image for edgier beats Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

S

ince the Lynch family founded R5, the group has been saddled with the “pop” label and heralded as Teen Choice or Radio Disney favorites.

But with the May release of its fifth EP, New Addictions, it’s time to welcome the four siblings and drummer as a certified rock band.

“A lot of people are hearing this EP and saying, ‘Yo, this sounds so much older and new and from the heart,’” says guitarist/producer Rocky Lynch.

“It’s because it is from the heart.

This is the first EP in which we wrote and produced and engineered entirely on our own. That hasn’t happened in R5’s lifespan. That’s one of the big factors why it seems like that. We’re still just trying to find our groove.”

The five-song EP is different for R5, with “Lay Your Head Down” being a slick departure. R5 is vocalist/rhythm guitarist Ross Lynch, bassist/lead vocalist Riker Lynch, keyboardist/percussionist Rydel Lynch and family friend/drummer Ellington Ratliff. R5 fans can hear the difference during a 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, show at The Rialto Theatre in Tucson. “‘Lay Your Head Down’ is definitely the most different from any other song live because I sing and play keyboards on that one,” Lynch says. “Every other song I play guitar.”

The EP features a cover of INXS’ “Need You Tonight,” an idea that’ll make any Generation Xer cringe.

START SPREADING

THE NEWS

Trapfests set for Phoenix and Tucson

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

However, this version is a sweet cover mashed with EDM sounds.

“My dad would play INXS a lot,” he says. “I got hooked on a lot of their songs—not just their hits, but their albums.

“We recently went to Australia and played ‘New Sensation.’ One of the guys in INXS tweeted about how he loved it.

So, we tried it again.”

Although R5 fans speculate that the group has found its niche on New Addictions, the musicians say otherwise.

“What we’re writing now is already on to a new sound of what R5 could be

in the future,” he says. “We’re constantly changing, the vibes, sonically, the songs we’re choosing. It’s always moving. I personally like that. I don’t think R5 has a genre. This next thing we release may have a lot more electronic funk. Then after that, we may do a straight-up rock record. It depends on what I’m feeling at the time.”

Besides working on new music, R5 has earmarked 2017 for a continuing world tour. This summer, Ross Lynch will star as a teenage Jeffrey Dahmer in the critically acclaimed My Friend Dahmer, a film based on the 2012 graphic novel of the same name.

“Hopefully, we’re going to South America,” he says. “We’ll be going back to Europe. As we’re doing that, we’re just trying to make more music. We’re just hopefully going to have a lot more music by the end of the year.”

Melissa Szenda » The Entertainer!

and electronic producer JSTJR and the massive bass duo Two Owls. Outside, the party explores the experimental side of trap with ATLiens, Bailo, Havok Roth and Woolymammoth.

Trapfest isn’t just taking over the Valley, however. Tucson also gets a healthy serving of trap on Friday, July 14, as Party Favor, Loudpvck, SayMyName, JSTJR take over Club XS.

H

ard-hitting bass mixed with the right amount of hip hop and a touch of dubstep is like no other.

The genre is called trap music and it has been captivating listeners since the early 2000s, thanks to acts like Brillz and Bro Safari.

To celebrate the music, the country’s premier trap and bass event is returning to Arizona.

CrowdSurf Concerts and Relentless Beats are presenting the fifth annual Trapfest on Saturday, July 15, at Phoenix’s The Pressroom.

“This year’s lineup includes some of the hottest acts in the trap and bass world and will make for a scorching fest,” says Relentless Beats founder Thomas Turner.

It features Montreal-based Snails with support from Party Favor, explosive, rapid-fire beat prodigy 4B, hip-hop

R5 w/Hailey Knox and New Beat Fund The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress Street, Tucson, 520.740.1000, rialtotheatre. com, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, $26-$38.

Trapfest

The Pressroom, 441 W. Madison Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats. com, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 15, $50-$250.

Trapfest Tucson

Club XS, 5851 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suite 141, Tucson, relentlessbeats.com, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 14, $25-$50.

