North Valley Magazine - December 2021 - January 2022

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 · $3.99

‘Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments’

A Cruise Down

Memory Lane Barrett-Jackson celebrates 50 years of collector car auctions

SERVING THESE COMMUNITIES AND MORE: GRAYHAWK • DESERT HIGHLANDS • DC RANCH • SILVERLEAF • ESTANCIA • TROON NORTH DESERT MOUNTAIN • LEGEND TRAIL • THE BOULDERS • WHISPER ROCK

Is your snoring disrupting the sleep of you or your partner?

Are you suffering from headaches or TMJ pain?

Symptoms and consequences of untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disease:

• Poor sleep • Foggy memory/daytime sleepiness/fatigue • Mood disturbance • Loud snoring • Hypertension • Inability to loose weight • Sexual dysfunction • Grinding of teeth

• Jaw pain • Ear pain or stuffiness • Popping/clicking • Headaches • Difficulty opening or closing mouth • Neck/shoulder pain • Worn teeth/broken dental work • Gum recession • Grinding/clenching

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, consider scheduling an evaluation to learn more about how we can help you.

Dr Vizcarra is credentialed in the treatment of both sleep and TMJ disorders using oral appliance therapy.

After a thorough examination, she will recommend treatment that is customized to address your specific symptoms and needs.

Dr Sara Vizcarra, DDS, DABDSM, DABCP, DABCDSM • Diplomate of American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (DABDSM) • Diplomate of American Board of Craniofacial Pain (DABCP) • Diplomate of American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (DABCDSM)

www.AZSleepandTMJ.com 10465 E Pinnacle Peak Pkwy, Suite 103 Ph: (480) 515-6209 F: (480) 534-1460

“Working together for a healthier YOU… Sleep & Feel Better!”

THE ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE LIFESTYLE EVENT THE ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE LIFESTYLE EVENT

JANUARY 22-30 | WESTWORLD JANUARY 22-30 | WESTWORLD Advance Ticket Sales & Bidder Registration at Barrett-Jackson.com

Advance Ticket Sales & Bidder Registration at Barrett-Jackson.com

MAKE 2022 THE YEAR YOU EXPERIENCE BARRETT-JACKSON AS A VIP PURCHASE YOUR VIP PACKAGE TODAY BARRETTJACKSONVIP.COM OR 844.528.3598

MAKE 2022 THE YEAR YOU EXPERIENCE BARRETT-JACKSON AS A VIP Experience the Barrett-Jackson Auctions live exclusively on A+E Networks’ FYI and HISTORY channels.

ALL THE CARS, ALL THE TIME. Streamed live on Barrett-Jackson.com

PURCHASE YOUR VIP PACKAGE TODAY BARRETTJACKSONVIP.COM OR 844.528.3598 Consign. Bid. Experience. Barrett-Jackson.com ALL THE CARS, ALL THE TIME.

Experience the Barrett-Jackson Auctions live exclusively on A+E Networks’ FYI and HISTORY channels.

Streamed live on Barrett-Jackson.com

Consign. Bid. Experience. Barrett-Jackson.com

CONTENTS FRESH 8 l Dream Come True Maddie Poppe brings holiday show to the MIM

10 l Boys to Men Phoenix choir encourages character and musical development

15

HOME 29 l Trimble’s Tales Pearl Heart: ‘The Girl Bandit’

31 l Extraordinary Rides Mazda CX-30 Turbo SUV has its good points

TASTE 32 l ‘In the Cards’ Holiday gift certificates offer a taste of the Valley

34 l Valuable Varietals

8

21

FEATURES 12

‘Really Special’ ‘Treasures’ from around the world fill the Musical Instrument Museum’s gallery

15

Splurge on these sumptuous sips during the holidays

36 l What’s Cooking with Jan D’Atri Christmas cookies

BETTER 37 l Serious About Skin Plastic surgeon Terry Maffi opens clinic’s first Arizona location

39 l Healing Journey Burns Integrative Wellness taps into reiki services

A Cruise Down Memory Lane Barrett-Jackson celebrates 50 years of collector car auctions

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 · $3.99

19

‘Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments’

Get Lost in Christmas Puzzle Rides offers holiday experiences on a golf cart in Old Town

21

‘Believe in the Magic’ Fairmont Scottsdale’s Christmas at the Princess returns 2

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

ON THE COVER: Craig Jackson, CEO and chairman of Barrett-Jackson (Photo courtesy Barrett-Jackson)

A Cruise Down

Memory Lane Barrett-Jackson celebrates 50 years of collector car auctions

SERVING THESE COMMUNITIES AND MORE: GRAYHAWK • DESERT HIGHLANDS • DC RANCH • SILVERLEAF • ESTANCIA • TROON NORTH DESERT MOUNTAIN • LEGEND TRAIL • THE BOULDERS • WHISPER ROCK

“I feel efficient and organized My closet has helped bring order to my chaotic life”

480-508-8662 Call for free design consultation or visit us online at closetfactory.com Visit our Showroom: 14425 N. 79th St., Suite H, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

closets | garages | home offices | entertainment centers wall units | wall beds | pantries | craft rooms | laundry rooms mud rooms | wine rooms ©2020 Closet Factory. All rights reserved. ROC #175443

VIRTUAL consultations available!

VOLUME XXI / ISSUE 11

Celebrating 30 years!

Learn how better hearing can improve your life.

Schedule your appointment and FREE technology demonstration today!

602.910.6538 Phoenix

4545 E Shea Blvd, Ste 174

$500 OFF

your hearing treatment plan. Expires 1/31/22.

PUBLISHER STEVE T. STRICKBINE Steve@TimesPublications.com

VICE PRESIDENT MICHAEL HIATT MHiatt@TimesPublications.com

EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Christina@TimesPublications.com ASSISTANT EDITOR

Georgine Ray, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology Amanda McInroy, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology Elaine Slepak, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology

HearPhoenix.com

Connor Dziawura GRAPHIC DESIGNER Veronica Thurman PRODUCTION MANAGER Courtney Oldham

HELP US

CONTRIBUTORS Alison Bailin Batz, Allison Brown, Jan D’Atri, C.A. Haire, Jordan Houston, Marshall Trimble

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Dave Minton

CAVE CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT needs your help to ensure we are able to continue providing extracurricular opportunities for our students including after school clubs, athletics, and more! Give up to $400 today. Get up to $400 on tax day.

DONATE TODAY! Scan the QR code for more information.

4

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

ADVERTISING Sales@NorthValleyMagazine.com 480-898-6500

CIRCULATION

CONNECT GET IN TOUCH: North Valley Magazine

SUBSCRIBE OR OBTAIN BACK ISSUES: SUBSCRIPTIONS:

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Phone: 480-898-6500 • Fax: 480-898-5606 Website: NorthValleyMagazine.com General Email: Info@NorthValleyMagazine.com

To subscribe to North Valley Magazine or to make changes to an existing subscription, call 480-898-6500 or visit our website.

BACK ISSUES:

Back issues from up to two years are currently available for $8.95 each, including postage. You may order past issues on our website. Please allow five to seven days to process. It is North Valley Magazine ’s policy not to mail, email or fax copies of articles that have appeared in the magazine.

SUBMISSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Letters may be emailed to Letters@NorthValleyMagazine.com. They may also be sent via mail or fax to Letters to the Editor at our address. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

WHERE TO FIND US:

North Valley Magazine has racks in prime locations across our distribution area. For the rack location nearest you, email Info@NorthValleyMagazine. com. We also mail magazines to various neighborhoods. If you would like to ensure that your place of business receives several copies or would like to submit your place of business for a future rack location, please send a request to Info@NorthValleyMagazine.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/ NorthValley and join our fan page on Facebook!

PRESS RELEASES:

Submit press releases via email to Editor@NorthValleyMagazine.com.

STORY QUERIES:

Submit one-page queries to us by mail, attention Editorial Department.

Accompany any queries with clips and a 50-word biography.

STORY SUGGESTIONS:

We welcome editorial suggestions from our readers. Please email story ideas to Editor@NorthValleyMagazine.com, or mail or fax them to the attention of the editorial department.

ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR BUSINESS:

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Contact the sales department at 480-898-6500, or email at Sales@NorthValleyMagazine.com.

facebook.com/NorthValleyMagazine

@NorthValley

@NorthValleyMagazine

12 Days of Christmas 2021 purchase any promotion during regular business hours all month long

DECEMBER 2ND Dermaplaning Facial

DECEMBER 3RD

99

$

Express Hydrafacial

DECEMBER 7TH

89

DECEMBER 14TH IPL Photo Facial

99

$

(reg. $150)

DECEMBER 9TH

$

(reg. $299)

DECEMBER 15TH

3 IPL Hand Treatments

199

$

(reg. $300)

DECEMBER 16TH

DECEMBER 17TH

All in One Laser Facial

Medical ClearLift Tightening Laser

(reg. $625)

(reg. $549)

Card incl. a Free Injection

349

$

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

399

$

Erbium Laser Face

799

$

DECEMBER 10TH Eye Resurfacing Laser

(reg. $999)

Buy a B12 punch card for $90 (reg. $100) or Trifecta Punch Card

42211 N. 41st Drive, Suite A109, Anthem 6

DECEMBER 8TH

199

$

(reg. $99)

(reg. $129)

Collagen Pin

135 (reg. $150)

$

599

$

(reg. $750)

DECEMBER 21ST

The Perfect Derma Peel (reg. $449)

249

$

DECEMBER 22ND Last minute Gift Cards on Mindbody app and delivered to recipient email!

623.399.8222 • PremierWellnessAZ.com

The Vault of Scottsdale provides a climate and access controlled, fire and carbon monoxide monitored facility to car enthusiasts looking to store, customize & care for their most valuable possession.

VEHICLE STORAGE

Our 16,000 square foot facility provides a convenient, safe, & optimal storage environment for your vehicles. With multiple storage options, we are equipped to suit your needs.

COLLECTION MAINTENANCE

Keeping your collection in prime condition is one of our priorities. The Auto Vault of Scottsdale services includes facilitating the completion of maintenance, repairs, and modifications to your vehicle.

