Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
August 3 – 16, 2013
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Neighbors Fall recreation classes open for registration
Why aren’t we ‘Walking on Water?’
Neighbors PAGE 57
Spirituality PAGE 59
Where to Eat PAGES 74
Eastwind brings Singer hopes to make career of music SoHo63 event so much more venue emerges than sushi in downtown BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
There are some great restaurants in the East Valley where you can find sushi. Eastwind Sushi & Grill is one of those places, plus they have a large menu with a tasty variety of other Japanese dishes and desserts, too. The restaurant has amassed an enthusiastic following at lunch and dinner. Best of all, you can get top-notch Japanese fare and not break the bank. Some of the most popular grill dishes include Nagasaki and yakisoba noodle dishes. Owner James Chung says, “We have a special on noodles every day. Our customers love our noodle bowls.” Order a noodle bowl with your favorite meat or with no meat at all. Another of its most popular menu items are the three bento box meals. Bento Box A, for example, includes teriyaki chicken, karubi steak, ginger salmon, shrimp and vegetable tempura, chicken katsu, sunomono, salad, rice and miso soup; a bargain for only $12. SEE EASTWIND PAGE 52
COLORFUL CREATIONS: Sushi selections at Eastwind Sushi and Grill. STSN photo by Lynette Carrington
Chandler BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Inspirador infamously left five dozen brides jilted at the altar when the historic event venue in Chandler claimed bankruptcy and closed its doors. But emerging in that aftermath is SoHo63, which has no tie to the previous owners and which obtained the property
‘ARIZONA IDOL’: Levi Waskom recently played before the fireworks at Tempe Beach Park on July 4. Submitted photo BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Most local singer-songwriters don’t have the opportunity to sing in front of 50,000 music fans. But Levi Waskom isn’t an ordinary performer. The Basha High School graduate has been a finalist twice for Fox 10’s “Arizona Idol.” As part of the honor both years, he was able to sing a song prior to the fireworks at Tempe Beach Park. The 20 year old, who this year sang Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” admits it can be a nerve-wracking venture, even though he’s done it twice. “Beforehand I’m jumping around trying to get the nerves out,” Waskom explains. “But whenever I walk up on stage, it all goes away. I feel a lot more comfortable because I’m in that moment and trying to make the best of that moment that’s happening right there. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as possible.” “Stand by Me” was a pretty obvious choice for Waskom, as it’s a tune he’s always included in his set. “I came up with my own, alternative version of it,” he says of “Stand by Me.” “It’s a song everybody
SEE SOHO63 PAGE 55
knows and it’s really easy to get 50,000 people to sing along with you.” Waskom, who unsuccessfully tried out for “American Idol” in San Diego a few years back, says “Arizona Idol” is the perfect place to hone audition and performance skills. He attributes his success to his varied song styles. “I can do anything from blues to pop,” says Waskom, whose mother lives in Gilbert while his father resides in Texas. “My whole set and my show really varies. I’ve done reggae stuff to blues stuff—whatever I draw inspiration from. I’m trying to find my own genre and my own kind of music.” A fan of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Bob Marley and Maroon 5, among others, Waskom traded a promising sports career for music while in high school. “I picked up my first guitar around freshman year of high school, about six years ago,” says Waskom, who works at PayPal. “I was definitely not a good singer at that point. I could not sing a tune for my SEE SINGER PAGE 54
SoHo63 FAMILY: Pictured in front of the iconic iron gates at SoHo63 are, from left: Brody Christensen, in mother Stacie Christensen’s arms; James Christensen, holding son Beck Christensen; Boyd Christensen; Kate Christensen; Megan Schmidt and Jake Schmidt. Submitted photo
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