MAD MIXOLOGIST THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE JULY 2017

75

Getting down and dirty with the Valley’s hottest shot slingers past three years, Young has worked with the chefs and fellow bartenders to create an ever-evolving, seasonal cocktail menu that boasts everything from rosemary gin lemonades to cinnamon spiced sangrias and strawberry jalapeno margaritas.

Tell me about the oddest drink request you’ve gotten?

Oh, that is easy. It was a Jack and Coke.

But—wait for it—with a beer on the side.

Once the gentleman had both in hand, he mixed them together and drank it like it was the fanciest cocktail ever made. I had to ask him about it. It turned out he’d seem some gorgeous woman drinking it one night and tried it (most likely to impress her) and got himself hooked on the odd combination of flavors.

Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

N

estled atop a mountain 1,800 feet above the city, Different Pointe of View (DPOV) is known for its views, fine modern American cuisine and internationally acclaimed wine cellar.

But those who haven’t tried its cocktail program are missing out. It uses fresh herbs from the mountainside chef ’s garden, as well as house-made syrups and its own bottled cocktails.

Emmy Young, one of the stars behind the bar, chats about her rise in the industry and approach to mixology as well as what’s in store at DPOV. Young thought about getting into bartending while working as a cocktail server in Texas.

“I was itching at a young age to make up my own recipes and dream up my own takes on mixes and syrups,”

says Young, who eventually got her first shot at a sports bar in Austin.

A sports bar is not often top of mind when it comes to sinking one’s teeth into the world of cocktail couture.

But, it gave Young the confidence to make one very bold move when she moved to Arizona in 2013 to attend nursing school.

“I would always pass this gorgeous building on a mountain on my way to school, so finally one day I just drove up the hill to see what it was,” says Young, who would visit DPOV for the first time that day in 2014. “In just looking at the menu—and then seeing the garden—I knew I found something special. It’s not the longest-tenured AAA Four Diamond Restaurant in Arizona for nothing!”

Young found it so special, in fact, that she went through a full orientation at the Hilton, which manages DPOV, and worked in different areas of food and beverage before earning herself a position on the DPOV team. For the

What is your No. 1 pet peeve when working?

We are very lucky here are DPOV that we get to host weddings—often for 300 to 400 people—onsite nearly weekly.

That often means we also get 300 or 400 drink orders from the guests at the exact same time (cocktail hour!), and while nothing beats the electricity and energy of our team at times like that, it also often means our tidy stations end up a little wet, a little sticky and out of order after an hour or two. After the wedding festivities as we are all cleaning up, I always tell myself that next time we are all going to be perfectly organized and neat no matter what. It is, however, impossible. Even for our all-star team.

What is your go-to drink when you’re at a bar other than your own?

I absolutely love ginger beer, so I most often sample Mules when I am out and about. In recent years, because Mules have become all the rage, sampling them has become an adventure. I had one with pineapple and mint just a few weeks ago, and they are even starting to sub out the vodka for tequila at some venues. And yes, it is delicious.

What does ordering a Jack and Coke say about a person?

Given the first question above, as long as the guest doesn’t order it with a beer then mix it together and drink it, then I am

happy! But, in all seriousness, it usually means the guest is a male, who either doesn’t know what else to order or doesn’t feel like drinking beer. I’m in nursing school, so I sometimes take on a guest like this as my “patient,” and ask them lots of questions so I can “prescribe” them something a little more exciting.

What is one cocktail you would love for us to feature in the magazine this month?

Seasonal Buck ($12.50) What do you like about this drink?

We freshly muddle seasonal berries in this cocktail, which gives the drink such a summery flavor, perfect as it gets hotter out. And, because we use quality vodka (Hangar), the berries really shine through.

This cocktail also has a little love from our award-winning chef in it too, as he makes us fresh ginger syrup for it each night.

SEASONAL BUCK

1.5 ounces Hangar 1 Vodka .75 ounce ginger syrup .25 ounce fresh lime juice 2-3 seasonal berries Top with soda water Muddle seasonal berries.

Build all ingredients in mixing glass with ice and shake.

Strain in to rocks glass.

Top with soda water.