EVENT HOSTING

The Vault of Scottsdale offers a unique and memorable location for corporate or personal events. From start to finish, we ensure your event is coordinated as imagined with catering options available.

15882 N. 77th St. Scottsdale AZ 85260 l (480) 761-3800 l vaultofscottsdale.com

FRESH • ARTS

DREAM COME TRUE Maddie Poppe brings holiday show to the MIM

T

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

o “American Idol” season 16 winner Maddie Poppe, Christmas is all about family.

“Being with family has always been so important to me,” Poppe says. “I had never left home (before ‘American Idol’). Since I’ve left home and saw the world, knowing that I get to come back for the holidays is always something exciting.”

Poppe will make holiday memories in North Phoenix when she brings her acoustic Christmas show to the Musical Instrument Museum on Friday, December 10.

It’s part of her two-year mission to brighten the holiday season. She released a holiday EP in November 2020 called “Christmas from Home” and followed it with her Acoustic Christmas Tour. The successful jaunt yielded an expanded tour this year.

“Last year, we did an Iowa run,” says Poppe,

8

who hails from Clarksville, Iowa. “This year, we decided to expand it out to the rest of the United States. There are 18 cities, and we’re really excited about it. Last year, I did it on my own. This year, I have a keyboard player with me.”

Since Poppe won “American Idol,” her life has been a whirlwind. Her aptly named last album, “Whirlwind,” reached No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Charts, and her hit single “Made You Miss” earned No. 19 on the Hot AC Radio Charts.

Her sentimental ballad “Not Losing You” also swept radio charts, reaching No. 17. She has appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Live! with Kelly & Ryan,” to name a few, and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and CMA Fest in Nashville.

In fall 2019, Poppe supported Ingrid Michaelson on The Dramatic Tour, an experience she calls “a dream come true.”

Poppe is preparing to release new music in early 2022.

“American Idol” winner Maddie Poppe will perform Formerly based in LA, Poppe an acoustic Christmas show at the Musical Instrument moved her songwriting base to Museum on Friday, December 10. (Submitted photos) Nashville, which she enjoys. She describes the sound as acoustic What if they can’t relate?’ Within the first half R&B, straying from her singer-songwriter hour in the writing session, you know if it’s roots. going to be successful or not. Based on how “I’m finding some people here who I really you mesh with the person in the session is mesh with and I’m excited to work with,” she really important to the song.” says about Nashville. “The music is going to be an exciting new chapter and a new me. It’s a Maddie Poppe sound I always hoped I would find for myself, WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, December but I didn’t know if I would. I’m really excited 10 and proud to share it with everyone.”

WHERE: Musical Instrument Penning songs with new writers can be Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, daunting.

Phoenix “I remember some of the first co-writes COST: Tickets start at $30 I ever did,” she says. “I was so vulnerable. I INFO: 480-478-6000, mim.org thought, ‘What if they don’t like my ideas?

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

China Before Communism

2022 PRODUCTION WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

“A fascinating insight into what China’s culture used to be and what I hope one day will be restored to China.”

EXPERIENCE the brilliance and majesty of China’s civilization before communism.

—Edward McMillan-Scott, former Vice-President of the European Parliament

Exquisite beauty from the heavens, profound wisdom from dynasties past, timeless legends and ethnic traditions all spring to life through classical Chinese dance, enchanting live orchestral music, authentic costumes, and patented interactive backdrops. It is an immersive experience that will uplift your spirit and transport you to another world.

“There is massive power in this.

It brings great hope...”

—Daniel Herman, former Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

“It is breathtaking!

I am walking away deeply inspired and profoundly moved!”

—Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning journalist

“I encourage everyone to see and all of us to learn from.”

Join us for a night filled with courage and wisdom, light and hope... Experience Shen Yun!

—Donna Karan, creator of DKNY

FEB 26–27

MAR 2–6

MAR 10–13

Tucson Music Hall

Orpheum Theatre

Mesa Arts Center

TUCSON

PHOENIX

MESA

Tickets ShenYun.com/AZ

800-880-0188

FRESH • ARTS The Phoenix Boys Choir will will perform holiday concerts at venues around the Valley from Friday, December 3, to Sunday, December 19.

Boys to

Men Phoenix choir encourages character and musical development

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

D

esert Cove Elementary School sixth grader Ben Whitsett is not quite a teen, yet he is poised, intelligent and well spoken.

The 11-year-old student and his mother, Andrea, say those traits were refined thanks to his time in the Phoenix Boys Choir.

“PBC is just an amazing thing for me,” Whitsett says.

“It’s really changed my life — not in the sense that every day I go out there with a new thing. I have a new feeling. I have way more purpose, and I feel happier. That’s really something that PBC has done for me.”

Ben and the rest of the Phoenix Boys Choir will bring their annual holiday concerts to venues around the Valley Friday, December 3, to Sunday, December 19.

Led by Artistic Director Herbert Washington, this year’s concert, titled “Let All the World Sing,” visits Mesa, Fountain Hills, Glendale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix.

“We have all kinds of Christmas carols,” Ben says. “It’s different kinds of music — Spanish, basic English carols and all different kinds of things, really. It’s so diverse and inclusive. A long time ago, it might have only focused on the Latin 10

Desert Cove Elementary School sixth grader Ben Whitsett has been a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir since he was 9.

pieces, but this is different. They’re from all across the world.”

This is common among Phoenix Boys Choir performances, which offer a wide repertoire, from classical to popular selections. The choir tours domestically and internationally, participates in music festivals, and sings with other professional groups.

The 74-year-old Phoenix Boys Choir has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, Phoenix Chorale, and

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix and for four U.S. presidents.

Through the Phoenix Boys Choir, Ben has performed in Latin, Spanish, English and Estonian. The languages pair with his favorite subjects — history, especially military history; classical piano music; “Hamilton”; “The Phantom of the Opera” and the Beatles.

The choir has participated in many iconic local and national events, including Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It has won a Grammy Award, and its recording of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” was featured in the trailer for the 75th anniversary rerelease of “The Wizard of Oz.” Ben joined the Phoenix Boys Choir when he was 9, on the recommendation of his piano teacher. Armed with a love of music,

Besides the Phoenix Boys Choir, Ben Whitsett enjoys fencing. (Photos courtesy of Andrea Whitsett)

FRESH • ARTS Ben says it was a good fit.

“I was listening to ‘Classical Baby’ when I was a tiny infant,” he says.

“I was taking these piano lessons and they were fun, but they weren’t my favorite.

I joined PBC because I really had a love for vocal music. I loved it ever since.”

In his first year in the choir, just before COVID-19 hit, Ben traveled with the choir to California “on a big bus.”

“We stayed in a hotel, and we went to Universal Studios,” he says. “It was really an experience for me. I had never been away from home alone like that. I had been along with my grandparents before, but never away from family. I learned a lot and bonded a lot.”

Last summer, Ben and his choirmates stayed at a camp near Prescott.

“That was even better,” he says. “I felt I was grown and ready to move up to more time away. Now I’m ready for even longer.

They slowly progress the time away from home. It’s preparing me really well.”

Andrea is impressed with Ben’s maturity level. She says it’s hard to teach children to be independent and responsible at home.

Traveling with the Phoenix Boys Choir

Phoenix Boys Choir • 7 p.m. Friday, December 3 St. Luke Lutheran Church, 807 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa • 2 p.m. Sunday, December 5 Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N. Fountain Hill boulevard • 3 p.m. Sunday, December 12 Cactus High School Auditorium, 6330 W. Greenway Road, Glendale • 5 p.m. Saturday, December 18 Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley • 3 p.m. Sunday, December 19 Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix Tickets are $15 to $25; free for children 12 and younger For more information, call 602-469-0480 or visit boyschoir.org

taught Ben how to pack his own suitcase and manage his gear.

“With multiple age groupings, the choir director really expects the older kids to model good behavior and support the younger boys — especially the little ones

Arizona Musicfest THE CHRISTMAS SERENAD3 DEC 3

who have never been away from home,” she says.

“They get to nurture and support the younger ones so they can pass on what they learned.”

The Phoenix Boys Choir is led by Washington, who is a choir alumnus. He is a frequent choral clinician, conductor, lecturer and adjudicator for regional festivals, workshops and conferences around the country.

Washington has collaborated with pop stars Tori Kelly, Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo, along with rocker Bret Michaels.

Ben has had his fair share of choir stardom. He performed a solo at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and recently he was chosen for a duet.

“It’s so much different to be the one person on the stage singing,” he says. “It’s really been a great experience.”

Andrea adds, “What I have loved about it the most is the choir gave him this community, especially Mr. Washington, who I just think the world of.

“It’s not just about the music. It is this emphasis on brotherhood and coaching the boys grow into young men.”

480.422.8449 AZMUSICFEST.ORG

A BRASSY CHRISTMAS DEC 10 The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass

TICKETS MAKE A GREAT GIFTS THE

TONY

BENNETT

SONGBOOK

SERGIO MENDES JAN 31

Visit us online to see the full 2022 concert list

PAUL ANKA

MAR 14 & 16

featuring Chris Mann

JAN 7 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

11

FRESH • FEATURE Musical Instrument Museum Executive Director April Salomon calls the grand piano in the middle of the gallery a highlight of the exhibition. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

‘REALLY SPECIAL’ ‘Treasures’ from around the world fill the Musical Instrument Museum’s gallery

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

T

he Musical Instrument Museum is filled with impressive instruments from around the world.

But for the next year, the North Phoenix destination is showcasing its and the world’s most notable musical moments in “Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments.”

“It is a really cool opportunity for us to put some of our most recent acquisitions into a gallery space and really help explain the various levels and dimensions of importance that they represent,” says Rich Walter, MIM’s curator for the United States, Canada and Europe.

“We also have a number of really spectacular loans from partners who have 12

all contributed to this. They know MIM is so focused on music and the music industry, of course. Some of these lending institutions — other art museums and private collectors — were excited to lend some really special items to this project as well.”

