The Entertainer! - May 2017

PHX METRO » MAY 2017

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PURE

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT

EGGSTASY

GET TURNED ON TO SCOTTSDALE RESTAURANT’S BRUNCH

LOWE,

Literally Veteran actor brings one-man show to Mesa Arts Center

A LWAY S O N Melissa Etheridge

Tim Allen

Bill Engvall

In The Ballroom

In The Ballroom

Thursday, May 25

Saturday, June 3

Gordon Lightfoot

Cheech and Chong

In The Ballroom

Saturday, June 24 In The Showroom

with Special Guest Shelby Chong

Friday, July 21

Friday, June 9

Donny & Marie Saturday, July 22 In The Ballroom

In The Ballroom

P L A Y

I N

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 | S C O T T S D A L E | T A 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

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

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CONTENTS

28 ON THE COVER

THE ‘LOWE’DOWN Actor Rob Lowe loves his versatile career— one that spans Col. Sanders and a one-man show that he will unveil in Mesa.

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FOR THE (UNCOMMON) GOOD Jay Allan brings original music to a cover band scene.

THE AGONY AND THE EGGSTASY Peter Verros’ parents were a little upset when he decided to enter the restaurant business. For him, it was a right move.

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on the cover: Rob Lowe by Sam Jones / Trunk Archive; Mesa Arts Center

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

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

69 THE ‘GOLDEN’ RULE Paul Goldschmidt

scores not only on the ballfield, but the golf course as well.

CONTENTS THE METROPOLITAN

9

Top 25 • The Art of Wine and Tastes of Summer • Darron Thomas • Cinco de Mayo • Mother’s Day

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine steve@entertainermag.com

executive editor

Niki D’Andrea ndandrea@timespublications.com

editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com

art director

Erin Loukili erin@entertainermag.com

designer

Jaclyn Threadgill

circulation director

Aaron Kolodny aaron@entertainermag.com

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THE EXTRAORDINAIRE 17

INTO THE WOODS

“Wilderness” isn’t just part of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company’s name. It’s a way of life for the owners.

contributing writers Joseph J. Airdo, Alison Bailin Batz, Jordan Blitz, John Davis, Connor Dziawura, Israel Gonzalez, Kenneth LaFave, Maggie Leach, Megan Marples, Carson Mlnarik, Randy Montgomery, M.V. Moorhead, Kevin Palacios, Alison Stanton, Melissa Szenda.

Jay Allan • Bill Engvall

THE TOURIST

21

ONE COPY PER READER

Tour du Jour • Springtime Escapes • Sierra Vista

THE ARTIST

25

A Toast to the Rat Pack • Arts Calendar • Rob Lowe • Morgan James

THE CRITIC

32

Coming Attractions • Ask Our Experts! • The Report Card

THE DINER

35

Best Food Events in May • Happy Hour • Pita Jungle • Eggstasy • Arizona Restaurant Week • Miracle Mile Deli

THE CRAFTMASTER

47

Beer Over Here • Great Beer Pairings • BeerFinder Directory • Beertender • The Bar • Beer Gear • AmeriCAN • Yeast: The Soul of Beer • Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company

THE HIGHROLLER

63

Casino Entertainment Calendar • Best Casino Events in May • Tim Allen • Melissa Etheridge

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THE GLADIATOR

67

May’s Best Sports Events • Paul Goldschmidt

THE YOUNGSTER

71

The Funnel Cake • The Best Family Events in May • Sesame Street Live

THE SHOWMAN

75

Natasha Bedingfield • Live Music Calendar • Banana Gun

THE NIGHTOWL

81

Bassrush • The Best Nightlife Events for May • Mad Mixologist

THE THINKER You’re Not Gonna Believe This

84

ON THE

WEB

Check out The Entertainer!

Magazine’s website, entertainermag.com, to read additional interviews with Casey James, Kane Brown, Ann Wilson, New Found Glory, Fuel, Poptone, Living Colour, Kix Brooks, Blue October and Mother Mother, all of whom are coming to Arizona in May.

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:

480.348.0343

EX UN T R CO AO M RD M I ON NA R GR Y OU SK N IES D. .

SAVOR SIERRA VISTA MAY 25 – 29, 2017 Feed your passion during Savor Sierra Vista, a sampler platter of adventure and flavor. Enjoy Arizona’s best wine, beer and spirits; compete in the Sky Islands Summit Challenge; and relax to music under the stars.

Let your soul soar.

visit.SierraVistaAZ.gov | 800-288-3861

FULL P8

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE METROPOLITAN

9

PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE

Cinco De Mayo 14 Slithering Into Town 12 No Sour Grapes Here 11

TOP25 Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

The Weeknd

The Whole Story Part II

Just when it seems The Weeknd couldn’t get bigger, the Canadian singer/Selena Gomez’s boyfriend dropped Starboy and became a starboy himself. His third collection has spawned three singles: the title track, “I Feel It Coming” and “Party Monster.” Expect an energetic night with The Weeknd and openers Rae Sremmurd, Belly and 6lack.

The Phoenix Art Museum continues its series dedicated to broadening perspectives with personal stories that honor the black experience.

The show is directed by Rachel Egboro and will feature tales from various storytellers. The museum plans to continue the series throughout the year.

MAY 2

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, talkingstickresortarena.com, 7:30 p.m., sold out.

MAY 5

Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.1880, phxart.org, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10.

Bianca Del Rio: Not Today Satan Comedy Show MAY 5

Bianca Del Rio “slayed” the competition on the sixth season of TV’s favorite campy show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. Otherwise known as Roy Haylock, Del Rio brings sass, wit and a foul mouth in this zany stand-up comedy show. Hailed as “the Joan Rivers of the Drag World” by The New York Times, Del Rio leaves no stone unturned and Satan doesn’t have a chance!

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 7 p.m., $39.50-$201.

REO Speedwagon The ’70s are long gone, but if you feel you can’t fight your feelings for REO Speedwagon, check it out on its 50th anniversary tour. With a bundle of songs, including “Keep on Loving You” and “Take It On the Run,” you might even want to break out a lighter for this one.

MAY 3

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 7 p.m., $27-$82.

Trunk Space, 1124 N. Third Street, Phoenix, thetrunkspace. com, 8 a.m., $10.

MAY 5

Todrick Hall Todrick Hall is known for his participation in American Idol, MTV shows or Broadway’s Kinky Boots.

The 32-year-old singer, actor and dancer brings his visual Straight Outta Oz tour to Mesa, inspired by a combination of his rise to fame and The Wizard of Oz.

500th song is played.

Indie 500

MAY 6 TO MAY 7

Trunk Space turns 13 years old and, after a move across downtown Phoenix, the local music haunt resumes its Indie 500 program.

That’s when indie bands perform 500 songs. The concert begins at 8 a.m. sharp and continues until the

Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, 602.267.1600, celebritytheatre.com, 8 p.m., $50-$195.

Kentucky Derby Party MAY 6

Celebrate in style with Arizona’s only Kentucky Derby party, during which guests can watch, wager and

win with live local horses. Don’t forget the hats, glasses and a flair for over-the-top fashion. Bring your appetites because buffets will provide the eats.

Turf Paradise, 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.942.1101, turfparadise.com, 7:15 a.m., $5-$180.

Cinco De Mayo at Enchanted Island Amusement Park MAY 7

The local family amusement park parties for this Hispanic holiday with an authentic celebration of costumes, music, Ballet Folklorica and free candy-filled piñatas for kids. The park’s rides, geared for children ages 2 to 10, will be open as well, including the train, carousel, bumper boats and parachute tower.

Enchanted Island Amusement Park, 1202 W. Encanto Boulevard, Phoenix, 602.254.1200, enchantedisland. com, 11 a.m., $10.

Wanderlust 108 MAY 7

The “108” in the title stands for unity, wholeness and infinite love. The daylong celebration features a triathlon with a 5K run, then an outdoor yoga class and, finally, guided meditation.

Still not done? Tackle hooping or acroyoga afterward. Music, organic food and craft and several “Om”s are sure to fill the air.

Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480.270.5000, wanderlust.com, 7:30 a.m., $21-$49.08.

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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

National Public Gardens Day

An Evening with Kevin Smith

Chris Stapleton

John Legend

Everyone must visit the Desert Botanical Garden at least once, and May 12 is the perfect opportunity.

National Public Gardens Day, which celebrates acreage worldwide for their work in preserving garden life, offers discounts to guests. Make sure to catch the spring butterfly exhibit through May 14.

Kevin Smith is part writer, comedian, podcaster and director, with many films under his belt including Clerks and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. He recently released his third book and now gives fans the chance to get up close and personal with him.

Chris Stapleton has written more than 150 songs for artists like Adele, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley. Over the years, he’s stepped out of the songwriting sessions to present his own music, including the hit album Traveller and songs like “Nobody to Blame.” The singer-songwriter plays through it all, but expect an emphasis on songs from From a Room: Vol. 1, due out May 5.

John Legend stole everyone’s hearts with “All of Me.” Since its release, he’s appeared everywhere—the small screen, the silver screen in the award-winning La La Land and wife Chrissy Teigen’s Twitter posts. Catch the man with 10 Grammys doing what he does best: crooning behind a piano at the intimate Comerica Theatre.

MAY 12

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, 7 a.m., $12.95-$24.95.

Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends MAY 12

Actor Rob Lowe is testing a oneman show based on his book Stories I Only Tell My Friends at the Mesa Arts Center on May 12. The actor, known for The Outsiders, West Wing and Parks and Rec, brings his theories of life and his penchant for connecting with fans in a funny, insightful and engaging way.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 8 p.m., $30-$165.

MAY 13

Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix.standuplive.com, 9:30 p.m., $37.

Chris Brown MAY 15

Everyone is watching Chris Brown to see how he bounces back with his The Party Tour in preparation for his eighth studio album. Rest assured that while Brown will play new hits like “Party,” which features Usher and Gucci Mane, he will touch on older tracks like “With You” and “Kiss Kiss.”

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2000, talkingstickresortarena.com, 7:30 p.m., $25.20-$420.25.

Train with Natasha Bedingfield and O.A.R. MAY 16

Music of John Williams MAY 12 TO MAY 14

One of the most popular American composers, John Williams has scored classic films like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Jaws. The Phoenix Symphony tackles some of these iconic tunes.

Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, 602.262.6225, phoenixsymphony.org, times vary, $45-$90.

Pick a Train song, any Train song!

Are you going to go for “Hey Soul Sister” or “Pay That Song” or “Drops of Jupiter?” Or even a Zeppelin cover? What about a cut from its new album Play That Song? The band has a stable of hits from which to choose. The fun will start with the openers, the bubbly Natasha Bedingfield and rockers O.A.R.

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.7200, livenation.com, 7 p.m., $18.75-$179.

AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Fest

Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix, 602.534.2407, bit.ly/2oxSGzJ, noon, $20-$35.

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous MAY 20

He was The Comeback Kid in his last Netflix special, but with this tour, he’s gorgeous. The Saturday Night Live writer has multiple specials on Netflix and Comedy Central as well as an impressive number of Emmy noms and wins for his confident, detail-oriented comedy.

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort.com, 8 p.m., $129-$283.

The Book of Mormon MAY 18 TO MAY 28

Back by popular demand is the hit Broadway musical created in part by writers from South Park.

This musical follows a pair of mismatched, raunchy missionaries sent halfway across the world.

MAY 24

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.379.2800, comericatheatre. com, 7:30 p.m., $52.50-$377.

Phoenix Comicon MAY 25 TO MAY 28

Nerds rejoice! Phoenix Comicon infiltrates the Phoenix Convention Center for the best in panels and exhibitions. This year brings an impressive lineup of celebrity guests including Jenna Coleman, Bonnie Wright from Harry Potter, Joan Cusack and Danny Trejo from Machete.

Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third Street, Phoenix, 602.262.6225, phoenixcomicon. com, times vary, $20-$299.

An Evening with J.K. Simmons MAY 23

Simmons’ face has been all over since Whiplash, Juno and last year’s La La Land—and you can’t forget the Law and Order franchise. He is downsizing his venue a bit to have an informal conversation with his brother, Desert Foothills Theatre’s production manager, and fans.

Simmons will share fun stories and memories.

FCF Holland Cabaret Theatre, 34250 N. 60th Street, Building B, Scottsdale, 480.488.1981, dftheater.org, 4:30 p.m., $17-$22.

MAY 23 TO JUNE 10

ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe, 480.965.3434, asugammage.com, times vary, $30-$315.

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Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix, 602.254.7200, livenation.com, 7 p.m., $30.75-$207.

Topia Ballet at Desert Botanical Garden

MAY 13

This festival gives anyone 21 and older the chance to celebrate canned craft beer. Featuring more than 250 canned craft beers from around the country, the festival has a beer science garden, Olympic games and a canned craft beer competition.

MAY 19

Ballet and dance create a new emotive experience in front of the Papago Mountains, completely immersed in the desert night. Topia Ballet fuses Ballet Arizona and the Desert Botanical Garden for a relaxing recital.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 602.381.1096, balletaz.org, various times, $36-$80.

The Total Package Tour: NKOTB with Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men MAY 26

Some of the biggest boy bands in pop music, NKOTB and Boyz II Men, unite with resident diva and former American Idol judge, Paula Abdul.

Whether you’re a sucker for Donnie or love Nathan from Boyz II Men, you’ll relive the days of cassette tapes and CDs for one night.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, talkingstickresortarena.com, 7:30 p.m., $51.60-$131.60.

Modest Mouse MAY 31

This alternative rock band was hipster before hipster was a thing.

The Washington-based group is behind radio hits like “Float On” and “Dashboard.” They bring a live show that is eclectic and quirky enough to match their honest lyrics. Expect to even hear a few new tunes from their highly anticipated release.

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 8 p.m., $40-$43.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

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Uncork and unwind while supporting Scottsdale Arts

A

Jordan Blitz » The Entertainer!

J’s Fine Foods and the Scottsdale Arts are toasting the arts community by hosting AJ’s The Art of Wine and Tastes of Summer on Saturday, May 20.

Oenophiles will have the chance to taste more than 40 wines—all selected

by AJ’s Fine Foods’ cellar masters—that will be complemented by gourmet specialties from the store, including artisanal cheeses and breads, shrimp cocktail, sushi and sweets. The wines will be offered in the stores starting May 15.

“We’re thrilled to partner and support Scottsdale Arts during this highly anticipated wine-tasting event, all benefiting the arts,” says Jayson Mead, director of operations for AJ’s Fine Foods.

“Our entire AJ’s Fine Foods team will share the Valley’s greatest selections of wine, hand-selected by our cellar masters. All of the wines featured will

CHOP WOK AND

also be available for purchase at a price point that makes it perfect for building your wine collection without breaking the bank.”

Proceeds from AJ’s The Art of Wine and Tastes of Summer will benefit the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts, which provides arts and education programs through Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Scottsdale Public Art.

AJ’s The Art of Wine and Tastes of Summer

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, $35 for Scottsdale Arts members, $40 for the general public.

Featuring the

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SLITHERING

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QB Darron Thomas is at the center of refined Rattlers team

Israel Gonzalez » The Entertainer!

W

hen Arizona Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila retired to become a coach in December, it seemed to mark the end of an era.

Who could replace Davila, who anchored the team to five ArenaBowl appearances in the last six years?

In stepped Oregon Ducks star QB Darron Thomas.

“Stepping behind him, it’s some big shoes to fill,” Thomas says. “One thing Arizona did have for the last eight years is a great quarterback. A great leader.”

Thomas, who led the Ducks to a 2011 BCS National Championship appearance and won the 2012 Rose Bowl, was just one of the many changes the Rattlers embraced this offseason.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

He frequently changed rosters and even earned a reputation for it early in his career, he says.

“When we were in AFL, we were changing over 50 percent of our roster all the time,” Guy says. “This year we just had to turn over probably 85 percent of our roster. We just had to do a little more.”

Thomas, who had 5,642 passing yards in two years as a starter for the Ducks, was one of the Rattlers’ main offseason targets.

“He was a big piece we wanted to get out in the offseason,” Guy says.

“What he brings to the table is he can make all the throws and uses his feet to win ball games. The sky is the limit for him.”

The Rattlers also joined a new league, the Indoor Football League (IFL), leaving the Arena Football League (AFL), where they had been a member since 1992.

“I think change is good. You have to embrace it,” says Kevin Guy, the Rattlers’ general manager and head coach. “We have been to five of the last six championship games in AFL. You’re always fighting complacency and the change gave us a fresh start.”

The IFL features many rule changes from the AFL, including fewer restrictions on defense, two receivers in motion instead of one, and a ruleset that encourages more athletic quarterbacks, Guy says. In turn, the team drafted for a true running back and safety—spots it didn’t have to fill before.

The Rattlers only retained five players from last year’s roster. But flipping the roster is nothing new to Guy.

MEET THE NEW QUARTERBACK Thomas was raised by a single mother in Houston and has been playing football since he was 4. The sport was one of the few escapes he had while growing up.

“I always loved football,” Thomas says, with a big smile. “I’m from nowhere. I’m from a big city, but not a good area. All I had to lean on was sports, football and things like that.”

Thomas continued pursuing football, but never thought he could do it professionally until high school, when he met coach Bob Jones. It was Jones’ idea to have Thomas, a running back, change to quarterback his junior year. Thomas credits Jones with helping him off the field, too.

“For him to come along and really just grab ahold of me and teach me what I need to know, he really opened the doors for everything,” Thomas says.

Thomas graduated from high school early and went off to college at 17. He was a five-star rated player but came out as a four-star recruit out of high school. Thomas received more than 40 offers from colleges and initially committed to Louisiana State University. He later decommitted because the school pursued multiple quarterbacks and, when he needed advice, Jones was there again.

“My high school coach really opened my eyes about the type of quarterback I was going to be and the style of quarterback I was going to be,” Thomas says. “He told me Oregon is the school I should go with.”

Going to college far away from home at a young age helped shape Thomas, whose family was uncomfortable at first with him being alone.

They eventually loved it when his success grew.

“I was a quiet guy being a sponge,” Thomas says. “It helped me really grow, come into a man. Oregon was a great time.”

Thomas eventually won the starting job at Oregon in 2010 where he played under head coach Chip Kelly.

Thomas had a stellar college career. In two years as a starter, he finished with a 24-3 record for the Ducks, threw for 63 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, and led Oregon to a 45-38 win over Wisconsin in the 2012 Rose Bowl.

Many of the same winning characteristics in the Oregon system can be seen in the Rattlers organization, Thomas says.

“Coach Guy talks about it all the time,” Thomas says. “He talks about the same things that my college coach was talking about when he was trying to get us on that winning path.”

After his 2012 Rose Bowl win, Thomas seemed poised to take on the football world. Instead of finishing his last year in Oregon he decided to enter the 2012 NFL draft. His ascendance into the football world stopped. He went undrafted.

“It was a learning experience.

Things were happening so fast,” Thomas says. “I moved to quarterback my junior year. The year after, I was a five-star rated player. Went to college and dominated college football. I’m like, ‘Wow.’ But I knew something was going to happen.”

After failing to ink an NFL contract, Thomas became a journeyman quarterback for a variety of football organizations in different leagues before landing in the AFL in 2013. He tightened those Oregon ties and joined the Portland Thunder, now known as Portland Steel.

“I got to Portland with so many expectations,” Thomas says. “The fans wanted to see me play. Everybody wanted to see me play.”

But after a slow start, Thomas was relegated to back-up and saw little playing time.

“I had a coach every year and I had to prove myself every year,” Thomas says. “So, I never got that stability that I wanted.”

While playing in Portland, the Rattlers and their success always caught Thomas’ attention.

“We had to play against Arizona Rattlers year in and year out. That was the bad thing,” Thomas says with a laugh. “I don’t think we ever beat them.

I lost to them a total of 11 times—0-11 versus the Rattlers. This is the team that

13

everybody wants to be like.”

Thomas eventually got the break he needed when he was contacted by Guy. “He called me. He told me he was considering me to play,” Thomas says. “I told him I’ll get a contract to you by the morning. It was kind of a no-brainer.”