Garnish with berries and fresh lime wedge.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

76

THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER

YOU’RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS

Bizarro facts that will stretch your noggin

Hot dogs, or frankfurters, were invented in 1484 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Nice name choice.

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, it’s a thing), LOS ANGELES is the top dog when it comes to consuming the barbecue staple, at over 36 million pounds last year!

Phoenix came in fifth.

CAN YOU EAT 6.9 HOT DOGS INJoey1Chestnut MINUTE? can, and he holds a world record for it.

150 million On the Fourth of July,

hot dogs are eaten. That’s enough to reach D.C. from L.A. and back more than five times.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Daisy Finch » The Entertainer!

BABE RUTH

was rushed to the hospital for severe indigestion after he ate 12 hot dogs and downed eight sodas between doubleheader games.

19.4

MILLION

hot dogs were chowed during MLB games in 2016. Play ball!

550

HOT DOGS are eaten EVERY SECOND in the Unites States. Ketchup, anyone?

94%

of homes in the United States serve hot dogs.

What’s for lunch at your place?

Scarface’s favorite food was Nathan’s Coney Island hot dogs.

The world record for hot dog eating was set by Matt Stonie last year, when he ate

69 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

A TABLE FOR TWO? Phind it

NEW NEW

EOS Rebel T7i Body only $749.99, with 18-35mm EOSbodyRebel T7i EF-S IS USM is $1299.00, body with 18-55mm EF-S IS USM lens is $899.99.

Body only only $749.99, $749.99, body body with with 18-35mm 18-35mm EF-S EF-S IS IS USM USM isis Body $1299.00, $1299.00, body body with with 18-55mm 18-55mm EF-S EF-S IS IS USM USM lens lens isis $899.99. $899.99.

NEW NEW

EOS 77D Body only $899.99, Body 18-135mm EF-S IS USM is EOSwith77D $1499.00, body with 18-55mm EF-S IS USM $1049.00.

Body only only $899.99, $899.99, Body Body with with 18-135mm 18-135mm EF-S EF-S IS IS USM USM isis Body $1499.00, $1499.00, body body with with 18-55mm 18-55mm EF-S EF-S IS IS USM USM $1049.00. $1049.00.

All cameras include Canon U.S.A. Inc, one-year limited warranty/registration card

All cameras include Canon U.S.A. Inc, one-year limited warranty/registration card All cameras include Canon U.S.A. Inc, one-year limited warranty/registration card

usa.canon.com/eos ©2015 Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon, EOS and EOS Rebel are registered trademarks of Canon Inc. in the usa.canon.com/eos usa.canon.com/eos United States and may be registered trademarks or trademarks in U.S.A., other countries. ©2015 Canon Inc. Canon, EOS and EOS Rebel ©2015 Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon, EOS and EOS Rebel are registered trademarks of Canon Inc. in the are registered trademarks of Canon Inc. in the United States and may be registered trademarks or United States and may be registered trademarks or trademarks in other countries. trademarks in other countries.

FREE SEMINAR! EOS Discovery Day!

Saturday, July 15th 12pm-3pm

Intermediate 201: Creative Photography with your EOS Camera If you’re a more experienced SLR user, this 3-hour session is your ticket to learning about the more sophisticated features of your EOS camera. We’ll take you to the next step in creating great photographs, with details about the advanced controls in your camera and how to use them in real-life situations. Many examples of great imagery utilizing the camera’s features come to life in this class.

We’ll demystify your camera’s histogram, give you details about lighting and exposure control, and show the power of using a Canon EOS Speedlite flash to bring your photography to the next level.

Class is FREE but class size is limited. Registration available end of June. Visit TempeCamera.com for details!

ROY JONES JR. PROMOTIONS PRESENTS

LIVE BOXING

HA*ASH

LOS ANGELES AZULES

JULY 15

AUGUST 12

WORLD FIGHTING FEDERATION PRESENTS LIVE MMA

TICKETS AT WINGILARIVER.COM OR CALL 1-800-WIN-GILA Follow us for a chance to win tickets!

I-10 and Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

|

Owned and operated by the Gila River Indian Community

JULY 22

AUGUST 19