Partner institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Penn Museum in Philadelphia, and Museu de la Música de Barcelona share loans.

The exhibition features one of the earliest surviving violins by Italian luthier Andrea Amati, a ceramic drum from China’s Neolithic period, and lyre fragments from the cradle of civilization in ancient Mesopotamia.

The Collection of Experience Hendrix LLC loaned a Black Widow guitar, one of only three left-handed examples. Jimi

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

Hendrix played it in late October 1968, when he was at the height of his fame.

“We want people to really think of MIM as a resource,” he says. “These pieces do not exist in a lot of other places, especially these historic objects. They’re different, simply different. They’re really special examples.

“They’re all special (the instruments on display), but often they are contextualized as part of separate nations or genres.

Bringing them to the forefront in this ‘Treasures’ exhibition helps us show the singular qualities that make each instrument stand out on a global stage.”

The pieces, Walter says, were chosen for the exhibition for their own reasons.

Co-curated by MIM’s full curatorial team, it wraps everyone’s interests and

Continues on page 14

Cabins • Private Decks • Hot Tubs Hiking & Horse Trails • OHV Trails • Restaurant • Bars • Live Music

Make us your adventure

$

Mention this ad for

20 in dining credit

during your hotel visit

Max one dining credit per stay. Mgt reserves all rights to modify or cancel promotion at any time.

• Enjoy separate cabins w/private decks overlooking the beautiful open-range of central Arizona and adjacent to the seasonally running Big Bug Creek

• Dine-in with fresh selections from our newly updated menu • Relax on our back patio with a refreshing beverage

• The Cellar at Creekside Restaurant and Bar features Certified Angus beef sirloin & ribeye’s, prime rib, burgers, pastas, pizzas, wings live entertainment and more!

• Celebrate Arizona’s BEST live entertainment every Friday and Saturday-and as always-NO COVER! Visit our website for details!

www.creeksidelodgeandcabinsaz.com 928-632-0777 • Mayer, AZ

FRESH • FEATURE “Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments” features one of the earliest surviving violins by Italian luthier Andrea Amati. (Photo by Dennis Murphy)

Continued from page 12

expertise into a tight package.

“The physical centerpiece is an Erard grand piano made especially for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, and it’s a total stunner,” he says. “It has gilded bronze mounts and incredible woodwork. It’s an amazing grand piano. It’s one of the greatest grand pianos that the company has ever made. That’s really special.”

MIM Executive Director April Salomon is just as fond of the piano.

“One of the major highlights in the show — which is getting the most attention because it’s a showstopper — is the grand piano in the middle of the gallery that is ornately gilded and gorgeous,” she says. “It’s really intricately crafted.

14

“It’s a piece that captivates your imagination. You can’t help but be just awestruck by its beauty. One of our volunteers played the piano for the accompanying video so guests can hear how it sounds, which is absolutely beautiful. It’s really significant in its own right.”

Salomon calls the exhibition different than anything the museum has done. “‘Treasures’ was meant to celebrate MIM’s 10th anniversary in 2020, but we lost the opportunity due to COVID-19.

“Because of the many acquisitions and relationships we had been developing previously, we knew this would culminate into something really special,” she says.

“I don’t think it could have been any better. Guests walk in and see these

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

incredible instruments on display. They read their stories. They understand this is 6,000 years of music history. This is human ingenuity at its very best. It’s the story of our musical and cultural heritage told in a way you don’t get to see every day and you certainly don’t get to hear.”

“Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments” WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily WHERE: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $20, with discounts for teens and children for the museum only; $10 additional for “Treasures” INFO: 480-478-6000, mim.org

A Cruise Down

Memory Lane Barrett-Jackson celebrates 50 years of collector car auctions

Barrett-Jackson CEO and Chairman Craig Jackson stands next to a rare 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder that is set to cross the block. (Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

B

By Jordan Houston

arrett-Jackson in the last five decades has made a name for itself as a barometer of the car collector industry, attracting enthusiasts from across the globe to its World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions and automotive lifestyle events. Dubbed America’s No. 1 Attraction for Car Lovers in the 2019 USA Today Readers’ Choice Contest, the Scottsdale Airpark-based auction company is revving up to celebrate 50 years

of milestone achievements — with a birthday bash unlike ever before.

Barrett-Jackson’s anticipated anniversary, advertised as the “world’s most exciting automotive lifestyle event,” will take place at its annual flagship auction at the WestWorld of Scottsdale, located at 16601 N. Pima Road, from Saturday, January 22, to Sunday, January 30.

The auction promises an “action-packed” festivity featuring an alluring collector car docket, the latest NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

15

vehicles from top automakers, symposiums on a variety of automotive-related topics, and hundreds of exhibits and displays.

Among the collector cars set to cross the block with No Reserve is a rare 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, one of only 918 of the hybrid hypercars produced worldwide.

Barrett-Jackson CEO and Chairman Craig Jackson says the event will commemorate the company’s rich history in paving the way for the collector car hobby, including its live collector car auctions dominating in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Texas.

“This will be the first event where you’ve got everybody sort of coming back together,” he says. “Everybody has been anticipating celebrating. Everybody is chomping at the bit to get back to business. This is the first event coming back in some sort of normalcy.

I think that’s what everybody wants.”

“I miss seeing a lot of the people I haven’t seen since COVID-19 started,” Jackson continues, emphasizing his eagerness to work with his colleagues in implementing new developments learned over the last two years. “(And) having all of that comradery working on everything to elevate the experience, and things learned during COVID that we’re implementing as to make the experience even better.”

The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of private collections, have evolved over the last half-

Barrett-Jackson returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale from Saturday, January 22, to Sunday, January 30.

(Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

century into world-class automotive lifestyle events where thousands of the world’s most sought-after automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience — in person and on live national and international television.

Barrett-Jackson partners with A+E Networks to feature live television coverage of its events on FYI and The History Channel via a produced livestream on barrett-jackson.com, Jackson says.

Craig Jackson's father, Russ, and his business partner, Tom Barrett, founded the car collector auction company in 1971. (Photo courtesy of

Barrett-Jackson)

16

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

The 2022 Scottsdale auction will highlight several barrier-breaking cars guaranteed to change the name of the game, Jackson assures.

“All of these cars are going to be looked back on as those pinnacle years when we started going toward hybrids and electric,” the CEO expresses. “These are the collector cars of the future.”

The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is among the “Holy Trinity” of hypercars and one of the final 918s delivered that year. Sporting a white coat and red leather interior, it’s powered by a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine paired to Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The 918, capable of 0 to 60 in 2.2 seconds, produces 887 horsepower with 282 horsepower coming from two electric motors. It has a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, rides on Magnesium wheels and boasts just over 300 actual miles.

A 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute Edition, owned by seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star and three-time World Series champion Buster Posey, is another highly anticipated vehicle set to cross the block, Jackson says.

The Mustang, capable of producing 828 horsepower routed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic Bowler

A 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake, one of only three continuation Super Snakes authorized by Shelby, will be included in the Scottsdale docket. (Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

Performance Transmission, features custom parts, modern technology and design throughout. Selling with No Reserve, the ultimate Pro-Touring muscle car comes with several items adding to its provenance, including an Eleanor Tribute Edition Certificate of Authenticity, a box full of memorabilia and the build appraisal book with receipts and images.

“Car collecting has broadened. When we first started 50 years ago, the cars were all pre-war classics and antique cars — there were very little post-war cars,” Jackson notes.

“I grew up as a car restorer, and our families were just enthusiasts. That’s why I think we have a better vision as to what people want when they come to an event and what they expect out of the cars.”

In addition to rare hypercars and customs, the Scottsdale docket will include a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake, one of only three continuation Super Snakes authorized

by Shelby.

A one-owner CSX4404, powered by a 427ci V8 engine with twin Paxton superchargers mated to a four-speed manual transmission, will also sell with No Reserve.

The Cobra comes complete with its Build Sheet and the original Shelby Automobiles

Inc., MSO signed by Carroll, as well as his signature on the dashboard.

But the anniversary celebration doesn’t just stop there.

The Barrett-Jackson Cup presented by eBay Motors, which recognizes the talent and craftsmanship of custom car and truck builders, will return as part of the company’s commemoration.

For the second consecutive year, the cup will be limited to 50 custom builders who will compete for multiple awards: the coveted Barrett-Jackson Cup “Ultimate Best in Show,” selected by two renowned builders, Bobby Alloway and Troy Trepanier, and the “People’s Choice Award,” voted on by Barrett-Jackson fans nationwide via social media.

The 50 entries, which will be selected by Barrett-Jackson from the total number of registrations submitted, will be introduced to auctiongoers via a parade across the world-famous auction block during Family Day on Saturday, January 22, before being showcased inside the exhibitor marketplace at the auction.

All in all, the lavish gathering aims to “pay homage to the people who started this” while reflecting on the company’s extraordinary evolution in the car-collecting industry, Jackson says.

“We’re working with our broadcast partners, and we’re going to be showing clips of the history of Barrett-Jackson,” he says.

“It’s been like going down that memory lane and remembering why I like cars and trying to share that. It’s the experiences. It’s seeing people win a bid on a car; it’s the excitement of fulfilling their dreams.”

Aiding in its memorialization, the Scottsdale auction will feature the company’s new “Barrett-Jackson: Celebrating 50 Years” coffee table book, which “marks the milestones of the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions.”

The hardcover read boasts hundreds of pages of history, from the “cars that changed the hobby to the people and the auctions that influenced the industry.”

Despite Barrett-Jackson’s skyrocketing success, enduring legacy and ever-changing stature, its awe-inspiring origin stems from

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

17

A 1967 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute Edition, owned by seventime Major League Baseball All-Star Buster Posey, will be at the 2022 event. (Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

humble beginnings.

In 1971, Craig Jackson’s father, Russ, and his business partner, Tom Barrett, founded the car collector auction company. The pair initially set out to raise money for the Scottsdale library with a local car show.

Craig took over the reins in 1995 with the mindset of expanding the “best collector car auctions in the world” into unprecedented automotive lifestyle events.