Thomas did not know if he would start and did not care if Davila was going to be the guy. He just wanted to go and learn, he says.

Fast forward and Thomas is playing for what he calls the best football team in the league, the Rattlers. The 6-foot 3-inch, 215-pound athlete is No. 4 in passing touchdowns with 12 and No. 5 in passing yards per game with 138.3.

Guy had nothing but praise for Thomas since he joined the organization.

“He has a great attitude. He works hard. He’s a team guy,” Guy says. “He doesn’t care if we have to throw the ball or run the ball to win the game. He just cares about winning. He’s unselfish.”

But replacing a legend like Davila isn’t easy and comes with a lot of pressure, Thomas says. However, their relationship is great.

“I thought it was going to be kind of weird,” Thomas admits. “He’s always been a great guy since day one. I can call this guy at 1 in the morning. He’s a football guy. That’s one thing I like about him: He’s all football. Any question I ask him, he thought about.”

Thomas says he is learning and soaking in everything he can from Davila. Thomas believes he can eventually reach near the same level as Davila.

“When I throw 100 touchdowns in a season, I’ll start talking about being in Nick’s category,” Thomas says jokingly.

“Once I learn everything I need to learn I can be kind of like Nick.”

While he’s not there yet, Thomas and the Rattlers’ are boasting a respectable 4-4 record, as of April 27. Thomas knows they have more work to do.

“We know this is a championship team but we haven’t been champions,” Thomas says. “We are all focused on what we came here to be. I’m a championship guy. I know what the organization wants. I know what I got myself into.”

Arizona Rattlers

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, through June 16. For tickets, call 602.379.7800 or visit azrattlers.com.

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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

CINCO DE MAYO

From cupcakes to traditional tacos, locals know how to celebrate

Sprinkles

Jordan Blitz » The Entertainer!!

Taco Tuesday has become an almost religious experience; an excuse to have a early-week fiesta.

It’s only natural for Cinco de Mayo to be the Olympics of Tacos and Tequila and, luckily, Arizona is a hot spot for holiday festivities.

Here are some of the best places to fiesta like there’s no mañana.

BLK Live

“Rock out” this Cinco de Mayo at BLK Live while enjoying ground beef, shrimp, pork, fish or chicken tacos served with a side of spicy mayo street corn for $10 per plate.

Pair the tacos with a $5 margarita “Cinco de Drinko” special, and jam to Max V from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour specials will be offered from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. to keep the party going all night.

BLK Live, 7301 E. Butherus Drive, Scottsdale, 480.494.5069, blkliveaz.com.

CRUjiente Tacos

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo for afterwork margaritas, tequila shots, happy hour or dinner at CRUjiente Tacos. The eatery offers happy hour deals daily, and Cinco de Mayo is no different: $5 premier CRU margaritas, $4 chips and salsa, $7 queso, $7 chips and guacamole, $3 pork belly taco and $3 Korean fried chicken.

Also available will be CRU’s signature crunchy and street-style tacos, including tempura avocado, crunchy lamb, blue crab and mole duck.

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

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Kelly’s at Southbridge

Kelly’s is making a weekend out of Cinco de Mayo, by serving its Kelly’s Pomarita, which puts a twist on the traditional drink, with Roca Patrón Plata, La Pinta pomegranate, simple syrup, soda and limes. Also on the menu are short-rib tacos and rock shrimp ceviche. Kelly’s at Southbridge is an upscale 8,000-square-foot restaurant that offers traditional pub classics mixed with exceptional modern cuisine and the perfect laid-back atmosphere.

Kelly’s at Southbridge, 7117 E. Sixth Avenue, Scottsdale, 480.393.3205, kellysatsouthbridge.com.

Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen Guests at the Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen can order the Uptown Rita, the gastropub’s version of a margarita, or a red sangria for $5 on Cinco de Mayo.

Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen, 5813 N. Seventh Street, Suite 140, Phoenix, 602.313.8713, centralkitchenaz.com.

Social Tap Eatery

Downtown Scottsdale’s neighborhood eatery, Social Tap, is hosting its one-year anniversary in conjunction with Cinco de Mayo.

Attendees can enjoy $2.50 mix-andmatch tacos, $2 tacquitos, $6 frozen margaritas and $4 pints of Dos Equis from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be live music and admission is free.

Social Tap Eatery, 4312 N. Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, 602.432.6719, socialtapscottsdale.com.

Make sure to save room for dessert!

Check out Sprinkes’ Casamigos margarita cupcake from May 1 to May 31. This key lime cake is loaded with Casamigos Blanco Tequila and topped with key lime frosting.

George Clooney and Rande Gerber’s award-winning Casamigos Tequila is a small-batch, ultra-premium tequila made from 100 percent blue weber agaves.

Sprinkles, 4501 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.970.4321, sprinkles.com.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

The three Valley locations will offer their blood orange margarita, which features El Jimador Tequila, blood orange puree, agave nectar, muddled oranges and limes and sweet and sour. This is the perfect complement to Thirsty Lion’s Baja fish tacos.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 1041, Tempe; 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 1423, Scottsdale; 2212 E. Williams Field Road, SanTan Village Gilbert, thirstyliongastropub.com.

Uptown Alley

Uptown Alley doesn’t limit its Cinco de Mayo to one day. The entertainment center will serve three street tacos for $5, Three Amigos margaritas for $5 and Coronas for $3 from Monday, May 1, to Sunday, May 7. This 60,000-square-foot family entertainment venue features bowling, an arcade, two-level laser tag, a lounge and a full-service restaurant.

Uptown Alley, 13525 N. Litchfield Road, Surprise, 623.975.7529, uptownalleysurprise.com.

PHOENIX

INSIDER Hey Mama Kevin Palacios » The Entertainer!

Mother’s Day allocates a special day to celebrate and give thanks to moms around the world for all they do. At times, we don’t see all the incredible things that moms do daily. It seems like moms have “super woman” capabilities and for that we deserve to spoil them.

This Mother’s Day changes things up and give her a day that she will never forget.

Carlson Creek Vineyard

Local winery Carlson Creek Vineyard is offering complimentary wine

tasting and cake bites for all moms at its Scottsdale and Willcox tasting rooms. Have your mom try Carlson’s best-selling Sweet Adeline Riesling, named after Carlson’s grandmother, that might be as sweet as her.

Scottsdale Tasting Room, 4142 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, 480.947.0636, carlsoncreek.com, noon to 8 p.m., free.

Willcox Tasting Room, 115 Railview Avenue, Willcox, 520.766.3000, carlsoncreek.com, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free.

Super Chunk’s Meringue Bouquets

This Mother’s Day, try something other than the traditional candy and flowers. Super Chunk’s Meringue

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

Bouquets is offering its signature item, cloud-like confections arranged in four flavors: rose raspberry, violet plum, poppy orgeat and lavender honey, all of which retail for $5.99. These bouquets are available daily through Mother’s Day. Super Chunk also offers smaller fruit-flavored meringues with flavors like green apple, peach and sour cherry for $4.99.

Super Chunk Sweets & Treats, 7120 E. Sixth Avenue, Suite 19, Scottsdale, 602.736.2383, superchunk.me, call for hours, $4.99 to $5.99.

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conservatory with more than 3,000 butterflies that visitors can see in their natural state. Inside the atrium, you will also find flowers, plants and trees that allow you to see butterflies from around the world. Mothers receive $2 off admission and a special gift for the first 200 to arrive.

Butterfly Wonderland, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.800.3000, butterflywonderland.com, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., $12.95- $19.95.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Spend the afternoon at the ballpark as the Diamondbacks take on the Pirates. In honor of Mother’s Day, the first 10,000 moms will receive a clutch and players will sport pink on their uniforms.

Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com, 1:10 p.m., $12-$130.

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THE EXTRAORDINAIRE

17

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

FOR THE

(UNCOMMON) GOOD Jay Allan brings original music to a cover band scene Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

P

rolific Valley musician Jay Allan likens his childhood to Almost Famous.

Turned onto music by his older brother, Joe, Allan absconded with his sibling’s Guns N’ Roses tapes and sat on the floor of his room, just like Patrick Fugit’s character in the 2000 Cameron Crowe film.

Allan explains those scenarios bum him out.

“Now, it’s the days of singles and ADD,” he says. “I’m guilty of it as well.

I look at my phone too damn much.”

That isn’t dissuading the towering multi-instrumentalist from recording a new album or two. On the heels of his 2015 self-titled album as Jay Allan and The Uncommon Good, and his 2011 solo album, Conductor, he is ready to return to the studio.

“When we released Jay Allan and The Uncommon Good, people asked me where they could download it,” he says.

“I said I had the hard copy right there.

You know what they said? I’ll just throw the CD away when we download it.”

Musicians have a tough time making it in the Valley—namely those who perform original tunes. Allan knows, as

he regularly plays around the state.

“It’s a cover band kind of town,” Allan says wistfully. “That’s where the money is, unfortunately. It’s a labor of love with an original band.

“We get some good, high-profile gigs, though. For the most part, showcase gigs are good for just making gas money. Rock Bar in Old Town, that’s our home turf, where we developed as a band. But I’d rather play ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ every night instead of digging ditches or answering phones.”

LONGTIME LOVE Allan’s brother not only piqued his interest in music with Guns N’ Roses, but he took him to his first shows, which included Van Halen, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. His eyes really opened when he saw the Grateful Dead at age 15 in Las Vegas.

“It made me want to see and be a part of a lot of those shows,” he says.

“I started messing around playing bass with some friends in high school. I was in punk bands, but I loved Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, too.”

His other hobby was extreme sports, until he broke both shoulders in a snowboarding accident his senior year at Horizon High School.

“It put the fear in me,” Allan says

with a laugh. “I didn’t want to throw myself off giant jumps anymore. I was really into music and found an affinity for it playing bass. I’m a rhythmically drawn person.

He relocated to Los Angeles to attend Loyola Marymount University, where he got his start in music. Allan lied about his age to get into Brennan’s Pub in Marina Del Rey to watch two musicians play Grateful Dead tunes.

“I said, ‘Hey man, I play bass. Can I join your band?’” Allan says. “I did, and later they told me that I sucked but I was so excited that they couldn’t turn me away. After two weeks of jamming, I started playing with them.”

Every Wednesday, he played with the band, dubbed Cowspace.

“That’s when I got the bug,” he says.

Allan, who’s now inspired by the likes of Tom Waits and Umphrey’s McGee, took off in a van and toured the United States. He returned penniless.

“I learned what it meant to really go on tour,” he says.

He honed his skills and landed a job at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences’ Tempe campus as a studio musician. Every three weeks, he works with students in the band and overdub clinics.

In 2015, he cut Jay Allan and The Uncommon Good. Allan’s live shows are heavy on the lap steel guitar, which he builds with his father. He calls his music “Ben Harper meets the Black Crowes meets Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson.”

“The lap steel is a signature part of my solo stuff,” he says. “I do the looping. I’ll throw that in and a little analog beat thing that I have. I’ve started to form my own sound over the last year and a half.

Allan is an avid supporter of the local scene.

“There’s such great talent here in town,” he says. “It’s a shame that sometimes we get pigeonholed into that cover thing. There are a lot more events that showcase original music. At Center Stage (at Hyatt Gainey Ranch), we all play our own tunes. You can go there and see a really good production of original music. People can enjoy it in a beautiful setting.”

Allan is proud of how far he has come since the days of listening to cassettes.

“I’m pretty kick ass at my job,” he says with a smile. “I’m getting to do good gigs. I deserve this. It feels great.

It’s been self-affirming. I know I’m on a good track.”

Jay Allan performs regularly around town (jayallanmusic.com).

Spotlight shows are: Jay Allan and The Uncommon Good w/The Runner-Up and Gene Pool, Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.271.7000, lastexitlive.com, 9 p.m. to midnight Thursday, May 4, $8.

Jay Allan Acoustic, Center Stage at Hyatt Gainey Ranch, 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, 480.444.1234, http:// bit.ly/2ox7yLJ, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays May 8 and May 15, call for cover information.

Jay Allan and the Uncommon Good, Rock Bar, 4245 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, 480.331.9190, rockbarscottsdale. com, 9 p.m. Friday, May 27, call for cover information.

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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

JUST SELL HIM FOR PARTS

Comedian Bill Engvall finds peace in aging, even though his body says otherwise Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

W

hen Bill Engvall served as a contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2013, he was a fan favorite. Engvall suffered the usual slew of injuries, but he was inspired. In November, he released the comedy special Just Sell Him for Parts, dedicated to the time on Dancing and afterward.

“The title came out of my experience on Dancing with the Stars,” says Engvall, a Texan who spent his junior high school years in Winslow.

“I tore my groin, pulled a hamstring and messed up my knee during the run of it. After it, I had to have my knee replaced. Two weeks later, I had shingles. Two weeks after that, I had a kidney stone. I told my wife that I didn’t even want to go to the doctor anymore.

I was afraid they’d look at me and say they’re going to sell me for parts.”

He chalks it up to a divine mistake.

“That’s the only place God messed up,” he says. “When we turn 50, we should have been rewarded, as opposed to, ‘You’re 50 and life is going to start sucking now.’”

Engvall, who will soon turn 60, surpassed the troubles and is returning to Arizona to hit the stages at the Fox Tucson Theatre and Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale on Saturday, May 20, and Friday, June 9, respectively.

“I still have friends in the area,” Engvall says. “I’ve always liked Arizona, so those are really easy jobs for me. I’ll get my Arizona fix.”

Engvall is one of the most successful entertainers in the business, having been a part of the Blue Collar Comedy concert films and several television shows and movies. The former DJ is also a multiplatinum, Grammy-nominated recording artist. Engvall, who lives in Utah with his wife, says his age and experiences are catching up to him.

“I have been doing the standup thing for 35 years,” he says.

“Unfortunately, times are changing. I WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

just released a record, but it’s all digital streaming now. People my age and older, unfortunately, don’t know what digital streaming is. I say to go to Vudu and people look at you like, ‘What?!’

That’s been a difficult transition for me.”

Sure, it’s confusing to him, but it’s great fodder for shows.

“When I come down there, one of my opening jokes is about my complete hatred of cellphones,” he says. “They’ve ruined our society. I just see us heading down a rabbit hole that we’re never going to come out of. Pretty soon they’ll be putting chips in our heads when we’re born.”

Engvall says he recalls actually dialing phones and chatting with friends and family. If they weren’t available, he left messages. No texting; no social media.

“I was telling my wife the other day, I’m so glad I grew up in a period that wasn’t like this,” he says. “I grew up in the no cellphone, no social media kind of world.

“I’m in a real transitionary phase.

In this transition, I’m trying to accept this new world while hanging on to mine and I’m losing. We’ve become this ‘I gotta have it right now’ generation. I don’t know where we’re headed, but it’s made for some great material.”

He shares this at his shows and as part of his weekly podcast, My 2 Cents.

“That’s basically what it is: My 2 cents,” he says. “I did one last night where I talked about where we were when certain events happened. I can go back in my life and pick big events that happened, like the JFK assassination or the first man on the moon, and know exactly where I was.”

The topic came on the heels of a comment made by Jim Nantz about golf fans remembering where they were when Sergio Garcia won the 2017 Masters.

“He won a golf tournament,” he emphasizes. “It wasn’t like the second coming here. Sometimes I have guests on my show. I set it up like I’m sitting around the breakfast table having coffee and talking about the subject of the day. If there’s a dog barking in the background, fine.”

The career pace is also fine for Engvall.

“I’m at that age when if someone wants to give me a TV show, great,” he says. “If not, that’s fine, too. I don’t live and die by that anymore. I would like to try a TV series again, or maybe do independent movies to keep the acting up.

“Other than that, I’m just digging life. We live up in Utah. I’m ready for the warm weather to get here so I can hike, bike, fish, camp and play golf. I’m a big outdoors person.”

Engvall admits that the aging process is still a little concerning.

“But there’s a great peace that comes with it,” he says. “I’m not 30.

I don’t care what people think anymore. When I’m 85, they’ll say, ‘Well, he’s 85. He’s earned the right to say that.’”

Bill Engvall

Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress, Tucson, foxtucson.com, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, $35$89; Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 8 p.m. Friday, June 9, $45-$120.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE TOURIST

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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

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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

SPRINGTIME ESCAPES Favorite spots to spend the season

Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

S

pring break might be over, but there are still some great seasonal escapes worth taking advantage of just a few hours from the Valley. Here are some of our favorites.

TUCSON – JW MARRIOTT STARR PASS Just two hours south of the Valley, Tucson is best known as UA Wildcat country. Rivalry with ASU aside, the area is full of hiking, biking, breweries and one of Arizona’s top resorts for staycations, The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort.

Nestled on 50 acres in the saguaro-covered foothills of Tucson National

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Park with panoramic views of the city, the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is situated in Tucson National Park’s foothills. The resort features 575 guest accommodations including 35 luxuriously appointed suites, six dining experiences, the 20,000-square-foot Hashani Spa, fitness center, 27 holes of Arnold Palmer signature golf and the Starr Pass Golf Club, tennis and access to multiple hiking and biking trails on property.

A collection of outdoor water features that complement the resort’s natural surroundings include multilevel swimming pools, a waterslide, lazy river, reflection pool and dancing fountains.

In addition, the resort pays homage to local and regional history with several “rituals” that have become staycation favorites. Among them, “The Legend of Arriba, Abajo,” which takes place at 5:30 p.m. daily on the terrace. During the program, guests gather to watch the sunset and experience an interactive tequila toast, done to the story of Arriba, Abajo. The story, told by the Marriott team, begins with the tradition of a man asking his beloved’s father for her hand in marriage. Fearing losing his daughter, the father devised a plan to keep that from happening: a tequila-drinking challenge. Guests listen in delight to the legendary tale and come together in the toast, “Arriba, Abajo, al Centro, al Dentro, Salud!” (Up, down, out and in), each getting the opportunity to taste one of the resort’s 150 tequilas. http://bit.ly/Z8JpxX

CABO SAN LUCAS – PUEBLO BONITO SUNSET BEACH Cabo San Lucas is among the easiest ways to hit the beach this spring or summer. It’s only a 90-minute flight from the Valley. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean in sun-kissed Cabo San Lucas, family-friendly Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is an all-inclusive luxury resort blissfully secluded on a private coastal bluff. The picture-perfect location offers

tranquil seclusion and convenient access to the vibrant downtown corridor of Cabo San Lucas, including prestigious golf courses and beaches. The resort was designed so everything – from cliffside pools to exotic dining options (including a world-renowned steak house) to a luxurious spa – within steps of one’s room. The resort even operates its own medical clinic. pueblobonito.com For those looking to get off property for a little adventure, guests are covered. Perhaps the most unique experience to the area is swimming with whale sharks. And there isn’t a better operator in the area than Island Cat Baja. The tour operator provides full transportation to and from the resort, and boasts private and semi-private whale shark swimming experiences on a full-service luxury catamaran. The boat includes a private chef, bartender, on-site marine biologist (who jumps in the water first to find the sharks), all equipment and a professional photographer. islandcatbaja.com

ROCKY POINT – BELLA SIRENA Prefer a drive to the beach? Just four hours via car, Rocky Point has long been Phoenicians’ top way to escape South of the Border without hopping on a plane. In recent years, more than a dozen resorts – all offering all-inclusive packages – have popped up, each more luxurious than the next. A favorite – and sister property to the popular Las Palomas Resort next door – is Bella Sirena. Every Bella Sirena Resort Condominium has a panoramic view of the ocean and the unique landscapes that surround Rocky Point. It also has full kitchens, tennis courts, highend bars, pool parties, live music and on-site dining. Visually, desert sands meet the crystal-blue ocean to create seemingly endless miles of sandy beach, thanks to the resort’s positioning.

With crystal-clear negative-edge pools, elegant courtyards and tropical trees, it is quickly becoming the height of luxury in the area. The front desk team is also specially equipped to ensure guests have easy access to area attractions, including seaside massages, jet skis and whale watching.

SIERRA

VISTA

The city is the perfect getaway in the spring and summer Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

W

hether it’s a day trip or an active long weekend, Sierra Vista has something for everyone.

“At the base of the 9,400-foot Huachuca Mountains, Sierra Vista enjoys bright, sunny days and star-studded nights,” says Mary Jacobs, Sierra Vista’s assistant city manager. “Sierra Vista’s 4,600-foot elevation means the average daytime temperature is about 74 degrees – and rarely exceeds 100 degrees even during the height of the summer months.”

This makes Sierra Vista, which is less than three hours from Phoenix, a cool respite from summer’s hot climates and a delightful escape from winter’s chill.

Here is a rundown on what to expect in Sierra Vista.

RAMSEY CANYON PRESERVE The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Preserve is world-renowned, thanks to the interplay of geology, biology, topography and climate that create a diverse habitat for plant and animal life. The 280-acre preserve provides a haven for over 170 varieties of birds, including 14 species of hummingbirds. Inside the Visitor Center at Ramsey Canyon Preserve is the kidfriendly “Please Touch” room with bird nests, snake skins and other wildlife bits.

FORT HUACHUCA MUSEUM Still an active military installation, Fort Huachuca was established in 1877 to defend American settlers and protect Mexico from Apache attacks. Those who mustered there in the early years quelled Apache raids, tracked and captured Geronimo, and tangled with the likes of Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa. The Fort Museum, located on Fort Huachuca, commemorates more than 150 years of history, from the first attempts to tame the territory in 1846 to World War II.

STREET BIKING Hopping in the saddle — the bicycle saddle — and exploring southeast Arizona is easier than almost anywhere else in the

nation. Whether your bike has skinny tires or knobby ones, or you ride astride a single-speed cruiser, Sierra Vista is the place to start your bicycle adventure.

Road cyclists looking for long, winding roads with low traffic can’t beat the stretches of asphalt in and around Sierra Vista. Whatever direction you ride, you’ll find a constantly changing landscape and expansive mountain views along the way.

The Bisbee Loop (60.8 miles) circles from Sierra Vista through this historic copper mining town that saw its boom in the 1880s. Bike-friendly and funky, Bisbee is known for its many art galleries, upscale and down-home eateries and coffee houses, and independent specialty shops.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

SAN PEDRO RIPARIAN NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA With nearly 40 miles of riparian vegetation, this 56,000-acre area is teeming with plant and animal life. Highly popular with bird watchers (more than half of the known breeding bird species in the United States have been spotted here), visitors can hike solo or choose from regularly scheduled bird, interpretive, and river walks led by docents from the San Pedro House.

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians and dogs are welcome.

PARKER CANYON LAKE Tucked between gently rolling hills of the Sonoita Wine Country and surrounded by the western Huachuca

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Mountains, this 132-acre lake and recreation site offers fully ADA-accessible fishing opportunities (fishing license required). The marina has a deep angled boat ramp; boats are limited to one 10-horsepower motor. Adjacent 65-unit campground; $10 per day.

SAVOR SIERRA VISTA One of the region’s biggest events, Savor Sierra Vista, takes place Thursday, May 25, to Monday, May 29, and includes live concerts, the Sky Island Summit Challenge – a one-, two- or three-peak hiking challenge – and even a local wine, beer and spirits festival.

For more information on visiting Sierra Vista, or Savor Sierra Vista in May, visit.sierravistaaz.gov.

MOUNTAIN BIKING Mountain bikers can find miles of single track trails in the Huachuca Mountains, just a short ride from your hotel. One of the most popular jumping on points is along Ramsey Canyon Road at Brown Canyon Ranch. The Brown Canyon Trail gains about 1,900 feet in elevation and connects with the Hamburg Trail, making a nice loop ride; be sure to take the well-traveled jog to avoid the Miller Peak Wilderness Area. Popular with experienced riders, Brown Canyon gets a little gnarly with the elevation gain and rocky terrain, but the rewards are breathtaking views and smooth, flatter trails in open areas. A gentler ride is the Perimeter Trail, gaining only 834 feet in an 8.5-mile loop.

HIKING Sierra Vista marks the southern terminus of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, an 820-mile cross-state route that traverses mountains, deserts, canyons, forests and communities from Mexico to Utah. Along the way, you’ll experience some of the most breathtaking landscapes in North America. The trail is free and open every day with easy on and off points for day hikes or longer treks. Ash Canyon is also a popular option, and easily accessible by car. It offers three separate habitats: Chihuahuan Desert grassland, riparian woodland and oak forest.

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UPCOMING CONCERTS AT THE MIM MUSIC THEATER MARCIA BALL

CHRIS HILLMAN & HERB PEDERSEN

Wednesday, May 10 | 7:00 p.m.

Friday, June 2 | 7:30 p.m.

“Rollicking, playful, good time blues and intimate, reflective balladry . . . her songs ring with emotional depth.”

—Rolling Stone

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Chris Hillman joins legendary recording session ace Herb Pedersen for a night of Americana, bluegrass, acoustic, and country music.

JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO Friday, May 12 | 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.

“His performance throughout, as both vocalist and guitarist, is exceptional.”

—Billboard

RENÉ MARIE Wednesday, May 17 | 7:00 p.m.

“Vocalists like the one and only René Marie deserve to be measured for their originality in voice, spirit and song.”

—All About Jazz

THE SWEET REMAINS Sunday, May 21 | 7:00 p.m.

Three gifted and charismatic singersongwriters create “hushed, smooth folkpop . . . a smooth take on Crosby, Stills & Nash and James Taylor.”

—Time Out New York

LISA FISCHER Thursday, May 25 | 7:30 p.m. “[A] wondrous instrument that can seamlessly blend classical, jazz, soul, gospel, rock and folk.”

—Minneapolis Star Tribune

MORGAN JAMES Saturday, June 3 | 7:00 p.m.

A vocal powerhouse with a sensational band, she’s “a phenomenal talent whose feel for classic soul music is bone deep.”

—New York Times

HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN Sunday, June 4 | 7:00 p.m.

“Unfussy and unpretentious, their blend of down-home melodies and exuberant improvisation harks back to a lost era of so-called western swing.”

—Times (London)

JACKIE GREENE Mon. & Tue., June 5 & 6 | 7:00 p.m.

“Purity of songwriting, the kind that doesn’t require anything more than a back porch to reproduce.”

—Phoenix New Times

CHRIS POTTER QUARTET Thursday, June 8 | 7:30 p.m.

“The most commandingly skilled saxophonist of his generation.”

—New York Times

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 MAY 2017

THE ARTIST

25

CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

LONGTIME INSPIRATION

THAT’S AMORE! Andy DiMino loves his role as Dean Martin in A Toast to the Rat Pack

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

A

ndy DiMino has been called “the quintessential crooner.”

After a varied career that took him to Hollywood clubs and Colorado ski lodges, the Southern California native moved to Las Vegas, where he discovered his inner Dean Martin.

For the last 14 years, he has been one-third of A Toast to the Rat Pack, a tribute act that comes to the Chandler Center for the Arts Sunday, May 21. DiMino stars as Martin, while Sebastian Anzaldo and Lambus Dean perform as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., respectively.

“It’s a really fun show,” says DiMino, via telephone from his Las Vegas home.

“In theaters, we break it up into two sets. During the first set, we focus on the individual performers. Dean Martin usually opens the show with three songs, then he turns it over to Sammy for three songs and Frank for three songs. That way, each performer gets to do the solo numbers from the catalog.”

Before the intermission, the trio comes together for a handful of songs. They return to the stage as The Rat Pack, with the three tuxedoed performers interacting and closing with “big finish numbers.” The sixpiece band features a three-piece horn section that hearkens back to the Big Band era.

DiMino grew up watching The Dean Martin Show from 1965 to 1974, but he was a self-professed “child of the 1960s,” during which time he was raised on The Beatles.

After a stint with bands, he stepped back to raise his son. In 1990, DiMino relocated to Las Vegas and started working odd jobs ranging from a strolling minstrel/guitarist at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino to singing the Italian-American songs of Martin.

Then, he saw a Rat Pack tribute show at the now-shuttered Desert Inn in Paradise, Nevada.

“A light bulb went off in my head,” DiMino says. “I thought, ‘I could do this. I like this music. I like the comedy. I like the era. I’m already Italian.’ The pros outweighed the cons and it made sense.

“I studied all the music. I read everything I could. I picked up the mannerisms by watching DVDs of his TV show. I loved the attitude and the fun they were having.”

Singing and performing weren’t the hard parts. Instead, DiMino admits, he was a little leery about Martin’s comedic side.

“I had never done comedy before,” DiMino says. “Dean Martin was a natural comedian. I had done some musical theater. These were such great characters, though. Through our show, we hope to remind the audience how much they loved the characters and music of that time, and how it made them feel. If we can do that, that’s success for us. We’ve done our jobs.”

A Toast to the Rat Pack

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, https://dhsproductions.com/ rat-pack, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, $29-$44.

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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

Randy Montgomery » The Entertainer!

No Time for Sergeants THROUGH MAY 13

ARTS

CALENDAR NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS THROUGH MAY 13

Two enlistees in the Air Force during World War II create a series of hijinks to get transferred into the Army. Their silliness does not go unnoticed, and their craziest prank could jeopardize their careers and others. This comedy is for and about the military and those who have served our nation.

Hale Centre Theatre 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert 480.497.1181 haletheatrearizona.com

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure THROUGH MAY 21

Alice in Wonderland meets rock ‘n’ roll!

See Alice like you have never seen her before. This adventure, based on the classic tale, features all of your favorite characters. A rock soundtrack and a funny story are combined with actors who are also the band!

Tempe Center for the Arts 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe 480.350.2822 childsplayaz.org DAVID KROLL AND JESSICA JOSLIN MAY 2-JUNE 24

Macbeth

THROUGH JUNE 4

William Shakespeare’s tragedy based on the physical and psychological effects of political ambition is thought to have debuted in 1606 and remains relevant. Watch as the all-consuming desire to be king unfolds up-close and personal.

Scottsdale Desert Stages 4720 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480.483.1664 desertstages.org

David Kroll and Jessica Joslin Exhibition MAY 2 TO JUNE 24

SESAME STREET LIVE MAY 3-4

One artist offers a combination of still-life paintings inspired by the Dutch Golden Age and the natural world. The other is a menagerie of bone-and-bauble creatures and biological specimens made of metal.

While quite different, this exhibit shows that the two complement each other quite well.

Lisa Sette Gallery 210 E. Catalina Drive, Phoenix 480.990.7342 lisasettegallery.com

Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music MAY 3 TO MAY 4

It’s Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird to the rescue as the new music teacher’s instruments go missing!

Audiences will learn that no matWWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

ter where you’re from, or where you’ve been, everyone is special. A preshow meet and greet with the characters is also available.

Mesa Arts Center 1 E. Main Street, Mesa 480.644.6560 mesaartscenter.com

The Art of Fearlessly Doing Business III MAY 5

The work of visual journalist Michelle Micallizzi has been inspired by 13 area business leaders and will be on display. She takes the entrepreneurial spirit from each and translates that to the canvas, which is accompanied by a story that captured the artists’ attention about its subject. The event is free, but reservations are required.

Fearless Art Works at Spanish Village 7211 E. Ho Road, Suite 17, Carefree 480.526.2609 AoFDB.com

SMoCA Mix 2017: TECH Sublime MAY 6

Come dressed in your future/chic/ bold apparel as you explore the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, which will be transformed into an immersive experience showcasing a variety of artists and how they use technology. Live exhibits include suspended light, 3-D printed suits and other interactive pieces.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art 7374 E. Second Street, Scottsdale 480.874.4666 SMoCA.org

Marcia Ball MAY 10

A compelling storyteller, Marcia Ball offers a unique blend of New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and Texas blues. Ball has received critical acclaim across the country.

Catch her Southern blend of music when she visits the MIM.

Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix 480.478.6000 theMIM.org

Beehive: The ’60s Musical MAY 10 TO JUNE 4

Phoenix Theatre’s musical will transport you to the iconic decade when Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and The Supremes ruled the radio. Travel back to the 1960s with this toe-tapping production that features over 40 wigs and costumes, and 25 cans of hairspray!

Phoenix Theatre 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix 602.254.2151 phoenixtheatre.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

All Balanchine

MAY 11 TO MAY 14

Experience the works of George Balanchine, known as the “father of American ballet.” A Southwestern twist has been added by Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen. Three interpretations of Balanchine’s works will be presented, one of which will be an Arizona premiere. Presented by Ballet Arizona.

Phoenix Symphony Hall 75 N. Second Street, Phoenix 602.381.1096, balletaz.org

Holmes and Watson MAY 11 TO MAY 28

In this thrilling new mystery, Dr. Watson is hot on the case after Sherlock Holmes has mysteriously “died.” Reports have placed the famous doctor at a remote mental asylum, so Watson heads there to see if the rumors are true. Presented

by Arizona Theatre Company.

Herberger Theater Center 455 N. Third Street, Phoenix 602.256.6995 arizonatheatre.org

Carnival of Illusion

MAY 13, MAY 14 AND MAY 27

Roland Sarlot and Susan Eyed present an evening of magic, mystery and oooh-la-la! They invite fans into their parlor for an intimate Vaudeville-inspired performance filled with illusion. Be prepared to travel back to the Old World with a twinkling hint of 1900s Parisian humor.

Mesa Arts Center 1 E. Main Street, Mesa 480.359.SHOW carnivalofillusion.com

Playback Theatre: From Life to Story to Stage MAY 12 TO MAY 14

Every performance is different when Playback Theatre takes the stage. Audience participation is key, as the actors weave improvisation, music, movement and metaphor based on stories the fans tell. The result reflects the diverse-yet-common human experience. Presented

by Essential Theatre.

Herberger Theater Center 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix 602.252.8497 herbergertheater.org

The Book of Mormon MAY 18 TO MAY 28

The nine-time Tony Award winner for “Best Musical” has taken the theater world by storm since it debuted in 2011. Written by South Park’s Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, this outrageous musical comedy follows Mormon missionaries as they are sent overseas. Their misadventures result in hilarity. Be warned: The production contains strong language.

ASU Gammage 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe 480.965.3434 asugammage.com

27

THE BOOK OF MORMON MAY 18-28

The Art of Wine and Tastes of Summer MAY 20

Support the arts and discover new wines. This annual celebration will feature more than 40 wines, along with food pairings. Attendees will be entertained by live music, and will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale 480.499.TKTS scottsdaleperformingarts.org

MARCIA BALL MAY 10

SMOCA MIX 2017: TECH SUBLIME MAY 6

Experience Polynesia MAY 20 AND MAY 21

Consider your summer vacation plans solved… while not having to travel any farther than North Phoenix! Kickoff the summer with a weekend of Polynesian music and culture. The celebration is included with admission to the Musical Instrument Museum.

MAY 10-JUNE 4

Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix 480.478.6000 theMIM.org

A Toast to the Rat Pack MAY 21

Revisit the glamorous, hot, sparkling nights of Las Vegas when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. were the headliners at the swankiest of casinos.

Expect an evening of hits performed by a talented group of performers that not only sound like The Rat Pack, but look like them as well.

CARNIVAL OF ILLUSION MAY 13, 14, 27

ALL BALANCHINE MAY 11-14

Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler 480.782.2680 chandlercenter.org

William Eaton: Voices Across the Canyon MAY 28

William Eaton is a Governor’s Arts Award and Emmy winner, and will perform with his uniquely crafted guitars at the Pueblo Grande Museum. The concert accompanies the One World, Many Voices: The Artistry of Canyon Records exhibition, which features nearly three dozen photos documenting Canyon Records artists, a music label that specializes in Native American music.

A TOAST TO THE RAT PACK MAY 21

Pueblo Grande Museum 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix 602.495.0901 pueblogrande.com

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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

‘LITERALLY’

ALONE

Actor Rob Lowe to debut one-man show at Mesa Arts Center Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

A

ctor Rob Lowe will conduct an “experiment,” as he likes to say. On Friday, May 12, the Parks and Recreation veteran will debut his one-man show, Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends, at the Mesa Arts Center. It could become an ongoing project.

“I think if I enjoy it as much as I think I’m going to, it will probably be a tour,” says Lowe, calling from Los Angeles. “Right now, it’s one night only; the true definition of one night only.”

The actor, whose latest movie How to Be a Latin Lover opened on April 28, has never done anything like this.

“I’ve done a bunch of speaking engagements across the country, which put me in the mindset to do it,” Lowe says. “The two books that I wrote continue to have such an impact that it gave WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

me the idea for this evening. I’m very excited about it and I’m working very, very hard on it.”

The Mesa Arts Center was a logical choice for the polished actor who has made a slew of announcements recently.

He’s the new Kentucky Fried Chicken colonel, and he’ll debut A&E’s The Lowe Files this summer. He also plays Dr. Ethan Willis in CBS’ Code Black.

“I had heard that the Mesa Arts Center was unbelievably beautiful. It has great acoustics and a great place to perform. The other was I wanted to go to a place where I hadn’t spent a lot of time; someplace where (fans) weren’t used to seeing me. I wanted to go somewhere fun, where I could spend a weekend. And somewhere that wasn’t too far from Los Angeles. All of those things brought me to Mesa.”

Lowe is intrigued by the vulnerability that comes with standing on the stage alone, in the dark, in front of thousands of fans. The last time he was

on stage was six years ago in London’s West End when he did A Few Good Men with Aaron Sorkin.

“I like to think of it as creating a time machine where time stands still for that 90 minutes and you have a communal moment that’s believably intimate together. Everything else in your life fades away in that moment. I love being able to conjure that.”

POLITICS Lowe is a self-described “political junkie” and he’s been particularly interested in the events of the last year.

“It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” he says. “It makes The West Wing, House of Cards or Scandal look uninspiring. I find it honestly to be a microcosm of everything in our world.

“Winning an Oscar used to mean one thing. Now it means something different. I watched the show Feud about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The majesty and scope and seriousness with which the Oscars was beheld, there’s no resemblance. The same is true with our elective process. Everything is debased and crazy.”

WELL-ROUNDED RESUME Lowe’s acting career is No. 1. When he’s approached by fans, he never knows what resonates with them. That is exciting to Lowe, who made his mark early in his career as Sodapop Curtis in the

film The Outsiders.

“As my Parks and Recreation character, Chris Traeger, would say, I see fans ‘literally’ of any age,” he says with a laugh. “She could be an 8-year-old who saw Monster Trucks in the theater, or an 80-year-old who loves The West Wing.

I never know what project anyone is going to want to talk about. I really am proud of that. There are plenty of (entertainers) who have one or two big ones. I have such a diverse body of work. That’s the fun of the evening, too. When I open it up to questions, it’s always an adventure.”

That sounds nerve-wracking, but he says that’s the “fun of it.”

“What keeps anybody relevant and sharp is continuing to put yourself in situations out of your comfort zone,” he says. “The adrenaline is pumping.

Anything that’s done over and over can be routine. This is one of the areas that I have not had any experience in.

I have tons of experience on the stage, but this one-man show genre is really new to me. It’s a fun challenge that I always wanted.”

Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 8 p.m.

Friday, May 12, $30-$165.

LIVE ON STAGE!

June 2 - July 2

JULY 7 - 16

623.776.8400

602.252.8497

(West Valley)

(Central/East Valley)

Receive $10 OFF regular priced tickets on select dates if purchased before June 2, 2017* Coupon Code: BEOURGUEST | *Some Restrictions Apply

visit azbroadway.org/beauty For venue information

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

Kenneth LaFave » The Entertainer!

M

organ James started out wanting to be the next Barbara Cook.

Instead, she became the first

Morgan James.

“Barbara Cook was the most famous soprano on Broadway,” James notes of the woman who created lead roles in The Music Man, Candide and other major Broadway musicals.

James, born in Idaho and raised in southern California, majored in voice at New York’s fabled Juilliard School and even took a master class with her idol, Cook. After a decade of auditioning and waiting tables, she managed to break onto Broadway with a role in the 2010 musical, The Addams Family. Other Broadway roles followed, but life on the Great White Way turned out to be less than fulfilling. That’s when James says she discovered “an Aretha voice inside me.”