“I grew up in this business since I was a kid,” Jackson recalls. “Watching it, being part of the evolution and Barrett-Jackson being on the forefront of car collecting, I had a goal — and the goal was to take us and bring more people into car collecting.”

Tapping into the bountiful resources of live television broadcasts 26 years ago played a monumental role in helping Jackson not only achieve his dream but surpass it.

Jackson attributes the broadcasts, which he says made the hobby more accessible to the public, in expanding car collecting to include other types of vehicles.

“Back then, if you didn’t pick up a niche publication, you weren’t really exposed to it,” Jackson says. “By putting us on the internet in ’94 and then putting us on live television in ’96, it broadened car collecting.”

18

Constant innovation and evolution are crucial elements in remaining at the forefront of the industry, he continues.

Barrett-Jackson was among the first to adopt muscle cars. It was also an early adopter of hot rods and resto-mods, classic cars that have been restored and modified with modern parts and technology.

“Over the decades, when I see and talk to people about new, cutting-edge stuff, sometimes I’m like, ‘Alright, let’s figure out how to implement this,’” Jackson says.

“We keep evolving and on experiences at the auction, we go and see other shows and look at what other people are doing — not necessarily just in the automotive world but in general.”

Also woven into the auction company’s fabric from the beginning is its emphasis on giving back, Jackson says. BarrettJackson is committed to using its celebrated auction block as a platform to raise awareness and funds for charitable organizations, he explains.

To date, over $135 million has been raised across the company’s auction venues across the United States for charity. Jackson has been named twice to Motor Trend’s Top 50 Power List in the automotive industry and has also captured

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

the coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Business Services category in the Arizona/Orange County region.

Not only will the 2022 Scottsdale auction highlight an impressive stack of charity cars, it will also serve as a major economic engine for the city, Jackson notes.

“I think if people who live here ever thought of coming to a Barrett-Jackson event, they should take advantage of it,” the chairman says. “It has a huge economic impact for the city and state. Come out and experience it in person. It’s unique, fun and interactive.”

“I think what the pandemic is showing us is that we’re not going to live forever,” he says. “If you want to go out and have those experiences, go out and do it.”

Barrett-Jackson: The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction WHEN: Saturday, January 22, to Sunday, January 30 WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $23 INFO: barrett-jackson.com or barrettjacksoncup.com

Ages 5 to 85 can enjoy the experience of a scavenger hunt through Old Town Scottsdale with a golf cart driver and holiday cheer. (Submitted photos)

GET LOST IN CHRISTMAS Puzzle Rides offers holiday experiences on a golf cart in Old Town

O

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ld Town Scottsdale’s Puzzle Rides is putting a holiday spin on its mobile escape room-style scavenger hunt in “Scottsdazzle.”

Teamwork, combined with elements of the route, is used to solve a series of puzzles via golf cart before time runs out.

From ages 5 to 85, there is something for everyone.

“Whether you’re new to Puzzle Rides or have tried us before, our holiday excursions are an absolute blast,” Puzzle Rides founder Katie Dufort says. “We have one that’s family friendly, perfect for the kiddos, and another that’s tailored to adults where they have to think while they drink.”

Both experiences combine a scavenger hunt through Old Town Scottsdale, a jolly golf cart driver and lots of holiday cheer. First, the adults-only Jingle Bar Hop is a two-hour “portable pub” adventure that invites up to 10

guests to visit local bars and try mystery drinks while solving a puzzle with clues tied to popular holiday music (“Silver Bells” route) or classic TV holiday specials (“Reindeer Games” route).

“This is, by far, our most popular ride because attempting to solve a puzzle while enjoying a cold one is inevitably a good time,” Dufort says. “From checking out a new bar our riders never knew existed to learning something about a building they’ve seen a million times, Jingle Bar Hop offers entertainment at every turn.”

A family-friendly option is Hijacked by Elves. On this experience, Santa’s Naughty and Nice list has been stolen by a mischievous elf. Riders then use clues to track down the elf and bring him to justice during the adventure.

“If you have family coming to town that you

Puzzle Rides offers a family-friendly option called Hijacked by Elves to help find Santa's Naughty and Nice list.

haven’t seen for a couple of years because of the pandemic and you don’t want to sit around and stare at each other, book Hijacked by Elves,” Dufort says. “Kids love it, parents love it and even grandparents love it because you’re on the go, you’re outside and you’re laughing so hard, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.”

Speaking of the pandemic, Puzzle Rides was created right before Arizona shut down in 2020. Before that, Dufort operated a golf cart taxi service in Old Town, shuttling people from bar to bar. When the wave of COVID-19 took business owners out at the

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

19

Teamwork, combined with elements of the route, is used to solve a series of puzzles before time runs out.

knees, Dufort knew she had to pivot.

“I’m a historian who obviously loves history.

We had the golf carts standing by, and I’m a big fan of puzzles,” Dufort says. “I decided to put it all together during the unlikeliest of times, and Puzzle Rides was born in the middle of a pandemic.”

The concept proved people were trying to do activities together while socially distancing.

Riding on a golf cart with those they’d been quarantining with allows for a safe and fun experience outside the home.

“An added layer was all of the partnerships we have with other local businesses,” Dufort says. “We truly wanted to bring our customers

20

Puzzle Rides offers an adult-only Jingle Bar Hop, a two-hour "portable pub" adventure fit for 10 guests.

through the doors of other establishments in hopes of boosting business after what was one of the hardest times we’d all been through together.”

Puzzle Rides also offers signature favorites year-round, such as Hijacked by Science, during which riders must stop a mad scientist from unleashing a powerful weapon; Pirate’s Treasure Adventure, where pirate garb can be worn as riders swashbuckle their way through town; and Wild West Heist, where loot hidden by bank robbers back in the day must be found in a timely fashion. Want a little spooky fun? Ghost Riders weaves true tales with tall tales in a nighttime-only ride.

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

“Our adventures are always evolving, so you can expect to find something for everyone,” Dufort says. “We continue to add new rides for each of the big holidays, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.

Hopefully our customers see Puzzle Rides as an easy way to escape their daily lives and connect with their family and friends in a way they never have before.”

Puzzle Rides also recently launched teambuilding relays for groups of up to 80 people.

Puzzle Rides puzzlerides.com

Christmas at the Princess features two 6,000-square-foot ice skating rinks, among other time-tested favorites. (Submitted photo)

‘Believe

in the Magic’

Fairmont Scottsdale’s Christmas at the Princess returns

By Allison Brown

ith 6 million Christmas lights, hot cocoa, ice skating rinks, a real-life Polar Express and a sneak peek of Santa in his workshop, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has truly turned the resort into a winter wonderland. All 65 acres of the Princess are decked out, and it feels like the property popped right out of a Hallmark movie.

This year’s theme is “believe in the magic,” and it’s impossible not to feel the warm, magical spirit of Christmas when taking a

stroll through Twinkle Town, the Lagoon Lights or the Village at Christmas at the Princess.

“The real magic of Christmas is that we provide a place for the community to gather with their friends and family,” says Jack Miller, regional vice president at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and general manager at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort.

“And when friends and family gather together, we have a great time. I love this.

We hug a little longer, laugh a little harder and love a little more.”

Christmas at the Princess has become a tradition for the North Valley, whether it’s an excursion for the whole family, a fun night out for friends or a romantic date

night for couples. The lights turned on, the tree was lit, and Santa even stopped by on November 16, unofficially marking the start of the holiday season.

“This is our 12th annual Christmas at the Princess,” says Teresa Thompson, director of resort experiences at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. “Every year we plan to expand and keep adding new experiences for our guests.

So, this year is actually a huge year for us.

We have so many new experiences that we have added to the event. We are really excited, and this is a very special year for us.”

S’mores have been a tradition at Christmas at the Princess for years, and this year they are taking it a step further by

Continues on page 28

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

21

Frank Aazami’s Featured Listing

Cozy, private, luxurious at Silverleaf

G

By David M. Brown

ive the heralded Silverleaf lifestyle to your family with this 10,660-square-foot North Scottsdale estate, featuring meticulous architecture

by Dale Gardon Design and construction by Salcito Custom Homes.

“The attention to details in this home is all by design, not by luck,” says Frank Aazami, RLSIR Brand Ambassador, principal of the Private Client Group, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Scottsdale.

On a 1.89-acre lot in Silverleaf at DC Ranch –– one of the Southwest’s premier luxury golf course communities –– the two-story view home, 21376 N. 110th Place, is at exactly 2,000 feet elevation on a southwestern-facing view lot built on a gentle foothills slope, providing a cooler microclimate than lower Valley areas.

“This remarkable home offers its new owners an unparalleled balance of sweeping views to the south of

city lights, the Scottsdale Airpark in the distance with its incoming and outgoing corporate jets, the landmark McDowell Mountains and the world-famous McDowell Sonoran Conservancy to the north and east,” Aazami says.

Gardon, AIA, LEED AP, aligned all of the primary rooms on distant city lights and sunset views, and the pool/spa are centered between the nearby mountain peaks while offering views as far as South Mountain Park 25 miles away; from a distance, the owners enjoy the view as planes approach and leave Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. And, the highest point of the house, the View Tower, at the front, is on axis with the community approach drive.

The architect masterfully created an authentic formal Mediterranean estate, “commensurate with estate neighborhoods from Greenwich, Connecticut, to Montecito, California, and beautiful cities and towns in between as well as Europe,” he says.

“It has quintessential estate character inside and out,” Gardon explains. “The quality of natural carved-stone details such as at the entryway, rusticated stone wainscoting, custom inlaid wood and tile flooring is reminiscent of the finest estate homes. The home envelopes exterior courtyard spaces, allowing daylight to penetrate rooms and corridors, and custom wrought iron details are used throughout for gates, balconies and awnings.”

“The key one-word description of this magnificent estate is balance,” says Bill Ramseyer, a Private Client Group associate who is co-brokering the home with Aazami. “This home has a formal look, with its arches, varying window configurations, corbels, interior balconies, decorative stonework and ironwork, hand-troweled plaster, yet it’s also warm, welcoming and inviting.”

Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms and five full bathrooms, a guest powder room, pool bath and semi-detached guest quarters accessed via a covered exterior walkway from the main house. “It’s cozy, private, luxurious and has great views,” Aazami says.

The owner, a car lover, ensured that the four-car garage included high ceilings so that full lifts could be added for an expanded collection, doubling the capacity of the

space. In one of the bays, he has installed a golf simulator to use when the weather or his schedule do not permit him course time.

Enjoyed by the owners as a second residence, the home is in pristine condition, as they have retained the Salcito company’s Concierge maintenance service during ownership. “Our work is not simply done once the project has been completed,” explains Anthony Salcito, whose family-owned company has provided superlative luxury custom home construction since 1978. “The property’s integrity and value is upheld by the ongoing maintenance every noteworthy property deserves.”

Rooms, and no room for less than the best Other rooms include a wood-fi nished library den/ office with a coffered ceiling and built-in bookcases; a fully equipped exercise/sauna room connected to the master suite; living room and dining room with an adjacent wine cabinet; a 12-seat home theater with the best A/V technology; family room; and an upper-level game room loft. And, the many cozy courtyards and patios affirm that the home was designed and built for the indoor/outdoor Arizona lifestyle.

The eat-in kitchen has a breakfast bar and a walk-in butler ’s pantry for entertaining convenience. The well-daylighted semicircular breakfast room is adjacent.

Among the many kitchen features are 220-volt service; Energy Star appliances; built-in recycling; wall ovens; granite countertops; and an island.

On the main level are the master bedroom, another guest bedroom and the semi-attached guest suite. The master bedroom includes a walk-in closet, sitting room, a view patio and an outdoor shower garden with a custom laser-cut metal trellis. Well-appointed his and her master bathrooms and closets are in place.

Upstairs are two additional large guest bedrooms, one with double queens and the other with a king. “We have been seeing that a high percentage of buyers want a floor plan like this,” Aazami notes.

The home is connected to city of Scottsdale water and its sewerage system. Heating is natural gas, and the home has a recirculation pump for a consistent supply of hot water.

“The house features all of the latest and greatest energy-efficient and state-of-the-art electronics,” Salcito explains. These include a programmable thermostat; satellite dish, an owned security system and an advanced Apple/Savant Smart Home technology, allowing control from anywhere in the world from your iPhone or other Apple device of components such as TVs, lights, shades and security.

For its mix of amenities, beauty and convenience, the Silverleaf lifestyle is state of the art, too –– perhaps incomparable among luxury communities in the Southwest.

Aazami succinctly describes it as “safe grounds, avid golfers, hikers, bikers and active bodies and activities in the Silverleaf Clubhouse that can include group and fun social gatherings.” One of the first to buy in the community, the owners, native Midwesterners, chose it as their Arizona home because of this unique mix.

The husband praises, too, the robust cosmopolitan spirit of the Valley and its wide range of activities. “‘Metropolitan’ is a word people often don’t appreciate,” he says.

“The Valley has the arts; it has the sports, it has everything.

That’s what makes it special. It has a mix of people who come from all over the U.S. and from all over the world here; it’s a melting place.”

Everyone has his and her favorite rooms.

For Gardon, the notable distinguishing features are the dramatic grand entry foyer for its “distinctive guest arrival,” including an upper-level cross-over bridge between the living room and the grand foyer; the library den/office “for the club-like feel”; and the outdoor terrace areas.

Salcito also stresses fi rst impressions, in this home and all of his homes. “The front door is arranged in axial alignment, with immediate adjacencies from the grand foyer to the living room to an outdoor living patio, all arranged on the primary view to the southwest toward the Scottsdale Airpark,” he explains.

In addition, he notes the attention to details: mesh-mounted mosaic on the floor, the reclaimed Chicago brick, the foyer chandelier, the marble fireplace. “It is hard to discern

what is more impressive: the views or the quality of work and the overall aesthetic of the interior architecture,” Salcito adds.

For the husband, the library den/office is perfect for operating his business interests, and it’s close to the home’s interior and exterior amenities. His wife says, “The kitchen has the best of everything.” And, the “Little Italy” courtyard and marble sculpture remind her of the country: “historical, cozy and private.”

Ramseyer admires the al fresco dining and covered entertainment patio with those extensive views. And Aazami just loves the pool placement: “Imagine relaxing in the water and admiring the mountains at Silverleaf and in the distance across the Valley. Next to this is a shade pavilion with a changing/bathroom and an outdoor shower the owners’ grandchildren just love. Pure joy.”

The owner says that Silverleaf is the premier residential destination in the Southwest. “You can’t go wrong with this community,” he says, adding, “You can’t go wrong with this house.”

This superlative Paradise Valley home is offered at $14 million. A video with the owner and images are at pcgAgents.com/SilverleafCustom. Showings are by appointment. To schedule a visit, call Frank Aazami at 480266-0240, text “SIRFAAZAMI” to 87778, or email frank@ pcgAgents.com. For Bill Ramseyer, call or text 602-576-9496 or email bill.ramseyer@russlyon.com.

Scan QR Code for video and additional photos

Continued from page 21

opening S’mores Land. Here, everything is s’mores related — s’mores blankets; s’mores coffee mugs; fire pits for toasting marshmallows; and “Graham,” a huggable walking s’more.

Targeted for kids, Twinkle Town was a new exhibit added in 2020. Thompson says it was such a hit that they upgraded it this year. It’s home to an interactive character named Twinkles, who is Santa’s brightest bulb. It also has a carousel, an ice slide for kids, and lolly swings.

“We’re really looking forward to Twinkle Town and launching that space this year, all new and improved,” Thompson says.

In keeping with its theme, another new attraction is the Christmas Wish, where guests are provided magic paper to write down their wishes. The paper is lit on fire and magically lifts off into the sky and disappears. In this area, people can also donate to LoveUp, a nonprofit foster care organization in the Valley.

While Santa, treats and rides are fun and exciting, Christmas at the Princess remembers the reason for the season with the nativity set, and Thompson says it was upgraded this year, too.

“We have redone our entire nativity set this year,” Thompson says. “The nativity is an amazing, respected quiet area that plays the story of the nativity with an interactive light feature. This year we have adapted the nativity scene at the Princess with a life-size, natural look.”

Christmas at the Princess is bringing back time-tested favorites. That includes two 6,000-foot ice skating rinks; a 10-foot-tallby-120-foot-long ice slide and a miniature slide for kids; a 90-foot “chairlift” that doubles as a Ferris wheel; lagoon lights featuring swans on the water, a ballerina, penguins on ice, and a 30-foot Loch Ness monster; and a custom Christmas tree with 70,000 lights that sync to holiday songs. The resort even uses real ice for the skating rinks and slides.

With so much to see and do, one of the most popular attractions is a train ride that travels around the property, giving guests a chance to take everything in.

“Our No. 1 attraction is definitely the Princess Express,” Thompson says. “We have two trains that take 70 people per train. They take our guests on a tour along the lagoon lights. This year we have over 6 million Christmas lights on the property, and guests just love that ride. It’s really 28

One of the most popular attractions at Christmas at the Princess is a train ride that travels around the property.

(Submitted photo)

amazing. We have a lot of new light displays and features this year, so we’re really excited for that.”

Of course, there is more than just the lights and rides, as everyone knows that a big part of the magic of Christmas comes from the food.

In addition to the s’mores and restaurant dining options, there are also plenty of graband-go snacks, treats, specialty cocktails as well as other alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. There are frosted sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, kettle corn, cinnamon apple pie and “Christmas in a cup.”

Christmas at the Princess had a modest start 12 years ago. When Miller started in Scottsdale, he noticed it didn’t have that typical town square area where people could gather for holiday traditions. Miller, now fondly known as “the man who brought Christmas to the Princess,” said the purpose of the event was to bring families together.

“We started with one giant Christmas tree in the plaza, which is still there, and Christmas at the Princess now has a magnificent tree, four stories tall, that has a light show to music for 17 Christmas songs,” Thompson explains.

“So, all of this started with one tree, 12 years ago, and has developed and grown over the years to where it’s so amazing. We can see all of our communities come out and enjoy the event with their families. We see the same families come back every year.

It’s pretty amazing. It’s great to be a part of the community and be a part of their family

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

traditions.”

There are different options for admittance. Guests staying at the hotel receive complimentary admission. Selfparking and admission is $72 and includes up to four wristbands. If ride sharing or walking in, wristbands are $18. Wristbands can be used for almost all attractions, but there are separate fees for an ice skating pass and photos with Santa. Santa will be available from 4 to 10 p.m. nightly, by reservation only.

Thompson says the event attracts about 300,000 people, so it’s important to make a game plan. She warns it does sell out, so it’s best to make hotel or dining reservations.

In addition, she suggested planning enough time to see everything and fully experience the event.

“We’re just super excited for this year,” Thompson says. “There are lots of things going on here for Christmas at the Princess.”

Christmas at the Princess WHEN: Through Sunday, January 2 WHERE: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale COST: $72 for self-parking and admission, check website for other packages INFO: scottsdaleprincess.com/ christmas-at-the-princess

HOME • TRIMBLE’S TALES

Pearl Heart: ‘The Girl Bandit’

By Marshall Trimble

F

or most of her life, Pearl Hart lived in dismal obscurity. She got her chance for 15 minutes of fame following a bungled stagecoach robbery on May 29,

1899.

An adoring eastern press dubbed her the “Girl Bandit” and chastised the callused Arizona judicial system for putting such a pretty young lady behind bars in the notorious Yuma Territorial Prison.

Not much is known about her early years. She was born Pearl Taylor of French descent in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. It was said she came from a respectable, well-to-do family, but things started going downhill at age 17 when she married a gambler named Freddie Hart.

(Not the country singer.)

They traveled to Chicago in 1893 where Fred took a job as a carnival barker at the Chicago Exposition, and she worked at odd jobs. At the exposition, she got a chance to see Annie Oakley perform and became enthralled at the Wild West show, something that likely inspired her to dump her worthless husband and head west.

In Trinidad, Colorado, she took a job as a saloon singer but had to return to her family when she learned she was expecting a baby. She gave birth to a son, left him with her family and headed for Phoenix but soon found that life in the West wasn’t as glamorous as those Wild West shows she’d seen at the exposition.

Sometime in 1895, her shiftless husband Fred showed up in Phoenix begging her to take him back. For a time, things were good between them until they began living it up in the saloons along Washington Street. It was there Pearl got into drugs. A second child, a girl, was born and their domestic problems resumed. Fred became bored with domestic life. An argument between the two got out of hand and he beat her up, then left town.

One version says he joined Teddy

Pearl Hart, dressed in male attire, robbed a stagecoach in 1899. She was ultimately arrested, and after being found not guilty by an all-male jury, she was tried and sentenced for stealing a pistol. (Submitted photos)

Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and went to Cuba, but his name doesn’t show up on the roster.

Pearl returned to her family, left the baby with her mother and headed west again.

Pearl was 5 feet, 2 inches tall; weighed less than 100 pounds; was reasonably intelligent and was considered quite attractive. She took up residence in various Arizona towns like Globe, Phoenix, Tucson and Tombstone, sometimes working as a prostitute and others as a waitress or cook. She was working in a café in Mammoth when she

took up with a miner named Joe Boot.

Boot was a combination of miner, gambler and con man. A letter came from home saying her mother was ill and needed money. Boot decided the couple could solve their money problems by robbing a stagecoach.

On the evening of May 29, 1899, Pearl, dressed in male attire and her hair pulled up under her hat, and Boot held up the stage near Kane Springs on the road from Florence to Globe. Their take was $431 and some change. She also pilfered stage driver Henry Bacon’s Colt .45. She generously gave the three passengers and NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

29

HOME • TRIMBLE’S TALES Bacon each $1 for the evening meal. Then she and Boot headed up the San Pedro River toward Benson. Unwittingly, they had forgotten to plan their getaway and got lost. They were found and arrested on June 3 by Pinal County Sheriff Bill Truman and locked up in the Florence Jail.

The press was fascinated by the petite, pretty, 28-year-old bandit. She fired off a fiery letter to the prosecutor, declaring, “I shall not consent to be tried under a law which my sex had no voice in making.”

She became an instant darling of the women’s suffragette movement.

Cosmopolitan Magazine wrote a story on her bold stagecoach robbery. Newspapers, especially the Hearst press, turned her into a national celebrity.

During her trial, Pearl changed into a pretty dress and told the jury that she had robbed the stage to get enough money to visit her sick mother back east. She batted her eyes, lifted her skirt, revealed a well-shaped ankle and flirted shamelessly with the all-male jury. Naturally, they found her not guilty. Judge Fletcher Doan

was outraged and ordered her to be tried again, this time for stealing Bacon’s pistol.

The judge gave her five years in the Yuma Territorial Prison.

Boot didn’t fare as well. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to 30 years on the same charge. He hung around for a year or so, then escaped and was never caught.

Pearl briefly enjoyed her celebrity status at the prison. Visitors and reporters were allowed to visit. She was paroled on December 15, 1902, and immediately headed east for Kansas City, where she launched her show business career as the “Girl Bandit.”

Territorial Gov. Alexander Brodie refused to discuss the reason for her early release, but a story circulated that Pearl had informed the warden she was pregnant. According to Arizona legend, at the time the only two men who’d been alone with Pearl were the warden and the territorial governor. After a series of telegrams between the Capitol and the prison, it was decided to release her

immediately. Pearl wasn’t pregnant, but she wasn’t dumb either and cleverly went on her way — a free woman.

For a brief time, she toured the east, re-enacting her role on stage as the “Girl Bandit,” but the plot was thin and her career as an actress was brief. It turned out she was no better at acting than planning a getaway from a stagecoach robbery.

Fame was fleeting, and soon Pearl drifted into anonymity.

Nobody knows for certain how Pearl spent her later years, but there is strong evidence she became respectable; married a cow rancher named Cal Bywater in the Dripping Springs Mountains, south of Globe; and lived out her life as an honest cowgirl.

Some accounts credit her with holding up the last stagecoach and also being the only woman to rob a stage. However, neither account is true. The last stage robbery was in Nevada in 1916, and a woman named Jane Kirkham was killed while robbing a stagecoach near Leadville, Colorado, in 1879.

W E N E T CULTIVAINGS BEGINN Our Montessori-based Memory Care program supports residents with cognitive deficits by creating an environment that enables individuals to care for themselves, others, and their community. We strive to treat residents with respect and dignity and honor their choices so they may live as independently as possible.

Live a life of growth.

Age fearlessly. Live colorfully.®

7171 E. Lone Mountain Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85266 602-932-9691 | LoneMountainMemoryCare.com/NorthValley ©2021 All rights reserved. Spectrum Retirement Communities

30

LMTN North Valley Magazine Oct-Dec 2021

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

HOME • AUTO TRENDS

The Mazda CX-30 Turbo SUV is pleasant to drive on the street. (Photos by C.A. Haire)

Extraordinary Rides Mazda CX-30 Turbo SUV has its good points

By C.A. Haire

O

ne of the advantages of Mazda vehicles is their reasonable base price, with this CX-30 starting at only $22,000. However, our example here is loaded up with all the goodies, so it reaches a tidy $34,000. This includes $495 for the dark metallic paint job. But charging extra for floormats seemed rather greedy.

The base engine is a 2.5-liter putting out 186 horsepower rated at 25/33 mpg. This has the optional upgraded turbo, rated at 227 hp using regular fuel, or 250 with premium blend, hooked to an allwheel drive system. Gas mileage is claimed to be 22/30. This motor provides brisk acceleration. Real-world fuel economy in a week of driving was 22/28.

The cabin is nothing fancy but has good features. The glove box is roomy, and the info screen is large with excellent clarity. The climate controls are simple to use. There are paddle shifters on the steering wheel for manual gear selection.

On the negative side, the sun visors poorly block sun from side windows, and there is too much glare reflecting into the gauge cluster.

The CX-30 is pleasant to drive on the street. The ride quality is firm but comfortable. We saw a brisk 0-60 mph time of less than 6 seconds. With higher ground clearance than a typical car, and allwheel traction, the ability to traverse on back dirt trails is very good.

Most vehicles in the Mazda line are made in Japan, which has always been a good selling point. Some potential buyers are not happy to hear the CX-30 models are now made in Mexico. As other brands have set up factories there, this situation is likely to be more common.

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

31

TASTE • DINE

‘In the Cards’ Holiday gift certificates offer a taste of the Valley

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

F

rom enjoying extraordinary meals to catching the sunrise from a hot air balloon, this selection of gift card packages showcases the best deals the Valley has to offer.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company was created to celebrate hand-crafted, artisanal beers that are inspired by the beautiful and diverse state.

The deal: Buy $50 worth of gift cards and receive a card a $5 card; buy $100 in gift cards and get a $20 bonus card. Purchases must be made in person.

721 N. Arizona Avenue, Suite 103, Gilbert, 480-497-2739; 201 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, 480-462-1836, azwbeer.com Bourbon & Bones The Bourbon & Bones menu features hand-selected wet-aged and dry-aged cuts of prime beef, wagyu beef, elegant options for fresh seafood and an extensive list of bourbons and whiskies. Bourbon & Bones is staffed with expert mixologists who deliver

a robust cocktail program and, of course, certified sommeliers who oversee a significant wine list, including Coravin pours by the glass.

The deal: Purchase $100 in gift cards, receive $25 bonus card; buy $250, get $75.

4200 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-629-4922; 2150 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, 480-597-9459, bourbonandbonesaz. com Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers Can’t go wrong with gifts of beers and burgers. Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers’ 12 locations are dubbed the “ideal neighborhood burger joint.”

The deal: Buy two $25 gift cards, get $20 bonus gift card through December 31.

Multiple Valley locations, coldbeers. com

Bourbon & Bones

32

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

Crust Simply Italian Michael Merendino grew up a firstgeneration Italian in the heart of Long Island.

He brought his family pizzeria concept to Arizona.

The deal: Get a $25 gift certificate with the purchase of $100 gift cards; and buy a $50 gift card, receive a $10

Fox Restaurant Concepts

certificate. The deal is only valid December 20 to December 24.

10 N. San Marcos Place, Chandler; 8300 N. Hayden Road, Suite F101, Scottsdale, crustrestaurants.com Daily Dose Kitchen & Bar Daily Dose is all about creativity.The entrées are created with the freshest ingredients, but don’t leave out the booze. Specialty cocktails like the spicy watermelon margarita and bacon bloody mary are on the menu, too, as well as craft beers.

The deal: Purchase $25 gift card and get a $5 bonus; buy $100, get $20. Good through Christmas.

4020 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 101, Scottsdale, 480-994-3673; 1928 E. Highland Avenue, Suite F107, Phoenix, 602-274-0334; 96 S. Rockford Drive, Suite 105,Tempe, 480590-6937, dailydosegrill.com

TASTE • DINE Eegee’s Eegee’s has been a hit in the Valley since it migrated from Tucson. The fast-food and frozen treats restaurants have something special for guests.

The deal: Buy $50, get a $10 bonus card.

3535 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert, eegees.com

Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill Ling’s Wok Shop Serving modern Asian cuisine with American flair, the chefs at Ling & Louie’s use traditional Asian cooking techniques to create bold, craveable flavors that appeal to all tastes. As for Ling’s Wok Shop, it serves healthy and Famous 48 convenient food that boasts crisp Famous 48 just unveiled décor that veggies and tender meats. honors Arizona with a palette of colors The deal: Purchase $50 in gift borrowed from adobe pink sunsets and cards get a $5 holiday certificate. pale brown dusty road.

Those who buy $100 in gift The deal: Purchase two $25 gift cards cards will receive a $15 holiday and get a $20 bonus card. certificate.