James, whose sound might be called a marriage of soul/R&B and singer-songwriter pop, will appear in concert Saturday, June 3, at The Musical Instrument Museum (the MIM). The performance is part of her Reckless Abandon tour, named after her second studio album, which was released in April. The new collection, she says, is “much more optimistic” than her first studio album, Hunter (2015).

“Most of the songs on Hunter could be traced back to a person who really destroyed me. The songs reflected that. The new album is much more joyful and expansive. I’ve grown as a songwriter,” says the 35-year-old singer.

“Rejection has been a huge part of my journey.”

Not just personal rejection, but professional as well.

Before Hunter, James’ claim to fame was on Broadway, but despite relative success, she felt rejected by producers in the mode she wished to be taken: a classically trained soprano singing serious parts. In dejection, she found a venue for self-expression by sitting in with groups in after-hours New York clubs.

“I found that what really spoke to me the most was on the soul and R&B side. I started to sing with blues bands and write my own songs.”

She didn’t make the style change overnight.

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Soprano dreams, singersongwriter realities

WITH

RECKLESS ABANDON “It’s been an evolution. I spent a lot of time listening to music, because you’re only as good as what you listen to. If I am representing soul music at all well, it’s because I’ve listened to the very best.”

The very best included Nina Simone, who became an obsession (“one of my idols”) that led to a concert (later recorded) of Simone’s music.

Today, James says she enjoys “being my own boss, singing my own music and having my own vision.” Rejection has brought her a long way. The New York Times has written of her: “James is a phenomenal talent whose feel for classic soul music is bone deep.”

The songs she writes are mostly collaborations, and her contribution usually is on the lyric side.

“Sometimes it begins with just a title or a fragment of words,” she says.

“My songs are mostly lyrics first, and I

usually write with someone who plays piano or guitar, because I don’t play an instrument.”

In concert, James also includes the occasional cover by one of her favorite songwriters: Nina Simone, Prince, Sting and Joni Mitchell. All 12 songs on Reckless Abandon were, however, co-written by her, and she even sang all her own back-up vocals on the album.

Her upcoming appearance at The MIM marks James’ fourth time singing there.

“It is perhaps my favorite room to sing in. It has the best sound.”

From a wannabe Barbara Cook to a one-of-a-kind soul chanteuse, James has traveled a unique road. Her ambitions no longer rest upon a single kind of success, but on the general goal of making music: “I just want to keep singing songs and telling stories.”

Morgan James

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix 480.478.6000, themim.org, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 3, $32.50 and $37.50.

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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 Handsome

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

NR - 100 MINUTES

Jeff Garlin plays an L.A. homicide detective who tries to make sense of his life as he solves crime.

His knack for solving mysteries is matched only by his inability to make sense of his own problems. Opens May 5.

PG-13 135 MINUTES

Johnny Depp once again plays Capt.

Jack Sparrow who, this time, finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea, including him. Opens May 26.

The Dinner

The Wall

Richard Gere plays a popular congressman running for governor who invites his troubled younger brother (Steve Coogan) and his wife (Laura Linney) to join him and his wife (Rebecca Hall) for dinner at one of the town’s most fashionable restaurants. As the night proceeds, beliefs about the true natures of the four people at the table are upended, relationships shatter, and each person reveals just how far they are willing to go to protect those they love. Opens May 5.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena play American soldiers who are trapped by a lethal sniper, with only an unsteady wall between them. Opens May 12

NR - 81 MINUTES

R - 120 MINUTES

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

R - 92 MINUTES

The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.

Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to their aid.

Opens May 5.

Champion

PG - 116 MINUTES

Lowriders

PG-13 - 99 MINUTES

A young street artist in East Los Angeles is caught between his father’s obsession with lowrider car culture, his ex-felon brother and his need for self-expression. Stars include Demián Bichir and Eva Longoria.

Opens May 12.

In the supercharged world of dirt track racing, a single mistake causes the lives of two men to change forever.

One must fight for his family, the other must fight to forgive. Opens May 19.

War Machine

NR - 100 MINUTES

Brad Pitt plays a successful and charismatic four-star U.S. general who leaps in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by a journalist’s no-holds-barred exposé. Opens May 26.

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

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

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 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:

Mine

Excuse the pun but as single-setting thrillers go, Mine is the bomb. Star Armie Hammer nails his performance as a soldier who steps on a land mine and finds himself stranded in the desert for 52-plus hours and must survive his enemies, the hostile environment and a creeping psychological toll. You can cut the tension with a knife all while witnessing the mental breakdown of a man unable to move a muscle. Moreover, it encourages viewers to consider if they would be capable of withstanding such a treacherous situation. With the right motivation to survive, perhaps anything is possible.

RANDY’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Beauty and the Beast

No movie in my chart this month rated higher than a “B.” So, the winner by default goes to Disney for the live action retelling of the beloved animated tale. The film excels in cinematography, set design and visual effects. The musical numbers are upbeat and classic songs have been modernized. The acting, on the other hand, feels a bit dry, and the pacing a bit off. Despite my review, the movie has already made nearly half a billion dollars in the United States alone.

M.V.’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Colossal

Hard-drinking, hard-partying Manhattanite Gloria (Anne Hathaway) gets dumped and kicked out by her fed-up boyfriend, moves back to her small hometown upstate, gets a job in a bar owned by her old classmate Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), and starts trying, vaguely, to regroup her life. On the other side of the world, a horned, glowering, Godzilla-sized monster suddenly materializes in Seoul, South Korea. How these two plot strands very specifically connect is the subject of Nacho Vigalondo’s brilliant, funny, off-the-wall exploration of the psychological underpinnings of the giant monster genre, built around a stingingly honest performance

by Hathaway.

ABOUT THE FILM WRITERS JOSEPH J. AIRDO is a film critic, producer and onair personality for Breakthrough Entertainment, a talk radio show airing 10-11 a.m. 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

Aftermath

B

All Nighter

C

Beauty and the Beast

A

Randy

B

Boss Baby

B

CHiPS

C

Colossal

A

The Fate of the Furious

C

Ghost in the Shell

C

Gifted

B

Going in Style

C

Life

C

Mine

B

Personal Shopper

B

Power Rangers

C

The Promise

B

Sand Castle

D

Sandy Wexler

C

Smurfs: The Lost Village

C

Song to Song

B

T2 Trainspotting

C

Tim Timmerman, Hope of America

C

The Void

F

Wilson

B

The Zookeeper’s Wife

B

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.

M.V.

D

B

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.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE DINER

35

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

Happy Hour Guide 36

Recipe For Success 40

Get Served! 42

Brisket History 44

MAY FOOD EVENTS Megan Marples » The Entertainer!

480.664.4822, ldvwinery.com, 6 p.m., starts at $65.

Urban Wine & Jazz Walk MAY 6

Organ Stop Pizza Teacher Appreciation Week MAY 1 TO MAY 5

The first week of May, all Arizona K-12 teachers are invited to visit Organ Stop Pizza for a free pizza voucher, which is good for any size pie with unlimited toppings. Teachers should bring a valid teacher ID for the coupon, which can be redeemed immediately or later. The voucher expires on August 31 and can only be used for dine in.

Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa, 480.813.5700, organstoppizza. com, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

LDV Winery Supper Club MAY 2

The casual dining experience celebrates the vineyard-to-table journey, and it includes three courses paired with LDV wines. It’s held the first Tuesday of each month.

LDV Winery, 6951 E. First Street, Scottsdale,

Stroll through downtown Phoenix on this self-guided culinary tour.

Guests can hop from restaurant to restaurant sampling wines while listening to jazz. Each location will offer wine samples for $2 or $3 and the price includes hors d’oeuvres.

Multiple locations, 602.254.8696, dtphx.org, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., $2 to $3.

sedonarotary.org, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $15, with $5 discount for parking at the Church of the Red Rocks.

T. Cook’s: 20th Anniversary Party MAY 9

Experience the best of T. Cook’s during an evening of culinary favorites, specialty cocktails and wine.

The restaurant will close for the evening and invites guests to mix, mingle and experience the legacy of T. Cook’s and enjoy live music. The choices include paella, lobster tortellini and cream cheese crème brulee, as well as hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, wine and champagne.

T. Cook’s, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, 5200 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.808.0766, tcooksphoenix.com, tcooksturns20.eventbrite.com, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., $59.

Great Sedona Chili Cookoff MAY 6

Top chefs from Sedona restaurants will sample their best chili recipes at festive booths in Tlaquepaque’s Calle de Independencia. The mayors of Sedona and Cottonwood, the Sedona fire chief, and chefs from Verde Valley School are also primed and ready for the second annual competition.

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, 336 AZ-179, Sedona,

Schnepf Farms Peach Festival

Z’Tejas Firefighter Night MAY 18

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill has partnered with the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities for Cornbread for a Cause.

Through June 30, a portion of the cornbread sales from all five Valley locations will be donated to firefighters charities.

To raise awareness of the partnership, local firefighters will be guest bartenders and servers on May 18.

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill, 10625 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.948.9010, ztejas.com, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., price depends on meals/drinks ordered.

MAY 13 AND 14, MAY 20 AND MAY 21

Arizona Restaurant Week

Celebrate everything peach this spring at Schnepf Farms’ annual peach festival, featuring peach cinnamon rolls, peach cobbler and peach cookies. Hayrides and a carousel will run throughout the event.

More than 120 restaurants from around the Valley will offer threecourse, prix-fixe menus at $33 or $44 during Arizona Restaurant Week. Participants include The White Chocolate Grill and Remington’s.

Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, 480.987.3100, schnepffarms. com, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5.

MAY 19 TO MAY 28

Various locations, 602.307.9134, arizonarestaurantweek.com, $33 to $44.

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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

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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

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“That’s a Damn Fine Donut!”

NOW HIRING!

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1030 W. Broadway Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282

(480) 968-1321 www.AZDonutCo.com OPEN 24 HRS CALL FOR DELIVERY:

(480) 429-9529 • (480) 529-1582 WE PRICE MATCH ANY COUPON

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SECRET P A look inside Pita Jungle’s happy hour reboot Jordan Blitz » The Entertainer!

ita Jungle has a secret: Its new happy hour menu serves up expanded tapas offerings, drink specials and a larger selection of wines and local brews.

The Scottsdale-based chain calls it a “secret” because it didn’t boast of its happy hour, which was expanded to 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The new drink specials include $2 off wine and cocktails; $1 off draught and bottled beers; $5 house margaritas and $5.50 house sangria.

Some locations offer reverse happy hour from 9 p.m. to close. Draught and bottled beers may vary by restaurant.

“Each location was able to select their own local bottled and local draught beer selections to strengthen the tie to the local community and underline the ‘your neighborhood restaurant’ feel,” says spokeswoman Robyn Moore.

eggstasy

breakfast • lunch • mimosas

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It’s not just limited to drinks, either. New tapas, which start at $2, include chipotle chicken pizza on a Greek pita; glazed chicken pizza on a Greek pita; spinach and pesto pizza on a Greek pita; and chicken, kafta, salmon and chipotle black bean sliders.

A seasonal kitchen crafts menu offers Mayan quinoa chili; spicy mango shrimp; ahi tuna poke bowl; chicken avocado pita tostada; roasted veggie penne salad and baklava trifle.

Pita Jungle’s dishes are equally as tasty as they are customizable.

“Pita Jungle has one of the best happy hours in the Valley,” Moore says.

“However, we have never advertised it as such. Therefore, we decided to play on this and call it ‘Our Best-Kept Secret.’”

Pita Jungle has locations throughout the state. Visit pitajungle.com/ locations/ to find one near you.

6990 e shea blvd scottsdale • arizona 6:30am–3:00pm everyday www.eggstasyaz.com

Rawhide Western Town May 13th and 14th Sampling of Craft and Artisinal variety of Sangrias Live Flamenco Guitar Artisan Crafts and Food Tapas from Local Restaurants Live music throughout the evening All the fun and entertainment Rawhide has to offer

www.arizonasangriafestival.com

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Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

W

Eggstasy

6990 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, 480.500.5889, eggstasyaz.com.

RECIPE FOR

SUCCESS

Scottsdale’s Eggstasy prides itself on having an innovative breakfast menu

hen Peter Verros told his parents at age 18 that he wanted go into the restaurant business, his mom cried.

She didn’t want him to follow in her and her husband’s footsteps because the industry is so demanding. Years later, Verros, the owner of Scottsdale’s Eggstasy, has no regrets.

“The first restaurant I did at 19 years old was similar to this,” says the Chicago native who fell in love with the Valley during a visit. “I’ve been doing fun, hip breakfast restaurants for 20 years and now everybody’s doing this.

What you see, I had 20 years ago.”

Known for their crepes, Verros and the 3-year-old Eggstasy put a twist on traditional breakfasts with dishes like toasted coconut mango and papaya crepes with lime reduction ($9.95); lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberries and lemon curd ($9.95); and a barbacoa omelet with roasted sweet corn, hatch chiles, tomatoes, onion, sour cream and tomatillo sauce ($14.95).

A popular dish on the menu is the pumpkin cheesecake pancakes, something that didn’t immediately get the stamp of approval from his family.

“My father said, ‘This crap will never work,’” he says with a laugh. “I taught my father how to make them in case I’m busy. I noticed he would sneak

some in and be eating it. Now it’s on our regular menu. The crepes are made from scratch. They’re phenomenal.

“We do traditional breakfasts, but we have a lot of specialty stuff that no one has,” he says. “Everything is made from scratch. Nothing is premade and everything is cooked to order.

Verros not only boasts fresh, madefrom-scratch, made-to-order food, but fast service.

“We’re extremely busy but we get the food out quickly. We serve 1,000 people on the weekends and 90 percent to 95 percent of the meals are served in under 10 minutes.

“When we opened three years ago, it was from the get-go very busy. We typically look to start slow and market it through word of mouth. We wanted to build up and take care of every guest. We still do that, even though we’re busy.”

His family—namely his mother and sister—helps him. His father passed away in September.

“It’s a ma-and-pa business,” he says.

“They love it and it’s fun because now they’re proud. “When my mother was crying, she thought she raised me wrong.

She asked me why I could choose that industry. I said, ‘Why not? It’s nice.’

“I love what I do. It’s for the love of the game. It’s almost like I’m entertaining. We have this big open kitchen.

It’s a big show. We’ve been called the ‘Cheesecake Factory of breakfast’ because our menu is so big and creative.

It’s difficult to keep and maintain such a big menu, but we can do it.”

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 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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

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NOW WITH TWO LOCATIONS!

OME S E W A TOTALLY LY FREE TOTAL BILE APP O REHAB M

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7210 E. 2ND STREET. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 (480) 621-5358

TEMPE NOW OPEN! 21 E. 6TH STREET. TEMPE, AZ 85281 (480) 773-7307

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GET SERVED! T

Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

Arizona Restaurant Week promises something for every taste

Think BBQ!

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

here’s no need to make up an excuse to go out. For 10 days this month, more than 150 restaurants have you covered with showcased meals for Arizona Restaurant Week.

From Friday, May 19, to Sunday, May 28, Arizona Restaurant Week participants will serve three-course meals for $33 or $44 per person.

The biannual celebration turns 10 this year, marking a decade of fall foodie festivities and six years since the Arizona Restaurant Association expanded the event to a week in the spring and in the fall.

Arizona has made its mark as a foodie destination, so it makes sense to have a week devoted to eating out.

According to event organizers, Arizona leads the nation in job growth in the food-service sector. The eateries see about a 20 percent increase in business during Arizona Restaurant Week, too.

“Arizona Restaurant Week has remained a strong culinary driver to many local chefs and restaurant owners, as well as a treasured memory-maker for diners,” says Arizona Restaurant Association president Steve Chucri.

Over 3 million people have dined during Arizona Restaurant Week’s run, with establishments like The Capital Grille, The Melting Pot and Roaring

Fork participating in the past. This year, foodies can enjoy dishes at The White Chocolate Grill, MATCH Cuisine & Cocktails, The Market Restaurant + Bar, Ajo Al’s Mexican Café, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and others.

Jennifer Russo, owner of The Market Restaurant + Bar in Phoenix, says she uses Arizona Restaurant Week to showcase her restaurant's seasonal menu, reach new customers and decide on its summer selections. This year, Russo said her restaurant will serve gnocchi, yellow fin Nicoise and corn bisque.

“I feel the food scene is (filled) with seasonal ingredients and local products,” Russo says. “At least the independent restaurants seem to follow this trend.”

Brian Blake is the director of food and beverage at FOUND:RE Phoenix hotel’s MATCH Cuisine & Cocktails.

He explains that Chef Matt Hobbs will offer a three-course menu on its own and with wine and beverage pairings for an additional $18. He says he thinks Arizona flavors are evolving and changing constantly.

“The greater Phoenix area is starting to come into its own with many different cuisines featured across the Valley,” Blake says. “Chefs here in the Valley are not afraid to take a chance.”

For more information about other participating restaurants, visit ArizonaRestaurantWeek.com.

Do The Dillo!

NOT your ordinary sports bar.

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

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

1904 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016

ESTABLISHED 1997

(602) 287-0700 MyArmadilloGrill.com

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Maggie Leach » The Entertainer!

J

BRISKET HISTORY

Family takes risks to make Miracle Mile Delicatessen a hit

VER 1 BILLI N S LD! SINCE 1910

KOSHER BAKERY! WE CATER!

osh Garcia knows the complexities of running a restaurant, having literally grown up in the business, thanks to his grandfather, Jack Grodzinsky, who moved his family from Brooklyn to Arizona.

Upon arrival, Grodzinsky took a bus ride from Tucson to Phoenix looking for a business he could purchase to help support his family. He decided on a restaurant on McDowell Road and 16th Street. It was then that the family began its legacy of the Miracle Mile Delicatessen, which has called Phoenix its home since 1949.

Garcia, who remembers doing homework on top of a pickle bucket, never expected to go into the restaurant industry. However, he found himself managing the now-closed Arrowhead location of the Miracle Mile at the age of 21. He has been a part of the restaurant since then, and recently took over management duties from his parents, Jill and George Garcia.

Miracle Mile has had stores in various shopping centers across the Valley, including Park Central, Arrowhead, Colonnade and Christown, the latter of which closed in 2000 after 42 years.

Now with one location, the restaurant moved from the Colonnade into the family’s building at the southeast corner of 16th Street and Campbell Avenue in Phoenix about a year and a half ago.

“Making the move from there to here was a big risk, and we had to take it,” George says. “We have more exposure right here on 16th Street. We have our own building, our own parking lot.

We control our destiny here.”

The move has been a success, and the rest is brisket history.

The exterior’s retro look belies the sleek-but-comfortable modern interior. There are individual tables and cozy booths available, with an outdoor seating area as well. Josh describes the

BREAKFAST!

planning that took place as the building was constructed.

“In discussing the design process with the architect, we wanted it to be comfortable when people are eating here,” he says. “And yes, our serving line is extremely fast and extremely efficient, but when people are sitting down they can take as much time or as little time as they want. We wanted to take that into account.”

The newest location invites a variety of customers, according to George.

“Today it was really funny because I was talking to a customer, and it was his first time here,” George explains.

“He said, ‘I saw these cars pulling in and out, and I had to find out what was going on. I pulled in and grabbed a sandwich – and this is great!’”

Following that encounter, a longtime customer from the Christown days came in and said, “I saw your new building, and I had to stop in.”

A restaurant that has been in business as long as Miracle Mile is bound to have a lot of “old timers” who return to feast on the homemade soup, the daily specials such as hand-carved roast turkey, fresh salads, and of course, the standard deli sandwiches such as a Reuben or hot pastrami.

Jill says she would recommend the stuffed cabbage to first timers, while George offers the New Yorker sandwich.

Josh’s favorite is the baked cod.

The restaurant is observing its longevity in the Valley by celebrating Miracle Mile Deli Day on Wednesday, May 10. On that day, 20 percent of the proceeds from that day’s sales will go to Feeding Matters, a local nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of pediatric feeding struggles. Also, from noon to 8 p.m., every hour, a Miracle Mile $100 gift card will be given away.

4433 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, 602.776.0992, miraclemiledeli.com

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

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Miracle Mile Delicatessen

eggstasy breakfast • lunch • mimosas

6990 east shea blvd

•

scottsdale arizona

•

480.500.5889

open 6:30am–3:00pm everyday

www.eggstasyaz.com

0 2 Craft Beers on Tap!

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

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE CRAFTMASTER

47

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

Beer Over Here

Drink up at any of these Valley beer events this month Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

Drink and Draw MAY 5

Raise a pint with professional comic book artists Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, Mitch Gerads and Scott Godlewski, as they create sketches in exchange for a donation. The event, in conjunction with Free Comic Book Day, benefits The HERO Initiative, a charity that specializes in helping comic book creators in need, and the ACLU of Arizona.

Bonus Round, 1111 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, azcomicminiexpo. com, 7 p.m., donations accepted.

Dos XX Cinco Events MAY 5

Brews & Ballet MAY 2

The public gets the chance to meet the dancers and learn about Ballet Arizona’s upcoming performances of All Balanchine and Topia. The public can enjoy happy-hour pricing all night and choose from Sip’s selection of beer, cocktails, coffee and small bites.

Sip Beer & Coffee Garage, 3620 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, balletaz.org, 6:30 p.m., various prices.

Enjoy Mexican brews at two Living Room Wine Cafés in the Valley to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Dos Equis Lager and Crescent Crown Distributing.

Living Room Wine Café, 8977 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 500, Scottsdale, 480.634.6709, livingroomewinebar.com, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., price depends on menu items ordered.

Living room Wine Café and Lounge, 4905 E. Ray Road, Suite 107, Phoenix, 480.454.3599, livingroomwinebar.com, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., price depends on menu items ordered.

AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Fest MAY 13

Celebrating the canned craft beer revolution, AmeriCAN features more than 250 canned craft beers from over 100 local and national breweries across 40 states, including beers not previously available in Arizona. Other highlights include live music, food, a beer science garden, seminars, beer Olympic games and a rare beer garden.

Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, cannedcraftbeerfest.com, 1 p.m. (general admission), noon (VIP), tickets start at $20 (designated drivers), $35 (festivalgoers).

Coors Light Pool Party

Come drink ice cold Coors Light and hang by the pool with Crescent Crown Distributing.

Sevens Bistro Restaurant and Bar, 7707 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, 480.307.9885, sevensbistro.com, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., price depends on menu item ordered.

Roars & Pours MAY 18

Guests 21 and older can swing by for a happy hour with a wild side.

Sip and stroll select zoo trails while enjoying craft brews, wine and food.

There will also be animal encounters, yard games and live music.

Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 602.286.3800, phoenixzoo.org, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., $10.

Savor Sierra Vista: Wine, Beer & Spirits Festival MAY 27

Stroll past food, art, and crafts vendors while sampling vintages from 12 area wineries, four breweries and two distilleries. Live music from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tastings end at 6 p.m., but beer, wine and food will still be available for purchase until about 10 p.m. Craft beer brewing companies on tap include Barrio, Four Peaks and Mother Road.

Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 E. Fry Boulevard, Sierra Vista, http://bit.ly/2nutaIa, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., $15.

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GREAT BEER PAIRINGS:

SAN TAN BREWING

“When pairing beer with food, there are a few general rules that we try to show our guests (despite the fact that these rules are generally meant to be broken).

Most folks looking to pair food and beverage are familiar with wine and food pairings so we try to build on common ground. With that in mind it’s an easy (though not foolproof) comparison to look at lagers and similar as white wines; hoppy beers can be swapped for more acidic wines; and ales as red wines.”

—Garrit Guthrie, Liberty Station Beverage Director

BEER

Brewery: SanTan Brewing Company in Chandler Style: American pale ale, 5.5 percent ABV Name: Devil’s Ale An American pale ale that offers a sinfully crisp taste. Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops provide fiendishly aromatic pine and citrus flavors.

DISH

The chipotle bacon cheeseburger ($12.75), which is an all-beef patty topped with house-smoked chipotle bacon, pepper jack and aged white cheddar cheeses as well as a chile lime

AHWATUKEE’S BEAT THE ONLY BREWERY

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480.986.2228

ARIZONA OWNED & BREWED WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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mayo, lettuce, tomato and red onion.

SanTan’s flagship brew, Devil’s American Pale Ale, pairs perfectly with sharp cheeses and bacon, making the chipotle bacon cheeseburger a perfect combo.

The Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops provide piney and citrusy flavors that really work with the citrus flavor found in the chile lime mayo, and the smoky flavors of the house-smoked chipotle bacon.

SanTan Brewing Company 8 S. San Marcos Plaza, Chandler, 480.917.8700, santanbrewing.com.

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

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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 and Scottsdale 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!

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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!

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

51

COME AND VISIT US AT THIS YEAR’S

AmeriCAN Beer Festival

CRUSH SOME CANS WITH US AT THIS YEAR’S

AmeriCAN Beer Festival

COME AND CAN IT UP WITH US AT

AmeriCAN Beer Festival

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

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Dave Clark » The Entertainer!

W

hen discussing beer ingredients, hops certainly get their fair share of publicity. Water is also a key component in beer, making up over 90 percent of the finished product. And malt contributes most of the flavors, colors and sugars that will eventually become the beer you enjoy.

But the soul of the beer is the yeast.

Without it, there is no beer.

Brewers technically don’t make beer; they make wort (pronounced “wert”). The addition of yeast turns this wort into beer when

it produces ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

There are two main yeasts that ferment most of the beers we consume.

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, or ale yeast, and Saccharomyces Pastorianus, or lager yeast. Ale yeasts tend to work better in warmer temperatures (around 66 degrees Fahrenheit) while lager yeasts thrive near 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once a brewer makes wort, it is quickly cooled so the yeast can be added. Yeast takes in oxygen which helps build its cell walls enabling it to reproduce. This is the only time that oxygen is not an enemy of beer. If everything goes as planned, the yeast will absorb all the oxygen from the wort leaving none to later stale the beer.

Yeast provides so many benefits to the beer, besides alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yeast provides very unique flavors and characteristics to the beer, and the strength and variety of these are very specific

YEAST:

THE SOUL OF BEER

to the region from which the yeast originates. Two flavor components produced by yeast, especially ale yeasts, are esters and phenols. Esters give a fruity aroma and flavor that can be described as bananas, pears, citrus or stone fruits. Phenols tend to give off more spicy qualities and can be described as anything from black pepper to smoky notes or even medicinal-type aromas and flavors. It varies wildly depending on origin. Like anything, a little can be great while a lot can be distracting. Ale yeasts tend to produce more esters and phenols than lager yeasts.

The German hefeweizen is a perfect showcase of both esters and phenols.

The dominant banana aroma and flavor in a hefeweizen comes entirely from the yeast and is not produced from bananas at all. It comes from an ester known as isoamyl acetate. Meanwhile, the clove character found in the same beer is derived from a yeast phenol called 4-vinyl guaiacol. Check out a Weihenstephaner or Ayinger hefeweizen to experience these characteristics for yourself.

Belgian yeasts tend to be very high in phenolic character which gives Belgian beers their distinct tastes. The Belgian saison, known for its black pepper character, gets it from a yeastderived phenolic. Try the classic Saison DuPont to enjoy this characteristic.

Some English (and Czech) yeast strains tend to produce byproducts known as diacetyl that add a character that smells and tastes like burnt butter.

In some beers, such as an English porter (Fuller’s Porter) or Czech pilsner (Pilsner Urquell), this flavor is a welcome addition. In many others, it’s considered a significant flaw.

American yeast does not produce a lot of flavor or aroma. Its main job is just to ferment the beer in a very clean manner, producing the CO2 and alcohol; not much else. Because of this, American brewers often tend to showcase other components of the beer such as the hops (thus the popularity of IPA) or the malt (stouts or brown ales).

You can raise or lower the malt or hops in a beer and still have a beer, but without the yeast, there is no beer at all.

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

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

53

ARIZONA WILDERNESS BREWING COMPANY It’s not just a name.

It’s a way of life

Dave Clark » The Entertainer!

A

rizona Wilderness Brewing Company’s patrons will get a feel for the Arizona landscape upon first sip.

Everything they do embodies what they are all about— handcrafting the best beers that reflect aspects of their natural surroundings.

Ideas are hatched in the wild; ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible and beers are named after Arizona landmarks.

You’re just as likely to find the owners, Jonathan Buford and Patrick Ware, hiking and camping in the Arizona wild as you are to see them in the brewpub. They invent, they gather new ingredients and create a vision.

It’s the way they do things at Arizona Wilderness.

Head brewer Chase Saraiva explains why he sources fruit locally, rather than buying much cheaper, already processed products.

“Anyone can purchase pre-processed fruit and use it to brew with,” Saraiva says, “To us, it’s important to have a relationship with the farmer who grew the fruit. By having the fruit, we can use it however we choose, giving us more control over the entire process.

“We may decide to use the fruit’s juice in the boil of a beer and then later zest the rind of the fruit to maximize

output from that particular fruit. By doing it ourselves we do it in the freshest way possible.”

Using locally sourced ingredients is a mantra of Arizona Wilderness.

Recently, they produced a blackberry sour ale known as Muir’s Mure for which blackberries were foraged from Frank Geminden’s farm in Camp Verde.

Blood oranges from Queen Creek’s Steadfast Farms were used for the company’s Blood Orange Gose, as was salt from Hayden Flour mills. The brewers had their work cut out for them, peeling 300 pounds of oranges and juicing them, before steeping the peels to capture the essential oils.

Arizona Wilderness is creative, too.

Last year, they decided to brew with Arizona’s naturally occurring microflora.

The project started by brewing wort (the precursor to beer) in the brewery, then transporting it to Flagstaff, where they allowed the naturally occurring microflora of Arizona’s wilderness to inoculate the beer.

Using open vessels known as coolships, the beer was exposed to the elements, which allowed any fermentable microorganisms to enter the cooled wort to start fermentation.

“This beer is a work in progress,” Saraiva says. “It will tell us when it’s finished. It is one of two naturally fermenting beers we have aging and may eventually be part of a blend, similar to

the way the fine Belgian brewers blend their lambics.

“This beer will exude the essence of Arizona when it is complete.”

Arizona Wilderness’ owners and brewers invited more than 20 of the world’s most creative and innovative brewers to be part of the project. The brewers camped out, giving them the opportunity to get to know each other and share their knowledge. By taking the lead in this adventure, Arizona Wilderness solidified its reputation in the brewing community as leaders and innovators.

Arizona Wilderness is always trying new things and building new partnerships. Last summer, their Connection Saison became a groundbreaking beer.

Working with The Nature Conservancy, they created a beer that not only showcased locally grown barley and hops, but under the organization’s direction used a strain of barley created to require much less water. This was a win for barley growers in dry Arizona as well as the Verde River, which required less of its resources to water the crops.

Giving back is another one of Arizona Wilderness’ modus operandi. When they created the Blood Orange Gose, they partnered with the MS Society and invited management to help create the brew.

Once the beer was ready to be served, Arizona Wilderness donated 25 percent of one day’s sales to the MS Society.

But Arizona Wilderness doesn’t

just stick with Arizona. They have collaborated with breweries worldwide. As a result, the beers are as exciting as the breweries which with they collaborate.

Once, they joined Logan Plant, owner of the English brewery Beavertown and the son of Robert Plant.

With creativity being the directive at Wilderness, Saraiva recently led a brew, known as a gruit, that uses no hops. Instead, it utilizes plants like lavender, rosemary, basil, sage, thyme and pine on the patio to bitter the beer. The as-of-yet-unnamed beer will be strong, coming in at over 9 percent alcohol.

Much of the creative spark occurs when owner Buford and Ware are on one of their frequent hikes or camping trips. Buford is an exceptional photographer, with many of his photographs equal in quality to his stellar beers.

Buford’s photos run on continuous loop in the brewery so patrons can experience the Arizona Wilderness while they enjoy beers that have been produced from it. In nature is where many of Buford’s great ideas occur to him and by embracing the very essence of the Arizona Wilderness, Buford has been able to bring his vision for his brewery to life daily.

Arizona Wilderness

721 N. Arizona Avenue, Suite 103, Gilbert, 480.284.9863, azwbeer.com.

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W O N AR C O T TE , PIN

O I ZO D ON & A

RY

THA

B R E WE

T

SEE THESE GREAT ARIZONA BEERS AT THIS YEAR’S

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

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN CRAFT BEER? I have two memories of craft beer that stick out. The first was at a family party, and one of my family members handed me a Kilt Lifter. I remember instantly enjoying it so much, and immediately thinking that I’d never enjoyed a beer this much before. The second was when I went out with a friend. We just went out for happy hour and he told me to get a Nimbus Dirty Guerra. It’s a blonde ale, and that was another one of those moments where right when I tasted it I just knew I had to go buy myself a six pack on my way home.

I’ve been working in the industry for a long time, and along with experiences out with my friends, the bar industry and Marriott really open those doors to learn. We’re pushed to be creative and to find new cool products and drinks that guests will like, and it’s inspiring to watch the people around you care so much about that industry.

It really pushes your passion to a different level.

W

hen Jonathan Williams’ daughter was young, he needed to land a job where he could make “good money.”

Bartending was one option, so he decided to try it.

Turned out, he had a talent for it, and joined the team at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa. For the past 10 years, he has juggled his job and firefighting and nursing classes. Williams sees sharing his beer knowledge with people from around the world who come to visit as an honor and privilege.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES CRAFT BEER SPECIAL? Craft beer is special because it’s representative of the local community. It’s not cookie cutter or factory oriented; it embodies the culture it’s created in.

The people involved in craft beer have such an inspiring passion, and that creativity really enhances the quality of the product. They’re the everyday people. When you’re in the beverage industry, that family feel is really important, and that’s what craft beer represents – that community. It’s also just so cool to know who made your beer, where it came from. To see it being made and learn about it from the people who created it, and are so passionate about their product.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE BEER CULTURE IN ARIZONA? Arizona is a great place for craft beer – we have the local farms, local hops and a growing base of local influences. That gives craft beer such a special flavor; it really reflects the city. The culture in Arizona is that small-town-feel. You can go to any place and there’s always a brewmaster there to talk to you, and that’s really special. It feels like a family, and it’s noncompetitive. The craft beer culture here is so supportive of one another. They’re friends, they work together, and they promote each other’s product. It’s a real community, and to experience it is something really great and unique.

There’s also so much freedom.

Arizona isn’t pigeonholed into producing a certain type of beer, or certain flavors. You can get really creative in ways that wouldn’t work in other places.

Sentinel Peak has its Dew Point Dunkel, and Dragoon has its seasonal beers, which really reflect the city. They’re nonconventional, but they work. And Arizona is somewhere where you can try anything and the people are all for it.

WHY IS STARR PASS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR CRAFT BEER? Starr Pass is just one of those places that has the perfect audience for craft beer.

So many people coming from so many different places, and locals on top of it; there’s always someone new to introduce to the world of craft beer. Not only do we have so many people come through our doors, but the type of people we get, are the type of people who like local beer, who want to try something other than the cheap beer in college we all had. They’re willing to take a change on something new, and willing to pay for it as well.

Dragoon is always a hit here; there are times we can’t order it fast enough.

The people who come here want something special, something unique that they can’t get everywhere they travel. And craft beer gives them that experience.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEERS? How do you feel about a five-way tie?

Here are my best bets right now: • 184 Desert Blonde, Sentinel Peak It’s crisp and refreshing which is great in the Arizona heat.

• Overhaul Chile, Sentinel Peak It’s spicy and has that Tucson flair.

It really brings out that local feel and the flavors of the city.

• Koffee Kolsh, Huss Brewing Company Light, refreshing. The hint of coffee is perfect for that late afternoon beer.

• Sex Panther, SanTan Rich, chocolate flavor, it’s great in the winter time, but is also really awesome for those chilly nights in the spring when we haven’t hit that summer heat.

• Stronghold Session Ale It’s full flavored strong ale; like the Sex Panther it’s just perfect in the winter.

JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa 3800 W. Starr Pass Boulevard, Tucson, 520.792.3500, http://bit.ly/Z8JpxX.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

57

COME AND VISIT US AT

AmeriCAN Beer Festival

IT’S BASEBALL SEASON— CATCH ONE!!

COME AND VISIT US AT THIS YEAR’S

AmeriCAN Beer Festival

TM

®

You can catch us at AmeriCAN! bellsbeer.com SAVOR SIERRA VISTA | MAY 25 – 29, 2017 Feed your passion during Savor Sierra Vista, a sampler platter of adventure and flavor. Enjoy Arizona’s best wine, beer and spirits; compete in the Sky Islands Summit Challenge; and relax to music under the stars. Let your soul soar.

visit.SierraVistaAZ.gov | 800-288-3861 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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NEIGHBORLY, COMFORTABLE AND SOULFUL Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

» The Entertainer!

W

hen Michael Withey was conceptualizing his Midwestthemed pub, The Bar, he had three words in mind: neighborhood, comfortable and soulful.

“We were doing an identity study before we started the thing, and I discussed all sorts of adjectives we wanted the bar to be,” says Withey, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, native. “I thought if I had to pick three words, that is what I would choose.”

The Bar, which opened in midDecember at the northwest corner of 32nd Street and Indian School Road in Arcadia-Biltmore area, has a distinct Michigan feel. Motown music fills the 1,400-square-foot room. Stroh’s and Detroit Tigers signs illuminate the space. He’s waiting for a frame shop to return an autographed Detroit Red Wings jersey.

“We’ve had people here from all walks of life,” he adds. “But, I’m very gratified to see a number of Midwestern people and a lot of neighborhood people.

They walk here. They bike here. They say, ‘Thanks. We finally have a neighborhood bar that we can get behind.’

“There are a lot of Chicago bars in town, but there isn’t a Michigan kind of hangout.”

While there are no Coney dogs or Greek salads here, the food is revered.

The Stand, a well-regarded locally based hamburger place, opened Neatly’s in The Bar. Modeled after a ’60s laundry, management says the food is “ironed, pressed and folded.”

“It is food that’s made to share, like wings and sliders—the sliders are WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

ridiculous—Italian sandwiches and Cubano,” Withey says.

The Bar is the fruition of a longtime dream. Withey, a real estate lawyer and partner in Withey Morris PLC, worked as a bartender after graduating with “a worthless degree.”

“I figured that when I had a little more money and a little more time, I would open a bar,” Withey says.

He’s heard from plenty of folks that The Bar reminds them of hometown gems like Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak, Michigan.

“That’s the biggest compliment I can get,” he says. “It reminds me of home, too.

“When you’re in Michigan, there are lots of neighborhood bars like this. People know each other. People feel comfortable.

There are nice places to watch the game, have a bit to eat and hang with friends.

They’re just very comfortable for all ages.

They’re supposed to be all-purpose bars that do not appeal to one person. Here in Arizona—nothing against Arizona, I love it—the tendency is to have more chains, more corporate bars and restaurants.”

To create that comfortable vibe, Withey added a painting of The Dude, from The Big Lebowski and the aforementioned Motown music.

“I spent an inordinate amount of time with the music, getting it to be the way I wanted,” Withey says. “I play almost exclusively Motown. I feel like Motown music is timeless, ageless. If you play music just for young people, then people of our generation aren’t necessarily happy. If you play music for old people, the young people aren’t very happy. Motown speaks to all generations. It has a great vibe to it. The vibe of the music sets the vibe of The Bar itself. That’s why we love it.”

The Bar

3174 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.957.3686, thebarphx.com.

The Bar adds a Great Lakes vibe to Arcadia

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

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BREWTALLY

AmeriCAN celebrates all things canned craft beer

AWESOME

Alison Stanton » The Entertainer!

B

eer lovers typically find festivals that are devoted to their favorite beverage, but finding an event that focuses solely on canned craft beer can be a challenge.

On Saturday, May 13, beer fans will find all of the canned craft beers they could ever want to sample at the seventh annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix.

Jen Pruett, public and media relations director for HDE Agency, says the festival is one of the nation’s only events that celebrates canned craft beer.

“AmeriCAN is really special because we’re bringing the craft beer community together not just by pouring beer, but many of the actual brewers come out and join us for the fun,” Pruett says.

“We are providing a unique WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

opportunity for fans to meet and have a conversation with the folks who make their beer, and all of our participating breweries sell their beer in cans.”

The festival will feature more than 250 canned craft beers from over 100 local and national breweries across 40 states, Pruett says.

It will also feature food, games and seminars.

“Food vendors include HopDoddy, Simon’s Hot Dogs, El Jefe Tacos, Tom’s BBQ and Two Fat Guys Grilled Cheese,” Pruett says.

A “beer science garden” is one AmeriCAN highlight. It will have booths staffed by brewing experts who will explain and demonstrate the science behind beer-making. Every hour, experts will hold 15-minute seminars on a variety of beer-related topics, including becoming a certified beer judge.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to compete in the beer Olympic games to display their talents in games

like giant beer pong and flip cup. A rare beer garden features brews that haven’t been available in Arizona previously.

When it’s time to take a break from quaffing beer, people can enjoy live musical performances by DJ Slippe, Black Bottom Lighters, The Hourglass Cats, Urban Renewal Project and 2 Tone Lizard Kings.

AmeriCAN will also feature the results of a pre-event competition.

A week before the festival, certified beer judges will gather to taste and cast their votes for their favorites in nine categories: IPA, American Pale Ale, English Pale Ale, Wheat Beers, Stouts and Porters, Ambers and Browns, Golds, Blondes, Pilsners and Light Lagers, Fruit and Specialty Beer. Awards will be handed out during the festival to the winners of gold, silver and bronze in each category.

Pruett says she expects about 3,500 people to attend the festival and enjoy the wide variety of canned beers.

“Everyone is mostly from Arizona, but some do travel here from other states,” she says.

A portion of event proceeds will benefit the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (ASH). The Arizona Society of Homebrewers strives to preserve and promote the time-honored tradition of homebrewing and to recognize it as an art form through information, education and dedicated practices.

AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival

Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, cannedcraftbeerfest.com, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 13, $22 for designated drivers, $30-$45 general admission, $100 VIP online only, for entrance at noon.

Happy Hour

7 Days a Week

HAPPY HOUR from 3pm-7pm (excludes PPV and special events)

REVERSE HAPPY HOUR Sun.-Thurs. 11pm-2am Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, NFL & NCAA satellite packages

PPV Boxing Event Canelo v Chavez Jr on Saturday, May 6th & UFC 211 Live on PPV on Saturday, May 13th

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

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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

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

Megan Marples » The Entertainer!

MAY 10

MAY 2

Silhouette

Stanley Serano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 3 Thaddeus Rose

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 4 Gary Hobbs

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

The Mike Vax Trio

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 5 Selena Tribute

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Vive Selena: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Mariachi Juarez

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 6 Doo Wah Riders

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Tyme Will Tell

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Dada Life

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

MAY 7 Mariachi Rodriguez

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

MAY 9 Stanley Serano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Walkens Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 11 Silhouette

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 12 Static

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Darius Rucker

Cliff Castle Hotel and Casino, cliffcastlecasinohotel.com

Thaddeus Rose

Austin Carthell

MAY 18

MAY 26

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Priminition

Quantum

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Bohemian Insurgence

Led Zepagain Led Zeppelin Tribute

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 19 Jay & The Americans

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Uptown Band

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Soundwave

Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com

Latino Rebel Band

Delphine Cortez and Jazz Alive

Rhythm Edition

War

The Pete Pancrazi Trio

MAY 27

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 20 Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Warren G & Working Man

Uncorked Band

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Robin Trower

Soul Persuasion

Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Desert Diamond Casino, ddcaz.com

Mogollon

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Basketball Jones

Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com

The Joe Costello Project

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

New Saigon Entertainment Presents Di Vang Yeu Thuong

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 13

Reality Band

Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 28

Notes from Neptune

Mariachi Rodriguez

Harry Luge

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

The Joe Costello Project

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Darius Rucker

Casino del Sol, casinodelsol.com/ tucson-entertainment

MAY 14 Western Fusion

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Mariachi Juarez

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 16 Stanley Serano Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 17 Route 66

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 21 Mariachi Pasion

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

MAY 23 AZ Blacktop Duo

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 24 Miguel Melgoza Trio

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 25 Melissa Etheridge

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

The Walkens Unplugged

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Keith Sweat, Ginuwine and Dru Hill

Casino del Sol, casinodelsol.com/ tucson-entertainment

MAY 29 Silhouette

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 30 John Eric Duo

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

MAY 31 Silhouette

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE HIGHROLLER

63

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

THE BEST CASINO EVENTS IN MAY Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

Sighs and For Earth Below.

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort. com, 8 p.m., sold out.

Dada Life MAY 6

Swedish duo Dada Life blends a sense of humor with electro house, and brings its show to Release by The Pool at Talking Stick Resort. Its name pays homage to the avantgarde art movement of the early 20th century, Dadaism. Its latest album, The Rules of Dada, cracked the Billboard 200 with singles like “Born to Rage” and “Feed the Dada.”

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 866.877.9897, talkingstickresort.com, 11 a.m., tickets start at $25.

Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike MAY 7

This Belgian-based duo recently claimed the No. 1 position in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs Poll, as voted by fans worldwide, thanks to hits like “The Hum,” “Mammoth,” “Tremor” and “Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat.”

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 866.877.9897, talkingstickresort.com, 11 a.m., tickets start at $30.

Robin Trower MAY 12

U.K. rock legend Robin Trower achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio. Trower will showcase his bluesy and psychedelic playing style, as well as albums Bridge of

Darius Rucker

1962 to 1971, this group charted 12 Top Ten records on the Billboard charts and, after some new members joined its ranks, continue to rehearse old and new music to record and play live in concert. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002 as a result of producing some of the greatest hits of the 1960s—“She Cried,” “Only in America,” “Come a Little Bit Closer,” “Cara Mia” and “This Magic Moment.”

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa, harrahsakchin.com, 8 p.m., free.

MAY 12 AND MAY 13

Former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker brings his high-spirited, energetic show to two casinos this month. Rucker, who recently played a “secret show” at Livewire in Scottsdale, made his mark on country with hits like “Come Back Song,” “This,” “Alright,” “It Won’t Be Like This for Long” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” Southern Style, his fourth studio country album, features his latest No. 1 single “Homegrown Honey,” co-written by Rucker, labelmate Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum and Nathan Chapman. Rucker’s heartfelt new single, “If I Told You,” is climbing the country charts.

Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, 555 Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde, 800.381.7568, cliffcastlecasinohotel.com, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 12, $44-$85.

Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, http://casinodelsol. com/tucson-entertainment, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13, $40$100.

Jay & The Americans MAY 19

The rock band was founded by four teenage boys in a Brooklyn basement more than 50 years ago, and remains one of the greatest success stories in rock ‘n’ roll. From

director since the band formed in the late 1960s. His powerful voice presides over WAR’s political, historical and downright fun songbook. Whether listening to “Lowrider” on “Grand Theft Auto San Andreas” or on classic vinyl, WAR’s music is a timeless thread in the quilt of American pop culture. Come enjoy songs like “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”

Its last studio release was in 2014 with Evolutionary, a double album featuring some of their greatest hits and new singles.

Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita, 520.342.2944, ddcaz.com/ event/8788/, 8 p.m., $15-$35.

The Joe Costello Project MAY 13 AND MAY 27

The smooth sounds of jazz are coming to Wild Horse Pass via The Joe Costello Project. A wellrespected musician in town, Costello headlines this high-energy Phoenixbased group. Kaufee Johnson is the lead singer, Barrett Rehm Gerdes adds various guitar stylings, and Raul Yanez is on the keys.

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, 800.946.4452, wingilariver.com, 9 p.m., free.

WAR

MAY 26

Lonnie Jordan has been WAR’s lead singer, keyboardist and musical

Keith Sweat, Ginuwine and Dru Hill MAY 28

Three of the slickest acts of R&B— Keith Sweat, Ginuwine and Dru Hill—make their way south to Casino del Soul. Plan to hear songs like “Make You Sweat” and “I Want Her,”

by Sweat; the overtly sexual “Pony”

by Ginuwine, and Dru Hill’s “In My Bed” and “How Deep Is Your Love” with Redman.

Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson, http://casinodelsol. com/tucson-entertainment, 7 p.m., $30-$75.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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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

SAME AS IT EVER WAS

Tim Allen brings his ‘no-filter’ humor to Talking Stick Resort Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

S

ince his breakout role in Home Improvement in the 1990s, comedian and actor Tim Allen has become a household name.

Through his appearances in countless other works, such as The Santa Clause and Toy Story trilogies, he has maintained his status as one of comedy’s leading men.

While Allen rose to the top with these and many other roles, he got his start as a stand-up comedian in 1975, when he was just 22. But even with such a longstanding career, he says, his performances are the same as they always have been.

“I haven’t noticed in my shows a change because I have pursued an advancing format,” Allen explains. “My comedy evolves with me, and I’ve been doing this a long time.”

The longstanding humorist is sticking to these roots with a scheduled Saturday, June 3 slot at The Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort.

Despite being famed for his family-friendly roles, when it comes to being politically correct, Allen is not one to hold back. So, it comes as no surprise that he has several qualms with the WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

current wave of political correctness permeating the entertainment industry.

“It feels very, very dark where there’s themes that I touch on in my act that just have words that trigger people,” he says.

“People have a tendency to judge others on what they think they’re thinking rather than what they’re doing, which I think is important,” he continues.

“We’re wordsmiths—poets with timing.

That’s what I look at comedy as. We just move words around, and it’s all about making us laugh collectively…Words are not the villain here; it’s your intent.”

While Allen may add a dose of political relevance across his multiple comedic platforms, as a comedian, he views himself in a unique place to give his perspective.

“I exaggerate to clarify. I think that’s perfectly understandable in the entertainment and the comedy world,” he explains. “But when exaggeration to clarify is out into the news or the political system, it becomes very dangerous.”

In addition to his stand-up tour, he also stars on ABC’s popular sitcom Last Man Standing. In the show, Allen plays Mike Baxter, a father of three daughters who is quick to voice his conservative views on a variety of topics.

“To me, Mike Baxter is kind of an old guy—‘Get off my lawn!’—a little too early in life, but in a loving way.

He’s a good guy,” he says. “The Tim Allen I project on stage is just that on steroids, but mostly my point of view is always, ‘what a strange place we live in, and I’ll show you why this is a strange place to me.’ And maybe you haven’t looked at life like that.”

But while Allen’s comedy may be far-reaching, he clarifies that it’s not all political in nature.

“I’m not a politically motivated comedian. I like to make fun of stuff and make fun of human behavior,” he says. He later adds, “Political satire is one thing. That’s not what I do.”

After premiering in 2011, Last Man Standing has seen strong ratings, maintaining its popularity through six seasons, the most recent of which concluded in March.

“I love doing this television program. I love all the other actors,” says Allen, continuing, “I always use an analogy of a pet. I’ve lost pets in my life and I loved the pets so much that when I lose them, I state over and over, ‘I’m never doing this again’ because losing them is not worth it. (After) the final episode of Home Improvement,

I said, ‘I’ll never have to go through this again.’ Here I am doing this again and I love the new puppy, who is now a middle-aged dog, as much as the dog I missed before.”

Allen, who has been a comedian for 40 years, has a unique outlook on the world and that, he says, gives him the gift of comedic perspective.

“I think there’s a seed of smart-ass or the way I looked at life, and it really came to me quite naturally,” he says.

“My father, who passed away, was very funny; my grandfather was very funny; and I was funny at a very young age, so it’s a gift that I do not take lightly.”

“I’m very grateful to whoever made me that allowed me to be able to have this gift that I get as much enjoyment, if not a little bit more, because that’s why I do it. I love making people laugh. I adore it.”

Tim Allen

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort. com, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, $60-$200.

SHE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE S

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

Melissa Etheridge to bring three musicians with her to Talking Stick Resort

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

ince the beginning of her career, Melissa Etheridge has felt it was important to be truthful, honest and consistent.

Those thoughts have paid off with the dedication of a firm fanbase that has stuck with her for more than 30 years.

They can see her Thursday, May 25, at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale.

“I’ve been committed to the live show being high-quality entertainment,” Etheridge explains. “This is going to be something different and it’s guaranteed to be a good time.”

In the midst of “gathering ideas” for a new record, Etheridge is known for her confessional lyrics in songs like “I’m the Only One,” “Come to My Window” and “I Need to Wake Up.” Her latest release took a different spin.

On Memphis Rock and Soul, Etheridge pays tribute to Stax Records by covering classic songs from its catalog. To do so, she recorded the album in Royal Studios

65

in the Tennessee town.

“Making the album in Memphis was just such a treat,” Etheridge says.

“I fell in love with everyone there. The songs are where I feel rock ‘n’ roll began.

Not only did I get so much inspiration from the R&B, soul music and what they were doing, but from the people.”

She’ll play a few songs from that album, but her show at Talking Stick Resort will feature a career-spanning set.

“I have me plus three pieces,” says Etheridge, who last came to the Valley as part of her solo show. “Now it’s just fierce rock ‘n’ roll. You’re going to hear the hits that you love. All the songs you know and love and want to hear.

Usually, I also go deep into the catalog and do one or two other songs. That’s usually the kind of show we do.”

Melissa Etheridge

Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, talkingstickresort. com, 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25, $40-$675.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE GLADIATOR

67

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

Sparky the Sun Devil to try and oneup Wilbur the Wildcat in an always entertaining match-up that features the two biggest schools in Arizona.

Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Papago Park, 5999 E. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 866.848.8499, vividseats.com, 6 p.m., $11-$45.

MAY’S BEST

SPORTS EVENTS

Kevin Palacios » The Entertainer!

WWE Presents NXT Live!

MAY 4

WWE NXT features the up-andcoming generation of Superstar wrestlers battling to prove that they belong in the WWE. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 7:30 p.m., $16-$231.

directly to a scholarship fund to help children and families cover the costs of child care, swimming lessons and gymnastic classes at the James Family Prescott YMCA. James Family Prescott YMCA, 750 Whipple Street, Prescott, whiskeyrowmarathon.com, 6 a.m., $100.

Phoenix Rising Football Club vs. Reno 1868 FC MAY 6

Arizona’s most talked about soccer team hosts Reno FC as it hopes for a victory in its fifth game of the season.

Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, 751 N. McClintock Drive, Scottsdale, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 7:30 p.m., $10-$35.

MAY 5

Whiskey Row Marathon MAY 6

Come run for a good cause. The proceeds from this marathon go

MAY 14

In honor of Mother’s Day, the first 10,000 fans will receive a clutch that is said to be more clutch than Luis Gonzalez was in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Bring mom to the ballpark as the D-backs host the Pittsburgh Pirates in alternative pink uniforms. Come check out former D-backs Daniel Hudson and Phil Gosselin, too.

Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.462.6500, arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com, 1:10 p.m., $12-$130.

Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings MAY 14

The first 5,000 fans receive LightUp Batons to help cheer on the Phoenix Mercury as it kicks off the season on Mother’s Day against the Dallas Wings.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 3 p.m., $7-$264.

Madrid vs. Frincu LFA 11 This MMA fight features a face off between middleweights Matthew Frincu and KOTC middleweight champion Daniel Madrid. There will be many other fights to get the audience’s blood pumping.

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 4:30 p.m., $32-$57.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Staycay 5K Fun Run/Walk MAY 13

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa kicks off the staycation season with its first Staycay 5K Fun Run/ Walk, which benefits Children’s Miracle Network. The fun run/walk winds through the picturesque Faldo course at Wildfire Golf Club and will conclude with a complimentary post-race pancake breakfast. Add a staycay to the run, with packages starting at $179 per night.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix, register.swcp.net (user name and password cmnfunrun), http://bit.ly/2oFZ2wk, 7 a.m., $25.

Phoenix Mercury vs.

Indiana Fever MAY 17

Join the Phoenix Mercury on Skin Cancer Awareness Night for tips on how to protect your skin as summer looms upon the Valley. The last time the Mercury played the Fever was in the first round of last year’s playoffs, which resulted in a home team win.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 7 p.m., $11-$135.

Arizona vs. Arizona State MAY 18

Arch rivals Arizona State and Arizona baseball square off in the traditional Duel in the Desert. You can expect

Arizona Rattlers vs. Salt Lake Screaming Eagles MAY 20

The Screaming Eagles visit the Valley for the first time as they play the Rattlers in their second encounter of the season.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 6 p.m., $8-$145.

Glow Wars MAY 20

Come soak the competition in Liquid Glow at the world’s first neon-colored battle. Participants can take their pick of Liquid Glow water balloons, Glow Soakers or Glow Balls. The event is dedicated to childhood cancer awareness.

Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe, 602.559.4076, blacklightwars. com, 6:30 p.m., $50.

FC Arizona vs. City of Angels FC MAY 27

FC Arizona and City of Angels FC are in their inaugural season in the National Premier Soccer League, and both are trying to emerge as the Southwest Conference powerhouse.

John D. Riggs Stadium, 1230 S. Longmore, Mesa, info@fcarizona. com, fcarizona.com, 7 p.m., $12.

Arizona Rattlers vs. Nebraska Danger MAY 28

In their game earlier this year, the Rattlers kicked a field goal with 1.5 seconds left and emerged victorious against the Danger. You can expect the Danger to come to the Valley with revenge on their minds in what should be another close game.

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 3 p.m., $10-$145.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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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

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 85215, 480.832.0156 (tee times), 480.832.0158 (dining reservations), PaintedMountainGolf.com

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TWIN PEAKS SCOTTSDALE

8787 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. | Scottsdale, AZ 85260 | (480) 483-0921

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Sp icy Ca jun Ru b

Arizona Golf – Resort Style 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. Power Road, Mesa, Arizonagolfresort.com. Book tee times online or call 480.832.1661

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE ‘GOLDY’ RULE

69

Diamondbacks’ All-Star Paul Goldschmidt stays humble about golf, too We’ve heard that Amy wears the golfing pants in the family. How do your games compare?

She is really good and I am not. It’s that simple. She only plays about once a year and she is still so consistent and so precise. I guess when you go to college on a golf scholarship, you’re going to be pretty good at it, and it shows.

Sometimes it’s a little frustrating when I play with her because she is dang good.

I try to play and practice and I still can’t come close to what she does, at least not yet. Maybe when my baseball career is over, I’ll have more time to devote to it and I’ll become a decent golfer.

John Davis » The Entertainer!

T

here was little fanfare when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.

After all, no position player from Texas State University had ever played in the major leagues and there was nothing flashy about his playing style that might have stamped him as a bonus baby.

But, as it has turned out, “Goldy” is a natural, who has finished second twice in MVP voting. In some circles, he is considered the best all-around first baseman in the major leagues. He has a career .299 batting average with 140 home runs and 507 RBIs in six seasons, is a formidable base stealer and fields his position with the best of them.

He was called up to the majors on August 1, 2011, and, since then, has won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards, the National League Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Hank Aaron Award, given to the top hitter in each league. Last year, he was named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive season, matching a team record set

by Randy Johnson.

Off the field, Goldschmidt has a reputation for humility, is a devout Christian and supports charities at every opportunity, including Goldy’s Fund 4 Kids, a foundation he and his wife, Amy, established to help kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where they had become familiar figures as volunteers.

The Goldschmidts met in college, which Amy attended on a golf scholarship. While she rules the golf roost, Paul also loves to tee it up when his schedule allows.

Goldy recently discussed his “other” game, his devotion to charity work and, of course, baseball.

How would you describe your golf game?

I’m a casual golfer. I just have fun out here. We need to compete so hard in baseball that I try to get away from that when I play golf and make it more of a fun time. My short game is probably better than the rest of it simply because I can keep it more under control. I hit it pretty decent off the tee but I don’t necessarily hit it where I want it to go. I think I’d rather hit the long ball on the baseball field.

We haven’t seen you in the celebrity pro-am portion of the Waste Management Phoenix Open yet. Is that in your future?

Oh boy, I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I would probably hurt someone and that would be awful. It would be fun but I really don’t trust myself to keep my ball under control so I don’t nail anyone with a bad shot. It would be a blast to play the 16th hole. I think I would have a lot of fun playing in it. I just know how bad I would feel if I hit a ball into the gallery and hurt someone. But it looks like a great setting and I’m sure it would be fun to play that hole. That would be the highlight of the round.

Where do you like to play in the Valley?

My personal favorite is Grayhawk. If you’re talking about public golf, they have two great courses up there and they keep both of them in great condition.

They give you a lot of different looks, with such a nice variety of holes, and everything they do at the course is just first class. To me, that is a great place to play golf.

The grounds crew might not appreciate it, but have you ever tried hitting golf balls at Chase Field from the home plate area into the swimming pool?

No, but that would definitely be a lot

of fun. I’ve seen some other baseball stadiums set up mini golf courses or let players hit from home plate, and I think it would be pretty cool. I think the pool is about 130 yards, so it’s fairly close for a golf shot. It’s not a big target to hit, so it might take a few shots to drop one in there. I might do it on the first shot or it could be closer to 15, but I have confidence I could do it within 15 shots.

Speaking of baseball, what was your take on the most recent World Series?

That was one of the best World Series I have seen. The last two or three have been really good, but this one, with a fantastic Game 7, the rain delay, Cleveland and Chicago both trying to break the curse, when you put it all together, it was an awesome series and great for the game of baseball. Neither team was a team you wanted to root against so it was really fun to watch. Of course, you always want to be playing in it yourself, but a World Series doesn’t get much better than that.

Off the field, you are very involved in charity work. What is your approach to helping others?

Giving back and helping charities is something my parents taught me at an early age. I remember, going back to high school days and even before that, it’s something they always emphasized and something I really enjoyed, so when I got called up (to the major leagues) it was the natural thing to do. With the players I looked up to when I was a kid, I could see that they were involved in charitable activities and we, as pro athletes, have such a great platform to do so much good, that it really is incumbent on us to do that and set an example. We have an opportunity to have such a huge impact, and especially when I look at this community, this is home now. So, any time we have a chance to do that, we need to help our community and try to make it an even better place to live than it already is.

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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 MAY 2017

THE YOUNGSTER

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FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

THE FUNNEL CAKE BLOG: WHAT’S NEW IN SOCAL

VIRTUAL REALITY PUTS NEW SPIN ON THEME PARKS

Randy Montgomery » The Entertainer!

H

eading to the theme park used to mean high-speed thrills on a rollercoaster, experiencing live entertainment and consuming delicious food. While that’s long from being gone, a new trend is forming— virtual reality.

Six Flags Magic Mountain recently added Sony VR Headsets to one of its famed rollercoasters. This option was rolled out to other parks in the chain and has proven successful. As guests board the ride, they are given Sony VR headsets. Once the train dispatches from the station, the safely secured headset displays a videogame-style movie that is timed to the dips and loops.

Riders can experience “The New Revolution Galactic Attack,” the world’s first complex gameplay on a VR coaster. Battle alien drones and fire on them with special weapons that are controlled via low-latency positional head tracking.

In April, Knott’s Berry Farm unveiled the first permanent free-roaming, virtual reality experience at a U.S. theme park. “VR Showdown in Ghost Town” is located within the Boardwalk Arcade. The experience is fully themed.

Attendees enter the lab of Professor Welles, and are then escorted into one

of the numerous game play rooms. The staff helps fit players with a headset, headphones and shooting device. While you can move freely within the room, the custom-designed video plays within your headset.

Professor Welles sends guests on a time-travel adventure, which transports them to a futuristic version of Knott’s western town of Calico. Once there, they must defend Ghost Town from evil robotic invaders. The result is a fully immersive, interactive VR gaming experience that was designed specifically for the park.

The difference here is that the gaming devices and headsets are designed for the attraction, and are not the standard Samsung equipment.

While playing, guests can see their gun and companion on their headset screen. While they are not able to see the room, the advanced technology and sensors on the headsets allow them to see the friend with whom they are playing, which is a really cool feature.

The Knott’s Berry Farm attraction does require an additional fee, but the 3-minute game is well worth the nominal upcharge, and keeps the line short. There is no additional charge for Galactic Attack at Magic Mountain, but be prepared to wait.

For photos and additional updates, visit: facebook.com/theFUNnelCakeBlog • theFUNnelCakeBlog.com

June 2 - July 2 W Valley | 623.776.8400

JULY 7 - 16

c/e valley | 602.252.8497

visit azbroadway.org/beauty For venue information WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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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 MAY

even try their hand at the ukulele.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, 480.478.6000, mim.org, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., included in museum admission.

Megan Marples » The Entertainer!

Sesame Street Live MAY 3 AND MAY 4

One of Sesame Street’s most adored characters, Elmo, joins friends like Abby Cadabby to show how bonds can be strengthened through the sharing of cookies, singing and dancing.

Mesa Arts Center 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6511, mesaartscenter.com, 6:30 p.m., $20 to $65.

Peter and the Starcatcher MAY 5 TO MAY 14

Written by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family musical), Peter and the Starcatcher is a prequel to Peter Pan. Elice adapted a children’s book series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson into a high seas adventure for the stage, complete with an unwilling band of orphans, Molly, a courageous young girl, and mysterious cargo aboard the Neverland in this Greasepaint Youtheatre presentation.

The Historic Stagebrush Theatre, 7020 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.949.7529, greasepaint.org, various times, $15-$17.

ics staff will simulate a water rescue and provide CPR demonstrations and information on sun safety.

Hamilton Aquatic Center, 3838 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480-782-2750, chandleraz.gov/ aquatics, noon to 5 p.m., free.

Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival MAY 7

Cinco de Mayo may mean May 5, but the real party is on May 7. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Ballet Folklorico, live music by the likes of War, and an interactive kids’ zone full of rides. There are also unlimited tacos from different regions of Mexico, along with barbecue and desserts.

Downtown Phoenix, Washington Street and First Avenue, 602.279.4669, cincophx.com, noon to 10 p.m., $5 to $10.

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure

SELECT DAYS MAY 6 TO MAY 21

Watch Childsplay put a musical spin on a classic tale. Each actor is a rock musician, playing tunes with a 21st-century twist.

Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 480.350.8288, childsplayaz.org, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m.

Sundays, $12 to $26.

Fields of Gold MAY 13

An acoustic guitar and a string quartet will accompany the Chandler Children’s Choir as it performs songs like “Cherry Blossoms,” “Homeland” and “Fields of Gold.”

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, chandlerchildrenschoir.org, 7 p.m., $18 to $25.

MAY 6

Help kids build the skills they need to stay safe in and around water by attending Water Safety Awareness Day at Hamilton Aquatic Center. The event, which falls during National Water Safety Month, features free games and public swim, plus AquatWWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

This community event’s highlights include a kids’ zone with water slides and bounce houses, Arizona’s largest lemon squeeze, hot dog- and hamburger-eating contests, music, cornhole games and an Arnold Palmer putting booth/driving range.

Founders Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, lemonadedaysaz.com, noon to 8 p.m., $8 in advance, $10 at the gate.

MAY 13 AND MAY 20

Pop into Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace for free soapy, scientific fun. The second annual event brings together bubbles, art and chemistry for a learning experience for kids and their families.

Enjoy live entertainment, giveaways and contests, too.

The District at Tempe Marketplace near Dave & Busters, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, tempemarketplace.com/bubble, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 13, free.

The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace near AMC Fountain, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, shopdesertridge.com/bubble, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20, free.

Girl Scout Badge Day MAY 20

Girl Scouts can earn a badge at the MIM while they and their families enjoy Experience Polynesia. Girl Scout Daisies through Ambassadors are invited to tour the MIM’s galleries with Junior Museum Guides.

Learn to play the ukulele, make an instrument craft, participate in a workshop and take photos.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, 480.478.6000, mim.org, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $14, which includes admission to museum and program costs. Registration required by calling or emailing Cristi Pontius at 602.452.7105 or cpontius@ girlscoutsaz.org.

Mother Daughter Luau

MAY 12

Celebrate Water Safety

MAY 20

Bubble Bash

Skatefest Show off some cool moves and learn new tricks at the Goodyear Community Skate Park. Skateboarders can enter the “Best Trick” contest and enjoy food and drinks from participating vendors. Helmets are required.

Goodyear Skate Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, 623.882.7515, goodyearaz.gov, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., free.

Lemonade Days

MAY 20

Experience Polynesia MAY 20 AND MAY 21

Travel to the Polynesian islands this month by heading no farther than the Musical Instrument Museum.

“Experience Polynesia” features musical performances and ethic dancing, as well as a special menu at Café Allegro. Museum patrons can

Celebrate the special bond between a mother and a daughter at a luau-themed party. There will be games, raffles with prizes and a contest for best-dressed. Refreshments will be served.

Wigwam Resort, 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Goodyear, 623.882.7525, goodyearaz.gov/ rec, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., $25 to $55.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

SUNNY DAYS Dance veteran hits the stage as Elmo in ‘Elmo Makes Music’

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

E

lyse Blunt loves her job.

After all, several nights a week she entertains thousands of kids and, OK, their parents, portraying Elmo in Elmo Makes Music.

Performances of the show come to the Mesa Arts Center at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 4. Elmo plays a central role in the performance. When the new music teacher’s instruments go missing, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and others come to the rescue and discover instruments they never knew existed.

“We think of creative ways to make music with ‘instruments’ like cookie jars, spoons and bottles,” Blunt says.

“The audience claps their hands, stomps their feet and sings along with us.”

Blunt says she can pull off her role because she’s a “goofball.” Ernie was a childhood love, and she’s been taking dance lessons since she was 11. Those things rolled into one have gotten her far. After graduating from high school, she eschewed college to work at Busch Gardens in her hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia. When the park opened a Sesame Street area, and she exceled at her job, one of her managers took her to a Sesame Street Live audition. He had previously

73

worked for the parent company, VStar Entertainment Group.

Blunt has since starred in 1-2-3 Imagine with Elmo & Friends, Can’t Stop Singing, Let’s Dance and Make a New Friend. When she’s not rehearsing, or prepping in the green room, the 15-year veteran of dance and the stage loves to catch a concert, work on her technique in the studio, or spend time with friends.

Her days are hectic. She performs in two cities per week, with rehearsals on the first day at each venue.

“We will also check out the venue and see what’s different about it from the last city,” she says. “Then we do warmups and get ready for the show.

We’ll have a meet and greet before that, if we’re assigned that that day.”

She loves to watch the reactions of fans to her.

“Watching the kids’ reactions are just great,” Blunt says. “My favorite part is when we reveal our surprise to the teacher.”

Although she preferred Ernie when she was young, she sees Elmo as her soulmate.

“He’s a goofball and a class clown, too,” she says with a laugh. “I can kind of relate to that. I’m definitely a child at heart. I watch videos of Elmo all the time. I’m playful and I like to use that, too.”

Elmo Makes Music!

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 4, $20-$65.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE SHOWMAN

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LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

THESE WORDS ARE HER OWN Natasha Bedingfield talks Train tour and the power of music Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

E

nglish pop singer Natasha Bedingfield might actually have a pocketful of sunshine.

The bubbly songwriter was filled with excitement as she discussed preparing for her summer tour with Train and O.A.R., a jaunt that hits Ak-Chin Pavilion on Tuesday, May 16.

“It’s kind of like a summer trip,” she says with a laugh. “I’m getting to connect with people and it’s going to be really fun.”

In between rehearsals, she purchased inflatable couches, tables and an umbrella for the area outside of her bus to make it “really summery.” She’s looking forward to another integral part of her tour: the cuisine. A vegetarian, Bedingfield likes to try restaurants near the venues.

The most important part is the music. Fans can expect to hear her upbeat tunes like “Pocketful of Sunshine,” “These Words” and the Grammy-nominated “Unwritten.”

“One of my favorite things about doing the live show is having people sing the lyrics,” Bedingfield says. “It just feels magical to me because I wrote the songs. It just came from nothing and then suddenly it becomes a living, breathing part of other peoples’ lives.”

Audiences are in for a treat, too, because she’s set to debut “tons” of new music that spans genres.

“For me a good song is a good song,” she says. “It’s like having a good body. Kate Moss looks good in whatever she wears. A good song, you can produce it any way.”

In addition to her albums, Unwritten, Pocketful of Sunshine and Strip Me, the singer has collaborated

with artists ranging from Nicki Minaj and Simple Plan to Rascal Flatts and Lifehouse.

“I’m quite a busy person,” Bedingfield says. “Music is all about collaboration, you know, it’s not just about one person. It’s about coming together.”

Speaking of coming together, Bedingfield worked with Paul McCartney and several other artists on charity single, “Love Song to the Earth,” with proceeds benefiting the United Nations Foundation and Friends of the Earth U.S. Bedingfield says she feels she has a responsibility to shine the spotlight on certain issues.

“I just feel that if you have a microphone in front of you regularly, then you better have something to say,” she says.

Her tour with Train marks the first time she has toured in the United States in years. She appreciates the culture Train has built around its music, comparing

the vibe to a festival where fans return annually, earning their fill of music.

“We’ve been working hard, everyone works hard, and sometimes you just need to let go and sing along and dance along and just kind of lose yourself in the music,” she says.

As for the sunshine singer’s advice for the 100-degree Arizona weather?

“Oh my lord,” she says with a laugh. “Don’t do cardio workouts. Work out at night.”

Train w/O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Avenue, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, $25-$79.50.

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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

Madness

Lucky Devils

Nick Thune

Kyle Phelan

Nile Theater, 6:30 p.m., $13-$15 191 Toole, 8 p.m., $16-$18

LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR

One Body Too Many

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., free Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Joe’s Grotto, 6:30 p.m., $10

MAY 10

Snake Burner

Denney

Sondre Lerche

Greyhounds

Joshua Powell & The Great Train Robbery

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free Crescent Ballroom, 8:30 p.m., $20$22

Bar Smith, 10 p.m., $10 Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

p.m., $31.50-$38.50

Tim Kasher

MAY 1

Jay Allan & The Uncommon Good w/ The Runner-Up, Gene Pool

A Tribute to Mongo Santamaria

Marcia Ball

The Venomous Pinks w/ The Darts, Sugar Stains, Cheap Hotels

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Lizz Wright

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $8

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $48.50-$63.50

Kane Brown

Sorority Noise

Traitors w/ Distinguisher

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $14-$16

Livewire, 7 p.m., sold out Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $12-$15

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Whitherward w/ Jay Allan, Cameron Degurski, The Waters

MAY 2

Zac Brown Band

Coach Taylor

Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $10

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $14-$16 The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $10-$20

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $8-$10

MAY 7

A Tribute to Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan & West Coast Cool

Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $33.50-$43.50

Livewire, 6 p.m., $25.50

MAY 5

A-Plus

Bob Schneider

Combust w/ Headstrum, Bloody Rogue Bastards, Andy Warpigs

BobaFlex

RockBar, 6 p.m., $15

The Bombpops

New Found Glory

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $8

The Obsessed

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $33-$69

The Weeknd

Orpheum Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $55-$125

Nile Theater, 7 p.m., $24-$28 Club Red, 6 p.m., $14-$16 Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Zakir Hussain w/ Rahul Sharma

Dweezil Zappa Lea Salonga

Mike Eldred Trio

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $48.50-$68.50

Nick Thune

Chad Gregory

REO Speedwagon

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

MAY 3 Bleached

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Gruesome

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $18-$20 Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $50-$195

The Weeks

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Francine Reed

The Nash, 3 p.m., $15-$25

MAY 8 At the Drive-In

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $29.50$39.50

Diners w/ Real Life Buildings, Hiccups, The Expos Trunk Space, 7 p.m., $6

Tift Merritt

Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Club Red, 6 p.m., $13-$15

MAY 9

The Selfies

Atoms Fall

The Bad Signs

MAY 4 Dengue Fever w/ Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $15

Devil to Pay

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $8-$10

Evil Waze

BLK Live, 8 p.m., $20

Hillsong Young & Free

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $24.95$64.95

Evan Shinners

Lea Salonga

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Orpheum Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $85-$149

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

MAY 11 Balance and Composure 191 Toole, 8 p.m., $15-$17

Delain w/ Hammerfall

Maya Day + Nightclub, noon, $50

Furious George

Desole

Black Bottom Lighters

Zedd

Rhythm Room, 5:30 p.m., $12

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $9.33-$12

RockBar, 6 p.m., $10

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $5-$30

Coast 2 Coast Interactive Showcase

MAY 6

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Insomniacs

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $30.50-$38.50

Copper Blues, 9:30 p.m., free

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $22

Sundressed w/ Daisyhead

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $44.75-$235

Crescent Ballroom, 8:30 p.m., $23-$30

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $38.50-$43.50

North

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $6-$10

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

The Chainsmokers

Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $42.75-$223

Eyes Set to Kill

Club Red, 6:30 p.m., $13

Kilter

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

La Santa Cecilia

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $18-$22

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $10

Club Red – East, 6 p.m., $25-$75

ForeverAtLast w/ The Protest Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $10-$12

Handsome Ghost

Club Congress, 7:30 p.m., $15-$17

Hot Buttered Rum

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $15-$18

Matt Pryor w/ Dan Andriano

Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $13.50-$16

Poptone

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $22.50

Robin Trower

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $26-$48

Wale

Livewire, 7 p.m., $27-$125

Live Band Karaoke with The Instant Classics Copper Blues, 8:30 p.m., free

MAY 12 2 Tone Lizard Kings

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Alex Dezen

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Autumn’s End

Club Red, 6 p.m., $10-$13

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

Robin Trower

The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $25

Sabaton

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $25

Treasure Fingers

Bar Smith, 9 p.m., $10

Worship Night in America

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7 p.m., $15-$69.75

The Instant Classics

Copper Blues, 9:30 p.m., free

MAY 13

Father John Misty MAY 12-14

FORM Arcosanti, Time TBA, $389-$2,500 In the five years since his debut album under his Father John Misty moniker, indie folk singer (and pop songwriter) Josh Tillman has continuously made headlines. Whether it is from his sarcastic and ironic music or his humorous Twitter presence and trolling of journalists, he has earned his space in the music world. Now, just two years after his critically acclaimed sophomore album, I Love You, Honeybear, Tillman is back with the politically and socially relevant Pure Comedy. As part of its supporting tour, Tillman will perform far out in the desert at what The Fader has deemed “America’s most unique festival.”

Space at the three-day festival, however, is limited, so fill out an application to reserve your spot at this year’s massive music campout.

Blue October

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $14.69-$60

Breathe Carolina

Maya Day + Nightclub, 10 p.m., free

Devin the Dude

Club Red – East, 7 p.m., $20

Dishwalla

BLK Live, 8 p.m., $19

FORM Arcosanti

Arcosanti, various times, $389$2,500

Hellyabrofest

Trunk Space, 7 p.m., $6

Hot Buttered Rum

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $15-$17

Paper Foxes

Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $5

The Alkaholiks

Rebel Lounge, 9 p.m., $16-$25

E-40

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $26-$150

FORM Arcosanti

Arcosanti, various times, $389$2,500

Los Tucanes De Tijuana

Celebrity Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $51-$106

No Volcano w/ Whispering Wires, JJCnV Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

The Paladins

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $16-$20

Stateline

Club Red – East, 8 p.m., $10

Urban Splash 6

BLK Live, 2 p.m., $20-$50

Yung Simmie

Nile Theater, 8 p.m., $25

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Real Friends

Testament w/ Sepultura, Prong

The Roosevelts

Vampyre w/ Oozer

Coach Taylor

Shawn Johnson

MAY 16

MAY 18

The Adarna

Kool A.D. w/ Ceschi, Chisme, Cultdays

Nile Theater, 5:15 p.m., $20-$23 Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $10-$12 Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Livewire, 6 p.m., $23-$130

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

All Them Witches

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$15

Conor Oberst

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14 Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $29-$44

Icon for Hire

Club Red, 7 p.m., $15-$17

L.A. Witch w/ Mr. Elevator

MAY 19 Brian Wilson

Train w/ Natasha Bedingfield, O.A.R.

Centennial Hall, 8 p.m., $45-$125

Nathan Dean

The Bulletboys

MAY 17

Chris Stapleton w/ Brothers Osborne, Lucie Silvas

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 7 p.m., $25-$350 Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Brother Ali

Club Red – West, 7 p.m., $18-$65 BLK Live, 8 p.m., $20

Ben Rice Band

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 7 p.m., $30.75-$207

Los Lonely Boys

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Matthew Logan Vasquez

Livewire, 7 p.m., $17

Moonchild

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $20

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m. $5-$7 Mesa Arts Center, 8 p.m., $32-$45 The Flycatcher, 9 p.m., $12 Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Cold Shott & the Hurricane Horns JoJo

Mickey Avalon & Dirt Nasty Trace Bundy

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $33.50-$38.50

34 North

Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

MAY 14 E-40

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $25-$150

FORM Arcosanti

Arcosanti, various times, $389$2,500

Metalachi

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

SYNRGY

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

MAY 15 Chris Brown

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., $25.20-$420.25

George Clanton w/ Negative Gemini, Repose Valley Bar, 7 p.m., $10-$12

Helado Negro w/ Nao Bustamante, Josh Kun

Crescent Ballroom, 7 p.m., $20

Pallbearer

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$18 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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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

MAY 20

Shonen Knife

Adrianna Marie & Her Groovecutters

Laura Walsh

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10-$12

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $15 Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

Banana Gun

MAY 24

Billy Childs Quartet

An Evening with Acoustic Hot Tuna

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $10-$12 Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $40

Black Bear

Livewire, 8 p.m., $20-$30

JJ Grey & Mofro

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $25

Leftover Salmon

Rialto Theatre, 9 p.m., $26-$28

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $48.50-$53.50

Brian Chartrand, Jay Allan, Matthew Thornton Perform Tom Petty’s Wildflowers Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Esham w/ Mastamind, Skitzo, Daniel Jordan

Mother Mother

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $20-$25

SIX60

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Super Hero

Comerica Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $52.50-$332.50

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $20-$25 Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15 Copper Blues, 9 p.m., free

MAY 21 The Damned

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $23-$99

Flynt Flossy and Turquoise Jeep Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15

The Sweet Remains

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $30.50-$38.50

A Toast to the Rat Pack

Chandler Center for the Arts, 3 p.m., $29-$44

MAY 22 Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds

Highly Suspect John Legend

Marsha Ambrosius and Eric Benét Tempe Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $58-$155

Never Shout Never

Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., $23-$25

Run River North

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $13-$15

Shonen Knife

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., $15

The Sugar Thieves

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

MAY 25 Decker. w/ Bear Ghost, Upsahl, I Am Hologram

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $60-$130

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $8-$10

Catfish and the Bottlemen

Highly Suspect

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $25

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

Coach Taylor

Lisa Fischer

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

MAY 23 An Evening with Acoustic Hot Tuna

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $48.50-$53.50

Ann Wilson of Heart

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $40-$65

Band of Horses

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $30-$35

Bishop Briggs

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $53.50-$73.50

Melissa Etheridge

Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., prices TBA

Brian Wilson MAY 19

Centennial Hall, Tucson, 8 p.m., $45-$125 Celebrity Theatre, May 22, 7:30 p.m., $60-$130 It’s hard to believe the Beach Boys’ legendary Pet Sounds is over 50 years old. In honor of this huge milestone, Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson is continuing his massive touring production of the influential album. With two stops in Arizona—at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall, and the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix—Wilson is set to have a busy May, bringing these ’60s classics to thousands of longtime fans across the state and the world.

Living Colour

BLK Live, 8 p.m., $22.50

MEGA Funk Fest

Rhythm Room, 2 p.m., $10

New Kids on the Block w/ Boyz II Men, Paula Abdul

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $55-$75

Talking Stick Resort Arena, 7:30 p.m., $35.20-$990.25

The Sugar Thieves

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10

Vallis Alps

Rock Lobster

Copper Blues, 9:30 p.m., free

MAY 27 Dead & Company Pre-Party

Last Exit Live, 4:20 p.m., $12-$15

Eli Young Band

Livewire, 7 p.m., $22-$25

Gabriel & Dresden

Randy Jackson of Zebra Vamps

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$75

Voodoo Swing w/ Whiskey Kiss

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., $20

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $20 Rebel Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $5

Western Settings w/ ESE

Mon Laferte Purple

Saved by the ’90s

191 Toole, 9 p.m., $8-$10

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$23

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Celtic Woman

MAY 26

Marquee Theatre, 6 p.m., $25

Austin John of Hinder

MAY 28

Mesa Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $43.82-$112.97

Never Shout Never

Rebel Lounge, 7 p.m., sold out

RockBar, 6 p.m., $15

DJ Z-Trip

Crescent Ballroom, 9 p.m., $18-$20 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Souvenirs

MAY 29 Ty Segall

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $20-$25

Coach Taylor

Copper Blues, 7 p.m., free

Valley Bar, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15

Monarch Theatre, 10 p.m., $15

Last Exit Live, 7:30 p.m., $17.50-$25.50

Phoenix Blues Society Fundraiser

Twiztid

Dead & Company

Ak-Chin Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $40-$706

MAY 30 Black Stone Cherry

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $27-$30

Frontier Rukus

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Sam Outlaw

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Xandria

Club Red, 6 p.m., $18-$20

MAY 31 Elephant Revival

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $17-$20

K. Phillips

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10

Modest Mouse

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out

The Wailers

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $20

Wavves

The Pressroom, 8 p.m., $20-$23

Ruca

Copper Blues, 7:30 p.m., free

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

79

SHOOTING FROM THE HIP Banana Gun discusses varied path to ‘Dance Monkey Down in Faux Town’ Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

N

early a decade into its career, Phoenix-based rock group Banana Gun is still finding new ways to perfect its sound.

Banana Gun’s musicians bring an array of styles and influences to the table, ultimately creating records with personality. And while it may be easiest to describe Banana Gun as rock ‘n’ roll to a new listener, its members’ influences are across the board, drawing from folk, R&B and even funk. But despite these different tags, Banana Gun has never aimed to fit into any one mold.

“It’s continued to evolve,” says bassist/backup vocalist Ross Troost.

“But I think, if anything, there’s always still that distinct Banana Gun feel to the songs that we write.”

Linking up to form Banana Gun in fall 2008, Troost and the band’s other members–guitarist/lead vocalist Kevin Loyd, drummer Ian Breslin,

guitarist/backup vocalist Nic deHaan, saxophonist/backup vocalist Kyle Parks and original keyboardist Travis Engler– came from different bands and musical backgrounds.

“I think what’s cool about our group is that we all listen to different stuff but we all like the same stuff,” Troost says, adding, “We definitely do share a lot of the same musical interests.”

Now plotting the release of its fourth full-length studio album, Dance Monkey Down in Faux Town, Banana Gun has learned to operate from experience.

Across their previous projects–2010’s Banana Gun, 2012’s The Elephant in the Room, 2014’s Love.

Instinct, and the EP I and the Me–the musicians progressed from DIY home recordings to learning the ins and the outs of a professional studio.

While they now employ a combination of live and multitrack recording, they didn’t always utilize both methods.

After upgrading to a professional studio

on its second album, The Elephant in the Room, the band felt it went overboard with the studio tricks. It was this that led them to approach their next project differently.

“We kind of went with the idea of ‘Let’s just do it live,’” Troost says of Love.Instinct. “We wanted to capture more of the feel of it rather than making it feel maybe sterile a little bit.”

But it’s not always an either/or decision. On its last release, the 2014 EP I and the Me, Banana Gun incorporated elements of both recording styles.

“Ultimately, what we found is recording is an art just like performing and just like writing,” he says. “It’s a totally different animal. What we’ve found, at least for us, is a good balance.” “(I and the Me) seemed to be really where we found the best balance, and that’s very much what we used for this record…Just overall, I think we’ve gotten better as musicians and the recording aspect of it. So we kind of do a mix of everything.”

Troost says the band is now at its best with Dance Monkey Down in Faux Town.

“It’s probably our most cohesive record as far as sound (and) style,” Troost says. “It was very deliberate how we wanted the record to be, how we wanted it to flow and sound. So, I would say, in that sense, it was more

thought out, but at the same time, I do think that we’re definitely writing some of the best songs that we’ve written.”

Banana Gun will perform Dance Monkey Down in Faux Town in its entirety during the album release show at Crescent Ballroom on Saturday, May 20. Upon release, vinyl copies will be available for fans, something new for Banana Gun. “It’s much more personal for all five of us than I think any other record that we’ve done, so that in itself is really all that we could ever ask for,” Troost explains.

“If you can make it this far and go through some of the things that we’ve had to go through and be able to come out with a record like this, then you’ve done pretty good…If people like it and it sells, then that’s just the gravy on top, really.”

Banana Gun w/Wyves, The Woodworks, Dry River Yacht Club and Sara Robinson Band

Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, $10-$12.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

THE NIGHTOWL

81

SIP » UNLEASH » MIX » MINGLE » PULSE » SHAKE

Insomniac debuts Bassrush Massive Arizona at Rawhide Melissa Szenda » The Entertainer!

R

DROP THE BASS

elentless Beats has something special planned for fans of deep, sweet-sounding wubs.

Insomniac’s internationally renowned bass music brand, Bassrush, is coming to the Valley on Saturday, May 6, for the inaugural Bassrush Massive Arizona at Rawhide Western Town and Event Center.

Bassrush Massive Arizona festival features eight bass music producers: Adventure Club, Flux Pavilion, NGHTMRE, Andy C, Herobust, SAYMYNAME, Phiso and Tisoki.

“We couldn’t be more stoked to be again partnering with Insomniac to bring such a marquee brand to Phoenix,” says Relentless Beats founder Thomas Turner.

“Bassrush always is one of the most anticipated events at any major festival and I know it is going to blow our fans away.”

The brand has evolved since its creation in the 1990s, expanding from solely drum and bass to a wider variety of bass-oriented genres. Bassrush hosts stages at all major Insomniac festivals, including EDC Las Vegas and Beyond Wonderland.

In 2015, Bassrush Takeover made its way to Phoenix’s Monarch Theatre for a sold-out show. Bassrush Massive is expected to draw larger crowds.

Bassrush Massive Arizona Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, rawhide.com/ index.php/bassrush-massive/, relentlessbeats.com, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 6, $55-$85.

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THE BEST NIGHTLIFE EVENTS FOR MAY

Kevin Palacios » The Entertainer!

Paul van Dyk in Phoenix MAY 5

The Grammy Award-winning DJ, record producer and musician Paul van Dyk topped the Mixmag list in 2005 and has kept his career consistent since then. Known for his remix of “Love Simulation” by Humate and his hit single “For an Angel,” van Dyk has produced seven studio and four remix albums. He will make an appearance at The Pressroom with Simon Patterson, Alex M.O.R.P.H. and Heatbeat.

The Pressroom, 441 W. Madison Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats. com, 9 p.m., $35-$250.

Adventure Club, Flux Pavilion, NGHTMRE, Andy C, Herobust, SAYMYNAME, Phiso and Tisoki.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler, relentlessbeat.com, 5:30 p.m., $55-$85.

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike MAY 7

Dimitri Thivaios and Michael Thivaios, also known as Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, are brothers and a DJ duo from Belgium.

They were ranked second in DJ Mag’s 2016 Top 100 DJs list. They collaborated with Steve Aoki and Unmet Ozcan in “Melody,” which topped the Beatport Charts. For the past two years, they have won awards for Best Global DJ and Best Big Room DJ. The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, releasevip.com, 11 a.m., $30.

The Chainsmokers MAY 9

Like most acts, The Chainsmokers had meager beginnings, but exploded with their hit “#Selfie.”

The uber successful singles “Roses,” the Grammy-winning “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Closer” followed. Their debut album, Memories...Do Not Open recently debuted at No. 1.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, 7 p.m., $42.75-$59.75.

Dada Life MAY 6

Olle Corneer and Stefan Engblom formed the Swedish DJ collective Dada Life in 2006 and have headlined the largest electronic dance festivals around the world.

Be ready to laugh because the duo incorporates humor in their performances. For example, they hold two Guinness World Records for the world’s largest pillow fight and world’s largest gathering of people dressed as fruit.

The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480.850.7777, releasevip.com, 11 a.m., tickets start at $25.

Wale

MAY 11

Lauren Lane and Blume MAY 7

Bassrush Massive Arizona 2017 MAY 6

The inaugural festival is headlined by some of the top collectives— WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

This Los Angeles-based artist and Coachella veteran released her debut EP, Cool Kids, on Nic Fanciuilli’s Saved Records and followed it up with Diary of a Madwoman on Eat’s Everything’s new label, Edible, in early 2016.

Shady Park, 26 E. University Drive, Tempe, relentlessbeats. com, noon, $15.

The Washington, D.C., rapper Wale was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Song for his track “Lotus Flower Bomb,” which features R&B artist Miguel. Wale has two albums that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, The Gifted and The Album About Nothing. Wale was recently nominated for BET’s Best Male Hip Hop Artist award.

Livewire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, 480.970.6980, livewireaz.com, 7 p.m., $27 and $125.

Breathe Carolina MAY 12

The electro pop band Breathe Carolina is behind hits “Blackout”

and “Savages.” Forming in 2009, the band got its start from a MySpace profile, where it posted songs that accumulated more than 30 million plays in 2009.

The band has released two singles this year, “Can’t Take It” and “Up All Night.”

Māyā Day + Nightclub, 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, mayaclubaz.com, 10 p.m., free with RSVP.

E-40

MAY 13

E-40 is one of the most praised rappers and has worked with some of the biggest artists in hip hop.

E-40 was among the first West Coast rappers to sign a major-label deal. In 30 years, he has worked with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Tupac Shakur, Akon and Snoop Dogg. His Marquee Theatre show will feature Clyde Carson, Tha Native, Skinny Pete, Terrorist Angel Babies from Neptune, Bsmiley, Lil Wheat featuring Genesis and S.O.S. Mafia.

Marquee Theatre, 730 N Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 6:30 p.m., $26-$150.

Dirty Disco 2017 MAY 20

Israel-based artist Berg heads up the lineup that also includes Code Black, Jordan Suckley, Jvst Say Yes, Dubloadz, The Prototypes and Squnto.

Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, relentlessbeats.com, 5 p.m., $35-$60.

Bear Grillz + Terravita MAY 27

After a successful debut EP, Grillz is playing sold-out shows across North America. The mysterious artist claims to be from Yosemite, so expect a somewhat bizarre show. Terravita has run the gamut of electronic music, from drum and bass to contemporary dubstep and trap.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, relentlessbeats.com, 9 p.m., $20-$35.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE MAY 2017

83

MAD MIXOLOGIST

Getting down and dirty with the Valley’s hottest shot slingers

after classic episodes of Cheers. It’s an episode during the “Sam and Diane” years. In it, Sam’s old broadcaster buddy, Dave, predicts that Sam and Diane will be broken up in the next 24 hours. Then, Dave sets out to make sure that it happens.

Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

T

ucson-bred Travis Parsley grew up wanting to be a sportscaster or teacher.

But, when he turned 18, he took a job busing and serving at a local sports bar and quickly saw how much fun bartenders had.

Within the first month, he offered to bartend whenever anyone needed him. One day, after staying late and coming in early, a coworker left the bar for another gig. He landed his opportunity.

His next big break would come thanks to Lowe’s Ventana Canyon, where he started as a bartender in his early 20s. Soon, he was asked by his superiors if he owned a tie.

A tie?

Turns out, they wanted Parsley to be the resort’s assistant restaurant manager. For the next several years, he worked with world-renowned in-house and visiting chefs, mixologists and fellow bartenders, learning everything he could, and developing a passion for wine. So much so, when he moved to Atlanta for a job opportunity in 2008, he earned his level one sommelier designation before making his way to Hyatt Lake Tahoe as its beverage manager. He added a craft beer program to the resort and completely reimagined its cocktail menu.

In 2015, Parsley made his way back to Arizona and Phoenix, this time as the restaurant manager for the JW Marriott, especially focused on the award-winning Desert Ridge Resort & Spa property in Northeast Phoenix. Most recently, he

took the venue’s longtime golf course steak concept, Meritage, and transformed it into MERITAGE, an urban tavern.

“Because of our location and proximity to the Desert Ridge neighborhoods, we felt that an urban tavern concept would provide an atmosphere that encourages friends to gather and sit outside on the expansive patio, enjoy a la carte Sunday Brunch – with a vibrant atmosphere,” Parsley says.

Since opening the urban tavern, Parsley has ensured that all draft beer on rotation is from Arizona, with another 40 bottles/cans highlighting great regions around the country and world to complement the local options. He also did away with all big-box, namebrand spirits and is really focused on shining a light on the local spirits in the market whenever and however possible.

The Entertainer! recently sat down with the mixologist to dish on all things behind his bar.

Tell me about the oddest drink request you’ve received.

I once had a guest order dry vermouth – on the rocks.

So, just one little problem there.

While a key ingredient in cocktail greats such as the martini and the Manhattan, vermouth is a mixing spirit, meaning it is never really served on its own.

Especially dry and on the rocks.

What is your No. 1 pet peeve when working?

It has to be a three-way tie between three types of co-workers: “yes men;” people who don’t like anything, ever; and people

who refuse to try anything even the slightest bit unique or new to them. You see, when you are crafting a new menu – or even revitalizing or updating an older one – you generally make up all the cocktails for the entire internal team to sample and provide feedback. “Feedback” being the keyword. Sometimes, all you get is the one group who just nod and say it is perfect, but can never share why or what they like about it. Then there is the other group, who just hates everything, but again can offer no actual constructive reasoning why or how to improve upon the recipe. And, of course, there is the third group – those who won’t try anything “just because,” as if that is a reason.

Ideally, you want to have a team with as many people in between these extremes as possible. You need folks who are honest with wide-ranging tastes, but also looking to help up your game with their own ideas and input.

What is your go-to drink?

If I am going out, I love to try a craft beer that I’ve never had before. And I really like to try local if the bar has any.

What does ordering a Jack and Coke say about a person?

That they have never had a truly good craft cocktail – and they might never want to.

What is one cocktail you would love for us to feature in the magazine this month?

Old Flames.

Now, one thing you need to know first is that each of our cocktails is named

What do you like about this drink?

That answer is easy – everything.

First, the drink allows us to smoke the glass with hickory chips. That is just fun for us and the guests.

Second, we got to use Whistle Pig Rye in it. Rye whiskey has the potential to be the best whiskey in the world. There is no more flavorful whiskey than rye; it has a robust, spicy character and a dark, rich flavor. As rye contains less sugar than any other grain, rye whiskey is a challenge to produce, requiring aging longer than other whiskies to attain a desired smoothness. But when handled properly, there is no comparison: the brat rye whiskey, once tamed, emerges from many years in the barrel with the power of a linebacker and the grace of a ballerina.

Third, though it seems a very heavy, “manly” drink, it has a very soft finish to it. Like most guys, in fact, hard on the outside and all soft and sensitive on the inside!

And finally, I love camping – and this drink smells like the most perfect campfire of all-time.

OLD FLAMES

1.25 oz. Whistle Pig 10-year Straight Rye 1.25 oz. Slaughter House Whiskey .5 oz Smoked Peach Simple Syrup 3 dashes Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters 1. Smoke rocks glass with hickory smoke 2. Build all ingredients in mixing glass with ice and stir 3. Place on large ice cube in smoked rocks glass 4. Strain into rocks glass 5. Garnish with torched orange peel WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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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 NBC’s megyn kelly was rejected by the Syracuse communications program as an undergraduate, so she majored in political science.

anderson cooper

was photographed as a baby for the cover of

Harper’s Bazaar.

edward r. murrow’s coverage of World War II made him an American media

HERO.

Philadelphia TV host “blurted” that kellyanne conway was full of lies.

In 2014, there were

54,400 jobs for reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts, according to BLS.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

Daniel Dale, a Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star, fact checks the president’s words and concluded that he makes 20 false statements per day, according to Psychology Today.

The 2015 median salary for a news reporter was

$36,360,

according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In early 2016, 20 percent of U.S. adults were found to get news from print newspapers. The prior year, it was

27

PERCENT.

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