8989 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 608, Ling’s Wok Shop, 20511 N. Ling’s Wok Shop Scottsdale, 480-361-4933, famous48.

Hayden Road, Suite 100, com Scottsdale, lingswok.shop; Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and a 45- to 60-minute, group hot air balloon ride, Flower Child Grill, 9397 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Rainbow Ryders is offering a fixed rate of $169 Flower Child welcomes vegan, paleo, lingandlouies.com per person for a shared basket flight. Blackout gluten-free or just hungry guests with dates apply. healthy options in Gilbert, Arcadia, Desert Los Sombreros 715 E. Covey Lane, Suite 100, Phoenix, Ridge, Uptown Plaza and Scottsdale.

Los Sombreros is an iconic spot to enjoy rainbowryders.com The deal: Buy $50, get a $10 bonus card flavorful bites and refreshing cocktails. With Multiple Valley locations, locations in South Scottsdale, Uptown Someburros iamflowerchild.com Phoenix and Mesa, Los Sombreros has earned The menu’s dishes tell the Vasquez family’s its reputation as the Valley’s ultimate locally story and that of their first restaurant, Poncho’s.

Fox Restaurant Concepts owned Mexican food eatery.

The tradition carries on to Someburros The perfect gift for the foodies in your The deal: Buy $50, get $10; buy $100, get using their time-tested recipes for authentic life, this offer is good for quality time, $25 through December 31.

Sonoran-style Mexican Food.The fastexceptional experiences, and tasty food and 2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480casual restaurants are offering two gift card beverages at any Fox Restaurant Concepts 994-1799; 1976 W. Southern Avenue, Mesa, promotions for the holidays.The deals: The location, including The Henry, Blanco, 480-534-6742, lossombreros.com “burro bundle” includes a $25 restaurant gift Olive & Ivy and The Arrogant Butcher. card redeemable at all Someburros locations (Does not include Flower Child.) Gift cards Macayo’s and a reusable tumbler for $35. For the second are available for purchase at participating Macayo’s strives to use fresh ingredients in promotion, all guests who buy a $25 gift card restaurant locations or online. its family recipes. Guests can share the taste will receive a $5 kickback card.

The deal: Buy $100, get a $20 bonus card with their families and themselves.

101 E. Baseline Road,Tempe, 480-839-8226; Multiple Valley locations, foxrcgiftcards.

The deal: Through December 24, gift card 7501 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, com purchasers will receive a $10 bonus gift card for Scottsdale, 480-443-8226. Other locations at every $50 in Macayo’s gift someburros.com. card purchases. Bonus card is valid Saturday, January 1, to Taphouse Kitchen Monday, February 28.

Taphouse Kitchen is getting into the Multiple Valley locations, generous spirit of the giving season with macayo.com a holiday gift card bonus offer.Through December 31, holiday shoppers can get more Rainbow Ryders bang for their buck when they purchase a gift The deal: Give the gift of card in restaurant or online. a Rainbow Ryders’ sunrise The deal: For each $100 gift card hot air balloon ride gift purchase, guests will receive an additional certificate special for the $25 gift card. holidays. While prices 3131 E. Shea Boulevard, Phoenix, 602-482fluctuate and can soar as 2800; 6137 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, high as $225 per person for 480-656-0012, taphousekitchen.com Rainbow Ryders NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

33

TASTE • DINE

Valuable Varietals Splurge on these sumptuous sips during the holidays

By Alison Bailin Batz

N

ow, we are never proponents of spending beyond one’s means.

However, during the holidays if your budget permits, why not treat yourself — or the wine lover in your life — with a little something special?

Need ideas or inspiration over that $50 mark? Allow us to help.

2018 The Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon You would be hard-pressed to find a local restaurant that does not have The Prisoner Red Blend, which is primarily a zinfandel, on the menu.

However, the brand has a dozen other varietals as well, including this nuanced cabernet sauvignon. It dazzles with notes of black cherry, plum and baking spices. $55 Adelaida 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Viking Estate Vineyard With a name like Viking, is there any surprise this wine is big, bold and intense? On the nose, there is a sweet floral essence with both rose oil and

34

dried violets. Upon tasting, get ready for myriad notes ranging from cedar and wood smoke to cherry-vanilla and wild herbs. There is even a little spice cake offering a happy epicurean ending. $60 J Vineyards 2016 Foggy Bend Vineyard Pinot Noir It may surprise some, but the popular and lauded sparkling winemaker also boasts a line of award-

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

winning pinot noir. Among the best is this offering, which marries dark cherry, pomegranate and tart blueberry with a hint of nutmeg, touch of pine and the perfect level of acidity. $70 2018 Folktale Winery Whole Cluster Pinot Noir This 94-point Wine Enthusiast-rated pinot is made in an Old World style, fermenting while remaining on the cluster. The result is

TASTE • DINE a juicy pinot with hints of cherry but really interesting notes of forest floor and even fresh hibiscus at play. $85 Donum Estate 2018 Carneros Pinot Noir Donum Estate works proactively with nature to create an environment where vines are able to thrive. They use organic and biodynamic farming to harness the essence of the land, capturing it perfectly with this flagship pinot.

It intoxicates with aromas of sassafras, strawberry and black cherry before offering bright red fruit and slight earthiness on the palate. $85 Booker 2018 Fracture A 100% syrah of the highest order, this collector’s wine is named for the soil in the vineyard, as the limestone in it causes the land to literally fracture.

Velvety smooth with a balance between sweet and earthy, there are sweet beets, dark plums and even chocolate hiding in this bottle ready to wow its drinker. $98 Daou 2018 Estate Mayote Named to honor the mother of founders Georges and Daniel Daou, Mayote, this powerful blend (just like her) is equal parts Bordeaux and Rhône varieties grown on the vineyard’s own DAOU Mountain. On the nose there is violet, lilac, boysenberry, black cherry and blackberry pie. Then the palate reveals those same black and red fruits, but also everso-subtle and very welcome hints of vanilla, licorice and cigar. $100 Niner Wine Estates 2018 Fog Catcher The celebrated vineyard’s signature blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit

verdot, cabernet franc, malbec and just a touch of carmenere, expect a wine made in a Bordeaux style with dark fruits and expressive tannins with a luscious texture that will be at its best after about four hours of decanting. $100 Handwritten 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville This cabernet feels like a warm blanket on a cold night in that it is comforting and soft while still getting the job done. The red fruit here is especially lovely, notably the raspberry and current notes, and the baking spice and slight saff ron at the end are a welcome surprise. $105 2017 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Larkmead practices organic farming, planting native species throughout the estate, restoring a local creek, installing solar panels, flame weeding the vineyard, and more. This cabernet is a love letter to the land (and your tastebuds), offering blue and black fruits then dusty tannins then even cherry candy and rocky mineral depending on the sip. $125 2016 Louis M. Martini Winery Cypress Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon This robust single-vineyard showstopper is the perfect union of bold boysenberry, cassis, cherry and redcurrant.

Finished in toasted oak, there is a bed of soft, dusty tannins toward the finish and a luscious mouthfeel. $100 Cass Winery 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Can a wine be sultry and seductive? After a sip of this beauty, your answer will be a responding

yes. It opens with a nose of black currants and crème de cassis but then offers a slightly sweet cherry flavor, boysenberry pie and a sweet oaky smokiness on the palate. $125 2012 Schramsberg Reserve Brut The top pinot noirfocused wine available at the sparkling wine icon, this rich and full-bodied bubbly is made from only the top pinot noir wine lots each year. Fruitful yet dry, it has this perfect toasty effervesce for sipping in the winter and a creamy finish that will make your eyes roll back in your head. $130 2017 Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Robert Mondavi is the most recognized name in American wine.

To Kalon is both the name of the vineyard where Mondavi’s flagship estate sits and a tier of coveted wines. Each bottle of this cabernet sauvignon is a celebration of dark plum and cedar on the nose followed by sweet oak, vanilla bean and toasted almond on the palate. $175.

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

35

TASTE • DINE

What's Cooking

with JAN D’ATRI

Christmas cookies

W

hat makes this the most wonderful time of the year?

Well, besides glad tidings, family and the holiday spirit, it’s gotta be Christmas cookies!

Nothing puts a smile on faces like a big platter of goodies decked out and adorned with glitter and glaze!

These tricolored cookies are among my very favorite to bake up, decorate and give as gifts for the holidays. Why do I love these cookies so much?

First, this basic stocking cookie recipe is

just right. With its combination of butter and shortening, you get the great flavor of butter, and the shortening makes the cookies soft but still great for decorating.

Second, they are so colorful, and that color is achieved in such an easy way. All you do is make one batch of batter and color two parts with green and red. Now you have a predecorated cookie that just gets a glaze and a tiny bit

of decorating sugar. No fuss. No muss. Just gorgeous and scrumptious cookies that are fa-la-la-la lovely to eat and to share.

Christmas cookies Ingredients • 1 cup sugar • 1/2 cup Crisco shortening • 1/2 cup butter • 1 large egg • 1 8-ounce carton of sour cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract • 4-3/4 cups flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt

utes at 350 degrees. When slightly cooled, brush with icing and add decorative sprinkles. Keep cookies in an airtight container. Cookies can be frozen before they are iced.

Cookie icing

Directions Cream together shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluff y.

Add egg, beating until well blended.

Stir in sour cream, vanilla and almond extract, mixing well.

Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt, beating well until dough forms into a ball.

Add to cream mixture and beat well.

Divide into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one ball, mixing to a bright red

color. To the second ball, add green food coloring and repeat process. Do not color third ball. Chill at least one hour. When ready to bake, tear off pieces of each colored dough ball and create a mosaic on a Silpat (silicone baking mat) or parchment paper. Roll out colored dough to 1/4 inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out designs.

Use up remaining dough scraps by combining them together, rolling out and cutting out more cookies. Bake for 9 to 10 min-

Ingredients • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1/8 teaspoon almond or

vanilla extract • Enough water to create a glaze

Directions Stir powdered sugar, almond extract and water to desired consistency. If glaze is too thick, add more water. If too thin, add more powdered sugar. Glaze should be thin and runny enough for the decorative colors of the cookie to show through.

Watch how-to videos at bit.ly/JanDAtri 36

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

BETTER • HEALTH SkinCeuticals, a luxury science-based skin care brand, recently opened its first Arizona SkinLab location in partnership with renowned local board-certified plastic surgeon Terry Maffi. (Photo courtesy of SkinCeuticals SkinLab

by Maffi Plastic Surgery)

SERIOUS

About

SKIN Plastic surgeon Terry Maffi opens clinic’s first Arizona location

By Jordan Houston

I

t’s no secret that healthy, youthfullooking skin and Arizona’s harsh desert climate don’t exactly go hand in hand.

When it comes to aging, a majority of changes in the skin associated with getting older and wiser are avoidable. The main culprit behind those pesky fine lines and wrinkles is sun exposure.

Because the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin and damage the elastic fibers that keep it firm, Paradise Valley board-certified plastic surgeon Terry Maffi says Arizonans

should be extra privy to skin maintenance.

“People here get more sun damage exposure, literally, by just going to your car and back than people laying in the sun somewhere else,” says the surgeon, who specializes in facial rejuvenation and breast and body contouring. His practice, Maffi Clinics, features a skin clinic among other specialized aesthetic clinics.

“Even though I’m a plastic surgeon, I’ve really been devoted to skin,” the director of the Resident Aesthetic Surgery Clinic shares. “I always tell my clients, ‘Good skin is better than a good facelift.’”

An assistant professor with Mayo Clinic Arizona, Maffi has taken his passion for skin care a step further, recently launching Arizona’s first SkinLab location in partnership with luxury science-based skin care brand SkinCeticals.

SkinCeuticals SkinLab by Maffi Plastic Surgery, located at 15037 N. Scottsdale

Road, Suite 190, at the Scottsdale Quarter, is the skin care brand’s seventh location and serves as the ultimate hub for quality skin care services and resources.

“We’re really considered a medical aesthetic boutique, and it is a direct extension of my practice. It is with a plastic surgeon, which is what really makes it good,” Maffi explains. “Most med spas are run by ER doctors, naturopaths or whatever you can do to open the door. A med spa run by a plastic surgeon who oversees things and has all the resources of the office and staff really takes it a step above a true med spa.”

The holistic skin care destination specializes in injections; microneedling; light and laser therapy; a Dermablend Professional makeup finishing station; and three exclusive signature treatments, Skinsmooth, Skinfirm and Skinbright.

Skinsmooth, an LED light and SkinCeutials Micropeel treatment, features

NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

37

BETTER • HEALTH The SkinLab, located at the Scottsdale Quarter, specializes in injections, microneedling, light and laser therapy, and three signature treatments available exclusively at SkinLab locations. (Photo courtesy of SkinCeuticals SkinLab by Maffi Plastic Surgery)

red light therapy coupled with a chemical peel for a skin refresh, Maffi says. For a deeper approach, Skinfirm targets “more intensive concerns” through a microneedling and hydrating B5 gel treatment.

The most popular, according to Maffi, is Skinbright, a laser and CEF treatment followed with a potent vitamin C serum, C E Ferulic for routine maintenance or “seasonal skin concerns.”

“I love it when people are happy with their results, whether it’s surgery or skin care. It’s awesome,” Maffi expresses. “In this day and age, people want to look as good as they feel, but you can’t stop the aging process.

To see people who come in and who are in great shape, and then do something surgical or nonsurgical, look as good as they feel is amazing.”

Skin care consultations featuring the SkinScope LED diagnostic are also offered, as well as the SkinCeuticals Custom DOSE service, formulating personalized serums.

While there is no harsh line in terms of when to get serious about skin care, Maffi says the 30s are a good time to start.

“We stop producing collagen in our 30s,” he says. “That’s literally when the glue in the 38

skin starts to decay. People definitely notice their skin is getting less smooth.”

The vast skin care industry, and its countless remedies, might be a bit intimidating at first, Maffi acknowledges.

Finding the right approach is all about catering to individual needs and education.

“There are a million different types of skin care, and there are lots of different treatments to get to the same goal,” Maffi says. “Some are more aggressive; some are for younger people that want prevention.

It’s all about education, what’s available and what’s the downtime, if any.”

This isn’t Maffi’s first rodeo with SkinCeuticals either.

Maffi in 2018 partnered with the science-based skin care brand and opened SkinCeuticals Advanced Clinical Spa by Maffi, one of “three Advanced Clinical Spas in Arizona.”

He recalls feeling thrilled, nonetheless, when SkinCeuticals approached him this year with the SkinLab concept.

“I was really honored,” Maffi expresses.

“I kind of have always told myself that I’m so busy in my practice, I would never open a second location. But this partnership was

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

really a no-brainer.”

Because the med spa takes a more preventative and nonsurgical approach, offering chemical peels, microneedling and hydrofacials, Maffi says it’s a refreshing take from his practice.

SkinCeuticals SkinLab by Maffi Plastic Surgery allows the surgeon to work with a different brand of clientele, he elaborates.

“My office is a totally different clientele.

We do a lot of facelifts and things like that,” Maffi explains, citing an older age bracket of clients. “Up here, we have the opportunity to nail down these cool little short-term treatments.”

The aesthetic expert is already looking to expand the SkinLab to other locations, due to its overwhelmingly positive feedback and says he is in talks with SkinCeuticals.

SkinCeuticals SkinLab by Maffi Plastic Surgery Scottsdale Quarter 15037 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 190, Scottsdale skinlabmaffi.com, mafficlinics.com

BETTER • HEALTH

Marshall Gedge, 18, is a level II reiki practitioner. He is the newest staff member at Burns Integrative Wellness Center. (Photo by David Minton)

Healing Journey Burns Integrative Wellness taps into reiki services

By Jordan Houston

T

he North Phoenix-based Burns Integrative Wellness Center is expanding its reiki services to those looking for alternative forms of healing.

The naturopathic medical office, located at 34406 N. 27th Drive, Unit 114, specializes in medical, aesthetic and therapeutic services using herbal,

holistic and homeopathic remedies. It recently announced the addition of its newest staff member, 18-year-old certified reiki practitioner Marshall Gedge.

Gedge, a level II practitioner, says he is looking forward to raising awareness about the alternative practice — which focuses on healing the energy and spiritual side of a person and has been used in Japan for over 100 years — while helping new patients throughout their healing journey.

“I didn’t really know how to feel. I just knew I was excited,” Gedge says of his new opportunity. “And I’m still excited for it.”

Reiki is an ancient therapeutic art designed to “increase the body’s restorative potential and is a complementary treatment approach to health,” according to The Life Enrichment Center.

It works to decrease stress and anxiety through energy healing while promoting well-being and calmness. The Burns Integrative Wellness Center emphasizes that each person has a flow of internal energy dictating their overall health. If low, the body becomes susceptible to “disease and illness,” it continues. Reiki seeks to strengthen that “life force” to promote “good health and happiness.”

The term stems from the two Japanese words rei, meaning “higher power,” and ki, meaning “life force energy.” A typical reiki session with Gedge lasts roughly 15 to 30 minutes, he says.

“I’ll start by asking what they want reiki to do for them, whether it’s to help with anxiety, depression, pain or whatever they want to have reiki do,” Gedge says. “I figure out what they want done, NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022

39

BETTER • HEALTH and after that I’ll start at the head to get energy to flow and go from there and then find problem areas — that’s where I’ll start doing the work and try to help them.”

Patients can opt to lie down on a table or recline in a chair during their session, Gedge continues. The practitioner will then place his hands on or over the patient’s body and hover over a few locations, such as the head, feet or stomach, with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person’s own healing response.

Calming music is played in the background to promote relaxation and ease.

“I’ve had some people tell me they feel a warm feeling going through them or that they felt stress going out of their jaw,” Gedge says. “I’ve also had people who don’t feel anything until a couple days after.”

On an emotional and mental level, reiki works to promote personal awareness, amplify a more relaxed state, and reduce stress. The Life Enrichment Center reports the “spiritual level benefits from reiki by enhancing the spiritual connection to the light, balancing the various energies of the body, such as the chakras, and helps elevate meditative states.”

40

Gedge says he believes reiki will eventually become more commonplace in Western culture.

“I could definitely see it becoming more common,” the practitioner says. “A lot of people recently have been anxious and depressed because of the virus.”

“We have psychologists for the brain, doctors for the physical — but we don’t really have that much in store for energy healing,” he adds.

Gedge, who says he always felt keen on energy during his youth, received his reiki certification from the Tempe-based Life Enrichment Center. The organization, located at 2405 E. Southern Avenue, offers a variety of healing modalities, including reiki, rapid eye technology, hypnosis, psychological-kinesiology and structural genetics-face reading, as well as certification courses.

The Burns Center staff member says he was working to become a mechanic when he ultimately decided to take a leap of faith and pursue reiki.

“Around my teenage years, I noticed I was able to do energy work — before anyone ever told me what it was,” Gedge

DECEMBER 2021 | JANUARY 2022 NORTHVALLEYMAGAZINE.COM

says. “I was doing stuff for myself and then I found out about reiki and I kind of just pursued it.”

During his entry-level trainings, Gedge was informed about the history of reiki, how to perform self-reiki and how to use the first three reiki symbols, according to The Life Enrichment Center’s website. He was also taught how to perform distant reiki.

The teen is working toward his IIIand IV-level certifications, which are considered reiki master level. Upon completion, Gedge will receive the Usui Master Reiki attunement and learn the Usui Master Reiki symbols.

“I’m looking forward to actually helping people,” Gedge expresses. “Before, I didn’t feel I was reaching that many people. With this, I can help more people, and I’m so excited.

The Burns Integrative Wellness Center 34406 N. 27th Drive, Suite 114, Phoenix 623-252-0376, burnsintegrativewellnesscenter.com

Come see Rawhide Western Town decorated with Holiday Lights, Décor, Music, & even Snow Machines!

FREE ADMISSION, & FREE PARKING! For more information, visit: