North Valley Magazine October November 2022

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TASTE

VOLUME XXII / ISSUE 4

PUBLISHER

STEVE T. STRICKBINE

Steve@TimesLocalMedia.com

VICE PRESIDENT

MICHAEL HIATT

MHiatt@TimesLocalMedia.com

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Christina@TimesLocalMedia.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Connor Dziawura

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Veronica Thurman

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Courtney Oldham

CONTRIBUTORS

Alison Bailin, Allison Brown, Jan D’Atri, Christopher Elliott, Scianna Garcia, C.A. Haire, Sue Kern-Fleischer, Doyoon Kim, Kamala Kirk, Laura Latzko, Marshall Trimble

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ARIZONA MUSICFEST

North Valley celebrates some of the best artists

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Arizona Musicfest executive and producing director Allan Naplan is celebrating his 10th anniversary there. His run has been an amazing experience for him.

“It’s been a wonderful and exciting ride, so fulfilling and rewarding and successful,” Naplan says.

“When I arrived here in 2013 total attendance in a given season was 7,000,” he says.

“Last season was 32,000. It’s amazing what

has happened and how invested and generous our community has been. We’ve received $2 million in donated income from individuals. Now, we’re a destination for audience and major artists.”

For its 2022/2023 season, the lineup includes entertainer Marie Osmond; 14-time Grammy winner David Foster with acclaimed singer and wife Katharine McPhee; Tonywinning star of stage and screen Jason Alexander; American music favorite Rosanne Cash; Broadway’s leading lady Kelli O’Hara; celebrated artists Michael Feinstein and Jean-Yves Thibaudet; Musicfest audience favorites Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; the Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro

Among the Festival Orchestra’s piece is Stravinsky’s Firebird & Mahler’s 4th Symphony with Maestro Robert Moody, March 9. (Arizona Musicfest/Submitted)

Katharine McPhee and her husband, the renowned David Foster, visit Arizona Musicfest for two shows on February 18. (Arizona Musicfest/Submitted)

Robert Moody; plus dozens of more artists performing between October and April.

“Marie Osmond is fun and such a darling of American culture and entertainment for so long,” he says. “She’s the second of the year on

FRESH

ARTS

November 12. We also have Jason Alexander, who was George Costanza on ‘Seinfeld,’ and he remains a Broadway performer. He’s a song and dance guy and won a Tony.

“He’ll be with a very large orchestra, as will Marie Osmond. Kelli O’Hara is one of the leading ladies on Broadway. She’ll be here. From the celebrity side, we have David Foster and Katharine McPhee now doing two shows on February 18. Their first performance, the 7:30 p.m., was the fastestselling concert in our history.”

The second performance is the 3 p.m. show.

“These are two wonderful artists, and we’re excited about it.”

Cash and Feinstein return, the latter for and exclusive engagement in which he performs with Thibaudet.

“He’s (Thibaudet) a really outstanding classical pianist have joined for a show,” Naplan says. “They’re playing Musicfest and Palm Desert two nights apart. It’s a really special show to have these really outstanding artists doing a duo show together.”

A number of tribute artists are listed as well, including Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin and Takin’ It to the Streets: A Doobie Brothers Tribute.

“Our nostalgia shows are really well received,” he says. “We have an important change with the festival orchestra. Instead of doing five concerts in one week, we’ve changed that model so there are two weeks — one in February and one in March — with three concerts each week.”

Naplan knows music well. He spent 20 years in opera, seven years as a single, and 13 as an opera administrator.

“At Musicfest, it’s my longest tenure,” he says. “I frequently say we’re scratching the surface of our potential. We keep on growing. We add more shows, and more people come. We keep on increasing the caliber of artists who come. Without the audiences, donors, board and volunteers, it would not work. There’s been such a wonderful reception to the ideas.”

2022-2023 concert season calendar

•Brass Transit: The Musical Legacy of Chicago, November 7

•Marie Osmond, November 12

•Kurt Elling with the Musicfest Big Band, November 21

•Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party, December 2

•Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas, December 6

•The Modern Gentlemen: Harmony, Soul & Rock ’ n’ Roll, January 6

•Gunhild Carling with the Arizona Musicfest Big Band, January 15

• Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn and Sarah Jarosz: Together in Concert, January 20

•Jason Alexander: Star of Stage and Screen, January 23

•Live from Laurel Canyon: Songs & Stories of American Folk Rock, January 27

•The Black Market Trust, February 7

•A Swingin’ Valentines: Nicole Pesce with Paolo Alderighi and Stephanie Trick, February 14

•David Foster and Katherine McPhee, February 18

•Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock ’n’ Roll – Part 3, February 25 and February 26

•Michael Feinstein and Jean Yves Thibaudet: Two Pianos – Who Could Ask For Anything More, March 5

•Zukerman Trio: Featuring Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsyth and Shai Wosner, March 19

April 17

•Takin’ It to the Streets: A Doobie Brothers Tribute, April 29

2022-2023 Festival Orchestra calendar

•The Festival Orchestra: Wagner, Mozart and Dvorak with Maestro Robert Moody with violinist Jonathan Okseniuk, February 1

•The Festival Orchestra: Brahms and Tchaikovsky with Maestro Robert Moody with pianist Haochen Zhang, February 3

•The Creation with the Festival Orchestra and Chorus with Maestro Robert Moody and Soloists, February 5

•The Festival Orchestra: Williams, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky with Maestro Robert Moody with violinist, Ben Beilman, March 7

•The Festival Orchestra: Stravinsky’s Firebird and Mahler’s 4th Symphony with Maestro Robert Moody, March 9

•U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club with the Festival Orchestra, March 10

Arizona Musicfest

Arizona Musicfest executive and producing director

Allan Naplan is celebrating his 10th anniversary with the organization. (Arizona Musicfest/Submitted)

•Kelli O’Hara, March 21

•Rosanne Cash, March 24

•Tito Puente Jr., March 31

•Save the date for an Arizona Musicfest jazz favorite, April 3

•The Folk Legacy Trio, April 11

•Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin,

WHEN: Monday, November 7, to Saturday, April 29

WHERE: Various locations around the North Valley

COST: Various ticket prices

INFO: 480-422-8449, azmusicfest.org

Michael Feinstein and Jean Yves Thibaudet present Two Pianos – Who Could Ask For Anything More on March 5. (Arizona Musicfest/Submitted)

Quick Stay

Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown captures city’s past

By Scianna Garcia

Home to the most renowned tourist attractions and the biggest major league sports teams, is Downtown Los Angeles.

DTLA has diverse neighborhoods, each with its own personality and community, featuring a number of local businesses and attractions.

From its historic theaters on Broadway to the famed murals, there are an endless number of attractions and places to discover when visiting DTLA.

Stay: Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown

In the heart of Downtown LA is Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, a property designed to interpret the city’s vibrant history and attractions.

Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, one of the largest intercontinental hotel companies in the world with close to 7,000 properties, strives to encapsulate the history of its neighborhood.

With 22,000 square feet of meeting space and 350 guest rooms, each room design offers a true-to-the-era art inspiration and timeless take on LA’s storied past, along with floor-to-ceiling windows offering cityscape views in every direction.

The luxurious, modern-style hotel is inspired by the story of Anna May Wong, the first

Chinese American actress.

All the rooms draw inspiration from LA’s colorful and immersive history with vintage and modern design touches with full-wall murals to pay homage to Wong’s legacy.

Guests are welcomed by an elegant,

Hotel Indigo is designed to interpret the city’s vibrant history and attractions. (Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown/Submitted)

expansive lobby that truly glamorizes Downtown LA with nods to the Jewelry District, Hollywood’s Golden Age, La Fiesta de las Flores (now known as the Rose Parade), and the underground speakeasies of the Prohibition era.

From the lobby level, guests are intrigued with the La Fiesta de la Flores theme, with flower murals decorating the walls paired with velvet drapes and other nods to the parade.

From the wheel-shaped chandeliers representing the carriages in the parade to the varying dark and light elevator designs, truly every aspect of the hotel is a tribute to Wong.

Also set right at the lobby entrance is the double display of top hats, each holding numerous hats, only one being bright red.

As the story goes, Wong and her father attended La Fiesta de la Flores and, to avoid losing her father in the crowd, he wore a red

The pool deck on the fourth floor is notable for its full refresh. (Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown/Submitted)

TRAVEL

top hat.

Hotel Indigo’s meeting spaces are outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, both indoor and outdoor event spaces, a dedicated event management team, on-site catering and internet service.

A popular space for weddings is the grand staircase located in one of the junior ballrooms, with its 40-foot ceiling.

“We had to pay homage to the Jewelry District, which is walking distance from the hotel,” says Peter Choi, Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown representative.

“The diamond pendants are a representation of the district, about half a mile away. Everything was kind of intentional, like the chandeliers being champagne bubbles to represent the end of Prohibition, which was a celebration, and there’s a lot of fun stories like that throughout this space.”

Along with a state-of-the-art fitness center, the hotel’s pool deck located on the fourth floor is notable for its full refresh, featuring new furniture, a heated pool, bar service and an incredible view of the surrounding Downtown LA buildings.

The lobby-level Metropole Kitchen & Bar restaurant furthers the neighborhood’s story of 1920s secret tunnels and underground parties of the Prohibition era. The design splits its space into two by inserting seating and a passageway through concrete tunnels.

18 Social is the upscale speakeasy cocktail lounge set in the skyline, surrounded by floorto-ceiling glass walls that reveal unparalleled panoramic views of Downtown LA. The bar

The Metropole Kitchen & Bar recalls the Prohibition era.

(Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown/ Submitted)

was purposely placed on the 18th floor, a nod to the 18th Amendment that banned alcohol.

From the lounge, guests have all around views of Downtown LA’s most popular venues, including the Los Angeles Convention Center, LA Live, the Crypto.com Arena and the Microsoft Theater.

HBO series “Westworld” and Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” both used the 18 Social space to film some scenes as well.

Eat: Grand Central Market

Open since 1917, the Grand Central Market has served as an eatery attraction for food lovers of all types.

In the beginning, the open-air market offered bakery, deli, meat, fish, flower, candy and specialty item stalls. Today, the market’s 40 stalls are home to an LA exclusive blend of legacy vendors like China Cafe and Roast to Go, and success stories from the city’s buzzing food scene.

At more than 30,000 square feet of food stalls and retail space, the market also has interior and exterior sitting spaces provide a shared gathering place to meet friends, bring a date, or take the kids on a trip to Downtown LA.

The Metropole Kitchen & Bar splits its space into two by inserting seating and a passageway through concrete tunnels.

(Stephen Schauer/Submitted)

Each room design offers a true-to-theera art inspiration and timeless take on LA’s storied past, like the Presidential Suite.

Must-stop food stalls include Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria, specializing in authentic, woodfired Neapolitan style pizzas, or The Donut Man, offering a variety of treats, including

the infamous, fresh strawberry and peach doughnut.

Customers can find a food concept based entirely on eggs at Eggslut, fresh slices of pie and other pastries at Fat & Flour, or next-level peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at PBJ.LA.

The oldest vendor, Roast to Go, which sells tacos, burritos and meats by the pound, opened in 1952. China Café offers dishes like chow mein, fried rice, chop suey and wonton soup. Another of the market’s longtime vendors, the Latin grocer Chiles Secos, has operated at the market since 1975 and offers homemade moles, dried beans, rice and specialty products.

The owner of Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, a vendor offering items such as tortas, tacos and burritos, started working at the market in 1972. His stall, which opened in the ’90s, continues to be one of the most popular spots at the market.

Visit: Grammy Museum

Paying tribute to music’s rich cultural history, this museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music,

creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the Grammy Award.

Through public and educational programs, exhibits and more, guests will experience an insider perspective that only The Grammy Museum can deliver.

The museum, located at LA Live, features four floors of permanent and special exhibits celebrating the power and history of music incorporating film, sound and interactive experiences, and exhibits highlighting genres such as rock and roll, hip-hop, country, Latin, R&B and jazz. Collections include lyric notebooks, archival photos, costumes, authentic Grammy awards and musical instruments.

Shop: Fashion, Jewelry, Arts districts

The Arts District is perhaps Downtown’s most popular neighborhood with its creative restaurants, microbreweries, art spaces filled with vibrant murals, and creative shops and galleries.

The district belongs in an industrial area of former warehouses and factories in DTLA that has been home to artist studios since the 1970s. There are several guided and

audio tours available for the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, including the LA Art Tours offering regularly scheduled Downtown LA Graffiti and Mural Tours, as well as travels through other LA art enclaves like The Brewery and the Santa Fe Art Colony.

The Fashion District in Downtown LA is spread across 100 blocks, with 150 vendors in wholesale trade shops and the Santee Alley offering bargain fashion and accessory apparel.

Shoppers also have their share of options for dining, as streets are lined with cafes and restaurants, from chains like Subway and El Pollo Loco to small businesses that can only be found in the streets of Downtown LA.

Roughly spread across 12 blocks is the Jewelry District, a hotspot featuring thousands of wholesale and retail jewelers, suppliers and manufacturers. It’s renowned for wholesale prices on precious gems, watches and all types of fine jewelry.

Consumers can take advantage of savings ranging from 50% to 70% by purchasing from the source and cutting out the middleman. According to the Los Angeles Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, it is the largest jewelry district in the United States.

Cityscape views are available in every director. (Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown/Submitted)

Starting mid-November, Little America Flagstaff transforms into a winter wonderland with more than a million Christmas lights.

Where Tradition Meets

Little America Flagstaff is an iconic Arizona getaway destination

By Allison Brown

Nestled under the majestic ponderosa pines surrounded by Flagstaff ’s natural beauty sits Little America Flagstaff — a welcome sight for weary Route 66 travelers, a home away from home for returning families or a romantic getaway for couples.

No matter the reason for the stay, the Little America Flagstaff hotel can provide the rest, relaxation, hospitality and luxury guests are looking for. Little America Flagstaff general manager Fred Reese says their top priority is taking care of guests and making sure they get the most out of their stay.

“You’re going to be treated like family here because we’re a private, family-owned

business,” he says. “We look at our customers as family members, and we look at our staff as family members. So we have this really strong emphasis on customer service and kind of following the golden rule, treating others as you want to be treated.”

And, after nearly 50 years in business, Reese says based on reviews and interactions he’s had with guests, the hotel’s customer service and family atmosphere is a big part of what keeps people coming back.

“We’re probably on the third generation of customers. I have customers come up to me all the time and say their grandparents brought them here when they were little,” Reese continues.

“When you’re in business for 50 years in one location, you’re going to get generation after generation. And, because we do such a good job, the upcoming generations like to come here because they have fond memories as children coming here and enjoying the forest.”

Of course, location is probably the biggest draw to Little America Flagstaff.

Just two and a half hours from Phoenix — the fifth largest city in the nation — and

roughly an hour from Sedona, Flagstaff is withing driving distance from most of Arizona’s hot spots. Nearly 75% of the hotel’s business is from within the state, according to Reese, adding that its most popular time is May through October.

“The weather here is phenomenal. When it’s 110, 120 degrees down in Phoenix, it’s only 80 to 90 degrees up here,” Reese says. “So, it’s a great escape. The majority of our business is in state and comes from the Valley, where a lot of people like to get out of the heat and escape to the cool climate.”

With an outdoor pool, hot tub and playground, guests can soak up as much of the cooler weather as possible. The hotel also sits on 550 acres covered with ponderosa pines and other Indigenous trees and wildlife that guests can experience. Behind the main lodge is a nature trail that can be done in a 1- or 2-mile loop.

“(Guests) can really take in the natural scenery that we sit on,” Reese says. “Nobody else in Flagstaff can really claim that their resort sits on such beautiful land amongst the pines like we do.”

Little America Flagstaff is also just a short drive from Historic Downtown Flagstaff, which consists of several walkable city blocks filled with unique restaurants, breweries and shops — not to mention the murals, live music, and a mass of cute dogs out for a walk. There’s also history, as most of these buildings are restored from the 1890s.

While the hotel’s most popular times are

during the warmer months, those who brave Flagstaff from November to February can experience a real winter and are more than likely to see snow. In fact, Flagstaff saw its first dusting of snow for the season the first week of October. Come mid-November, there will be skiing, snowman building and, at Little America, a magical winter wonderland with the chance to meet Santa himself.

Around the holiday season, Little America Flagstaff is transformed for the North Pole Experience and decorated with more than a million lights woven through the pines and hung around the lodge. The hotel has served as the trolley launch station for the North Pole Experience, which is provided by a separate company, for 10 years.

“You get on the North Pole Experience Trolley that transports you to the North Pole and you get to go to Santa’s workshop,” Reese says.

“It’s got a fully interactive workshop where you go into different rooms — there’s the toy hall of fame, a bakery, the toymaking room, toy-wrapping room, the elf university. It’s amazing for all ages to go through that experience, and then you end with seeing Santa at the end of the tour.”

Little America Flagstaff, the area’s only AAA-approved Four Diamond hotel, combines inviting hospitality with the natural beauty of Northern Arizona. (Little America/Submitted)

FRESH • TRAVEL

The hotel has a nature trail on the property that can be done in a 1- or 2-mile loop. (Little America/Submitted)

offers a special meal and lodging package and discounted room rate for those who do stay.

The event brings in tens of thousands of people throughout the holiday season, Reese says, and has been a great partnership for the hotel and Flagstaff as a whole. People don’t have to stay at Little America to participate in the North Pole Experience — they just have to check in for the trolley there — but the hotel

The main lobby of Little America Flagstaff. (Little America/Submitted)

Also during the holiday season, the hotel provides guests a unique opportunity to experience its famous, up-close and personal North Pole Experience breakfast buffet with Santa and a memorable photo opportunity at the Little America Flagstaff from 7 to 11 a.m. Sunday, November 13, through Saturday, December 24.

Reese says the hotel’s holiday events have become more and more popular over the years, and people are starting to see Flagstaff ’s winter beauty — not just its cool summer.

Little America Flagstaff opened its doors in June 1973 as the third hotel in the Little America franchise. According to Reese, Little America actually originated in Rural America, a small town in Wyoming. He says it started as a small truck stop motel but grew massively and transformed into the luxury getaway it is now.

The Flagstaff location was actually built from the ground up, with painstaking detail put into everything from the color scheme to the tiles in the bathroom and the feel of the carpet (it’s wool). The hotel has 247 guest rooms; 10 meeting rooms ranging from 225 square feet to a 6,000-square-foot ballroom; the highly rated Silver Pine Restaurant and Bar, which caters to any culinary desire; a 24hour travel center with a hot grill and deli; gift shop; business center and fitness center.

According to Reese, the hotel underwent a massive renovation from 2016 to 2018 that updated nearly all the facilities. He says he has received a lot of compliments from guests about the renovation, specifically the materials used.

“We get a lot of comments that it’s on par with some of the finest hotels that they’ve been to. We feel like we give the best value for what a customer is going to buy — they’re going to get a luxury guest room with outstanding service,” Reese says.

“The rooms have been appointed with live edge wood tables, desks and headboard from British Columbia, the carpeting is English wool, the stone and granite comes from Spain. Everything is so high end and nicely appointed, so you’re getting a luxury experience at a great value.”

EDUCATING the PUBLIC

K9 officers show off skills at WestWorld

By Doyoon Kim

The Arizona Law Enforcement K9 Association will continue its work educating the public with the Desert Dog Police K9 Trials and Public Safety Expo.

It is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 23, at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale.

Visitors will witness K9s and their handlers running through on-field obstacles that replicate real-world scenarios experienced in active police duty. The event will feature more than 70 law enforcement K9 teams from around the country competing.

The K9 teams will tackle tactical challenges and handler protection obstacles, including 7-foot barriers for jumping, calloffs and extractions. Trophies will be given to the first-, second- and third-place teams.

The Belgian Malinois crouches to assess the danger he faces, ready to pound if needed.

(Arizona Law Enforcement K9 Association/Submitted)

A man and his dog. In this case, a law enforcement officer and his four-legged partner give new meaning to the classic phrase.

organization of law enforcement handlers and trainers who work to help police service dogs in preventing and detecting crime, to assist law enforcement agencies in implementing police service dogs in their practices, and to educate the public about the work police service dogs do in law enforcement.

“We rely on donations to keep our cause going,” says Tony Sanborn, a Scottsdale police officer and ALECA vice president.

In addition, there will be more than 100 vendors at the safety expo featuring police, SWAT, detectives, fire vehicles, helicopters, search and rescue boats, rescue equipment, specialized police and guard equipment, and food and shopping options.

The public can interact with the officers.

“I think we have one of the most noble causes: to make law enforcement and police officers better. We help officers achieve their mission of keeping the public safe.”

Caption

Benefactors of the event include Circle K, Penske and various local pet businesses.

ALECA is a public safety nonprofit

This is the 19th year of the Desert Dog Trials and Public Safety Expo. During the first few years, the expo was hosted at a local

Highly trained and skilled to sniff, jump, bite and act on command whenever the bad guys are on the attack is what these public safety

are trained to do.

high school, where it was very well received. The event continued to grow.

“We tried promoting it, and it continued growing every year. We moved to Scottsdale Stadium and hosted it on the baseball field,” Sanborn says.

“We wanted to share more about the work we do, and the public wanted to know more about the police and what equipment they use. We outgrew our space, and during the last two years we’ve hosted our event at WestWorld.”

Two years ago, ALECA could not hold the expo for the first time in 10 years due to the coronavirus pandemic. ALECA had to shift to an online platform to keep the organization running.

In April 2021, the organization was able to host the expo again in person with precautions being taken. This year, the event will be held in person and open to the public.

“The officers have stayed the same, and our community has stayed

pretty tight knit,” Sanborn says. “We continue to share training ideas and training philosophies and keep track with all of our K9 units throughout the state.”

When asked about the future of ALECA, Sanborn responded, “We’re excited for ALECA. Th e executive board has current law enforcement and retired law enforcement offi cers, so we have a real personal connection. We hope to make our event bigger and better. … We want to make this the biggest public safety expo in the country.”

Desert Dog Police K9 Trials & Public Safety Expo

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 23

WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale

COST: $5; free for those 12 and younger INFO: alecapolicek9.com

SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS’ SCHOOL

ANNUAL FINE ARTS FUNDRAISER

This year’s online Silent Auction, November 10-12, 2022 will showcase the works of well-known professional artists, including Signature Artist Douglas Fryer as well as a variety of featured travel packages and themed baskets.

Participants will also be able to purchase raffle tickets for the sculpture “Midnight at the Oasis” by Signature Sculptor Sandy Scott.

We also invite you to attend our in-person event on Saturday, November 12 starting at 6 pm.

All bidding is online whether attending our in-person party or joining virtually.

Scan to participate in the auction:

Gotta Have Art

Hidden in the Hills returns to the North Valley

By Sue Kern-Fleischer

Arizona’s largest and longestrunning artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, is returning to the North Valley Fridays November 18 and November 26, Saturdays November 19 and November 26, and Sundays November 20 and November 27.

Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s free, self-guided tour features 174 artists at 47 private studios throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.

Showcasing nationally recognized and emerging artists, Hidden in the Hills attracts thousands of patrons who appreciate fine art and seek a variety

Michael D’Ambrosi is one of 47 studio hosts during Hidden in the Hills. His eclectic sculpture garden in Cave Creek features nearly 100 diverse pieces of art that blend in beautifully with lush landscaping and desert views. (Michael D’Ambrosi/Submitted)

“Heaven is Earth” (bronze) by Michael D’Ambrosi. (Brian Black/Contributor)

Michael D’Ambrosi sculpts “The Guardian,” a life-size Apache bronze for the CochiseGeronimo Golf Course at Desert Mountain in North Scottsdale. (Michael D’Ambrosi/Contributor)

mediums, styles and price ranges.

Large sculpture garden features diverse works

Guests visiting Michael D’Ambrosi’s Studio No. 41 in Cave Creek will be mesmerized by his eclectic sculpture garden featuring nearly 100 diverse sculptural pieces of art that blend in beautifully with lush landscaping and desert views. Nestled on the side of Black Mountain, D’Ambrosi’s home studio has been a popular stop on the Hidden in the Hills tour for more than two decades.

Growing up in Manhattan Beach, California, D’Ambrosi spent much of his youth sand boarding, skim boarding and surfing. He credits his late oil painter-sculptor father, Jasper,

with providing the springboard for his creativity.

“My father embraced life with an Italian gusto that infected nearly everyone near him,” D’Ambrosi says. “One day, he asked if I would be willing to work at the Artist and Sculptors foundry in Burbank with my brother, Marc. Working at the foundry helped me learn the craft with the goal of opening our own shop.”

In 1977, D’Ambrosi and his family opened Arizona Bronze, a fine art foundry. For the next 20 years, he absorbed all he could from fellow sculptors. He developed and honed his skills of craft from steel armatures to clay modeling to rubber molds to all phases of the lost wax process.

D’Ambrosi’s first commission was shared with Marc. With the death of their father, they were commissioned to enlarge Jasper’s Jacobs Ladder, a 20foot memorial honoring the Merchant Marines of World War II. The powerful sculpture is on public display at Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro. In 1989, the U.S. Air Force commissioned him to create The Falcon, now on display at Luke Air Force Base. Other notable

Oil painter Cynthia Eral often spends hours observing the mannerisms of wildlife before painting them. Pictured is “Zigzag.” (Cynthia Eral/Submitted)

“Becoming Oneself” by oil painter Cynthia Eral. An Anthem resident, Eral will showcase her work during the November Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour. (Cynthia Eral/Submitted)

commissions include The Guardian, a life-size Apache bronze for the Cochise-Geronimo Golf Course at Desert Mountain in North Scottsdale, and The Nomad, a life-size Native American that can be seen at Desert Mountain’s Renegade Course.

D’Ambrosi has always approached art with optimism and a sprinkle of humor. From his whimsical yet bizarrely realistic dinosaurs to his heroic-size Native American monuments, he shows a love of life and nature in his sculpture.

“I have always jumped around with subject matter and style. And other than a few commissions, I have always sculpted what I was inspired to build. One may criticize the work but never the sincerity of my efforts,” he says.

Throughout his career, he loved the drama effect of sculpting lifesize and monumental pieces, but time took a toll on his hands.

“Apache Reflection” (bronze) by Michael D’Ambrosi. (Brian Black/Contributor)

“The Sentinel” (bronze) by Michael D’Ambrosi. (Brian Black/ Contributor)

“At 68, my heart is young and creative thoughts or pushing clay or wax isn’t an issue. Casting in bronze is becoming more difficult as my human parts are wearing out. But after 45 years of casting, anything tends to wear out,” he says.

While guests can watch him work in his studio, many will enjoy strolling throughout the

nearly 1-acre sculpture garden.

“My brother’s and father’s bronze sculptures sit proudly amongst my work, as well as colleagues’ sculptures. We affectionately refer to our sculpture garden as a national treasure, and that’s mainly due to my wife Gloria’s landscaping and green thumb.”

D’Ambrosi is also hosting two guest artists during the studio art tour: oil painters Linda Storey-London and David Flitner.

Painter inspired by nature

An award-winning artist, Cynthia Eral cherishes her time outside exploring nature’s beauty, and each of her paintings tell a story of what she sees and experiences. Growing up in Minnesota, Eral began painting at age 9 when her parents presented her with a set of oil paints. Throughout her career, working both in the fashion industry and as an interior designer, she always found time to paint. Five years ago, after deciding to pursue her passion full time, she joined the Sonoran Arts League and began participating in the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour.

In many ways, Eral’s paintings reflect her adventurous life. An Anthem resident, she and her husband fell in love with the Western United States after taking a monthlong motorcycle trip some 25 years ago.

An avid hiker, she sometimes carries her easel deep into the desert or a forest to paint plein air. Other times, she creates

When she’s in her studio, Cynthia Eral will often use a compilation of photos that she took from long road trips or hikes closer to home.

(Cynthia Eral/Submitted)

original paintings of flora and fauna in her studio using a compilation of photos that she took from long road trips or exploring new terrain closer to home.

“I like to spend significant time outdoors with wildlife to get a sneak peek into their personalities through observing their mannerisms before returning to my studio. This gives me time to visualize the subject in its natural state,” she says.

She affectionately calls oil paint “an old friend,” noting that their colors have more depth to them and she’s able to layer and create more texture.

“I love how oil paints flow off the brush, especially with larger canvases. And, because they dry slowly, I can change my mind and mix colors to enhance areas if I feel the need to,” she says.

She prefers working on larger canvases because they make a bigger impact telling a story. In addition, many of her commission pieces are for larger homes.

“With my experience working in interior design, I’ve seen that the connection

of art and home décor can be powerful. It creates a mood, a special place, and will even feed the soul,” she says.

During the studio tour, Eral will be a guest artist at Beverly Carlson-Bradshaw’s Hummingbird Haven Studio No. 8 in Carefree. In addition to showcasing her new work, she’ll be demonstrating both weekends of the event.

“Whenever I demonstrate, it always opens up conversations with our guests,” she says, adding that she hopes to inspire young, emerging artists.

Hidden in the Hills

WHEN: Various times Fridays November 18 and November 26, Saturdays November 19 and November 26, and Sundays November 20 and November 27

WHERE: Studios in Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale; artist directories at Sonoran Arts League’s o ce, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village COST: Free INFO: hiddeninthehills.org

It

October

Urban Nocturnes

Chamber Music Ensemble

season

a performance of

“A

Her Fears

CARLOTTA MONTANARI HEALS HORSES AND HERSELF

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

arlotta Montanari was a successful actress and TV host in the United States and Italy when, in 2019, she had an epiphany during a commercial shoot.

She wanted to work with horses.

That year, in Los Angeles, she founded Four Legs on Set, a company that rents high-quality steeds for film productions, private photo shoots, portfolio building, print ads, commercials, music videos and other events.

Montanari offers a variety of breeds, colors and riding styles, including dancing horses, trick-trained horses that lay down, rear, paw and nod on command. The stable includes Friesian horses and stallions, Andalusians, Lusitanos, draft, Arabians, paints, quarter horses, warmbloods and thoroughbreds.

“My life has changed, and I changed the lives of these horses,” Montanari says.

“I work with horses who are forgotten or horses who have been having previously ‘difficult’ life. I put ‘difficult’ in quotes. A ‘difficult’ horse can have so many meanings. I have horses falling in my lap. I started a healing journey.

I realized the horse wasn’t just healing and finding happiness. I was, too. It became a double meaning for me. These ‘difficult’ horses end up being the best horses to work with because of their sensitivity.”

Montanari and her horses will make an appearance at America’s Greatest Polo Party - The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort, on Saturday, November 5, at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

“I am honored to be asked to be part of an event of this size and share a little something with my horses in a new way besides the Hollywood cameras,” Montanari says.

“I hope it will be a pleasant experience for the public.”

More than 13,000 fans showed up in 2021 for the oneday polo event. New for 2022 is Prosecco and Popcorn by Harkins Theatres, Grimaldi’s Pizza Disco, an expanded Scottsdale Charro Lounge, a special appearance by “Elvis,” former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan will take the field, and an on-site boat and plane display.

“There is always something for everyone at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships,” says Jason Rose, founder and owner.

“Whether you are rich or poor, Black or white, or young or old, we provide a diversity of experiences

Carlotta Montanari’s horses have appeared in campaigns for Beyoncé, Chanel and the Kardashians. (Howard Wise/Submitted)

beyond polo. Besides the four action-packed polo matches, guests can also enjoy fashion shows, including those of the canine variety; performances by the Phoenix Boys Choir, Arizona Opera, a top saxophonist, jazz bands and DJs; and displays of dozens of collector and exotic cars led by Bentley Scottsdale and Barrett-Jackson.”

Montanari, who rode horses as a child in Italy, says the animals teach and mentor her. Her first horse with Four Legs on Set was a rescue, Mambo. She is interested in working with and rehabbing “difficult” horses.

The Four Legs on Set name has grown and fallen among the roster of the best Hollywood wranglers and trainers. It has become a wellknown equine agency in Los Angeles and now the North Valley.

Early years

Montanari was born and raised in Rimini, Italy. After graduating Institute of Arts Federico Fellini, she moved to Rome to pursue a career in television and film.

She starred as the host of several live shows for Rai, Endemol and Mediaset, while acting in theater on the side, and before deciding to pursue a career on the

Carlotta Montanari was a successful actress and TV host before she decided to work with horses. (Lori Ovanessian/Submitted)

(Aleksandr Vardanyan/Submitted)

(Lori Ovanessian/Submitted)

Carlotta Montanari founded Four Legs on a Set, a company that rents horses for special occasions, including commercials and films. (Howard Wise/Submitted)

silver screen in Hollywood.

“I’ve been in entertainment for a long time, almost 26 years,” she says. “I was very young when I started hosting and modeling in Italy. After graduating art school, I moved to LA to continue my career there.

“Life is incredible when you follow your heart. I would never have gotten to this point if I didn’t have all the knowledge in the production world.”

The move to the United States provided a massive life change for her.

“I learned English, and one day, three and a half years ago, I was cast for a national commercial with horses,” she says. “I fell in love that day. I could work with my two big loves — the movie industry and horses. This was the best day ever. I felt so fulfilled.”

A few weeks later, she embarked on a new adventure as an entrepreneur with Four

Legs on Set. At first, it was for fun, but it quickly turned serious, with her horses in campaigns for Chanel, Beyoncé and the Kardashians.

“I’m giving forgotten horses a purpose — to shine again and give happiness,” she says. “I am spreading their beauty and wonderful power through the art, the movie industry, commercials and photography.

“God brought me this opportunity. Before I knew it, my company ended up owning many more horses, and we’re representing other horses that are not mine. The horses blow people away.”

She says her horses have become celebrities, and stars who are nervous around the animals feel comfortable.

“They look natural,” she says. “The result is the success of the work. It looks just perfectly organic in only a few hours. It doesn’t matter

if you’ve never ridden a horse. I can make it look like you have always been doing this.

“You have to trust me 100%. You can be Madonna, the girl next door, whomever. You have to abandon your fears and really trust me. That’s when the horse feels that they’re going to be safe.”

America’s Greatest Polo Party:

The Bentley Scottsdale Polo

Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, November 5

WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale

COST: Tickets start at $40

INFO: 480-423-1414, thepoloparty.com, info@roseallynpr.com, fourlegsonset.com

Fall Events PREVIEW

Festivals, haunted tours and more to hit the Valley

By Laura Latzko

With the weather getting cooler, it is a perfect time to start getting out to enjoy outdoor festivities and make special memories with friends and family members. Here are some fall festivals, Halloween events and haunted houses happening in the area.

Howl-o-ween Fall Festival

Exceptional Pets Cave Creek, a veterinary, day camp, boarding and dog training facility, is partnering with the 98KUPD radio station to offer a day of fun for pet parents and their fur babies. The Howl-o-ween Fall Festival will have vendors with dog-themed items, games and food trucks. For those who don’t have pets, dogs will be available for adoption. Dog owners are encouraged to dress their pups up in whimsical, funny and adorable costumes to try to win a pet costume contest.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 8

WHERE: 4725 E. Carefree Highway, Carefree

COST: Free admission

Ashley Wineland will perform live country music at OktoberWest. (OktokerWest/Submitted)

INFO: 98kupd.com/event/exceptionalpets-fall-festival

Fall Halloween Cards and Postcards Class

A Halloween or fall card can really show friends or family members that their loved ones are thinking of them this time of the year. Rather than purchase a card at the store, locals can make their own cards during a fall Halloween Cards and Postcards Class hosted by the Holland Center. Led by local

artist Heidi Horchler, it is geared toward beginners who can learn new drawing and lettering techniques. Participants will take home between six and 10 cards.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, October 13

WHERE: The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Building B, Scottsdale

COST: $35 per person

INFO: 480-488-1090, hollandcenter.org/events

Fall Festival at Tierra Madre

Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary is a place where horses that have been mistreated or surrendered can find a new home. The facility’s Fall Festival fundraiser helps to pay for the horses’ medical bills. During the event, visitors can learn more about the horses and take tours of the space. The event will have crafts, including pumpkin decorating and games for families.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 15

WHERE: Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary, 27115 N. 45th Street, Cave Creek

COST: $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 and older, free for children 5 and under INFO: 480-469-9166, carefreecavecreek.org/event

OktoberWest

Westin Kierland Resort and Spa’s OktoberWest puts a spin on traditional Oktoberfest celebrations and brings more of a Western feel. The event will feature live country music from Ashley Wineland and the Mogollan Band. A DJ will keep music going throughout the night. The Western event will also have a mechanical bull, cornhole and food trucks. A portion of the proceeds will benefit veteran organization Friends of Freedom.

WHEN: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 15

WHERE: Westin Kierland Resort

and Spa, 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale

COST: $45 per person

INFO: eventbrite.com/e/oktoberwest2022-tickets-402693987557

Creepy Candy Crawl

Families that want a diff erent trick-ortreating experience can take their children to Desert Ridge Marketplace to collect candy throughout the District. The night of fun will also off er live entertainment and costume contests broken down by age categories. There will also be a special contest for best pet costume.

WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 15

The Creepy Candy Crawl is a trick-or-treating experience at Desert Ridge Marketplace. (Creepy Candy Crawl/Submitted)

WHERE: District Stage for costume contest, Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix

COST: Free

INFO: shopdesertridge.com/event

Paradise Valley United Methodist Church Trunk or Treat

Paradise Valley United Methodist Church’s annual Trunk or Treat event has become an annual tradition for many families. During the event, children can go from car to car, admiring decorations and collecting candy. The night of fun will also include inflatables, food, a train ride and a haunted house. During the event, nonperishable food will be collected for donation to Street Mary’s Food Bank.

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 22

WHERE: Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, 4455 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley

COST: Free

INFO: facebook.com/ ParadiseValleyUMC

Gourd Luminaries Class

Decorating for fall and Halloween has become an art form. DIYers who don’t want the same old decorations can dress up their own gourds during a gourd luminaries class at the Holland Center. It will be led by artist Diane Saucedo. Supplies such as cleaned gourds and paint will be provided to transform the gourds into illuminated works of art guaranteed to make a statement and brighten up a room.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, October 28

WHERE: The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Unit B, Scottsdale

COST: $125 per person

INFO: 480-488-1090, hollandcenter.org/events

North Bible Church Trunk or Treat Trunk-or-treats have become more common as families are looking for alternate trick-or-treating experiences. North Bible Church in North Scottsdale will offer a safe trunk-or-treat event where families can go from one car to another, collecting candy from decorated trunks. Families are encouraged to come dressed up in costume. As part of the event, local volunteers greet guests and host trunks.

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 28

WHERE: North Bible Church, 15678 N. Greenway-Hayden Loop Suite 101, Scottsdale

COST: Free

INFO: northbiblechurch.com/events

Explore an Old Clay Mine

Guests can learn more about Cave Creek’s mining history as they venture through Cave Creek Regional Park at night. The hike, which has easy to moderate trails, will take participants inside the Old Clay Mine.

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 29

WHERE: Cave Creek Regional Park, 37019 N. Lava Lane, Cave Creek

COST: $7 for parking; registration required

INFO: 602-506-2930 ext. 8,

Romolo D’Amico, owner of D’Amico Pizza, slides a pie in a wood-fired oven. (High Street Farmers Market/Submitted)

maricopacountyparks.net/parklocator/cave-creek-regional-park

Pumpkin Patch

In its fourth year, the Desert Ridge Marketplace’s Pumpkin Patch lets families select a perfect pumpkin to compete in decorating. As You Wish Pottery will be set up for painting and decorating these pumpkins. Once fi nished, families can take pictures of their pumpkins with a Polaroid camera and enter the Best Pumpkin in the Patch competition. Th e winner will receive a special prize. Th e benefi ciary organization for the event is the Singletons, a nonprofi t that works with single-parent families dealing with cancer.

WHEN: Friday, October 14 to Sunday, October 30

WHERE: Desert Ridge Marketplace,

21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix

COST: $5 for painting

INFO: shopdesertridge.com/event

Farmers Market North Scottsdale

Farmers Market North Scottsdale will off er Saturday and Sunday farmers markets throughout the fall and spring seasons. Th e Saturday market will be held at Living Water Lutheran Church, and the Sunday market will be at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Parish. During the markets, vendors will sell fresh produce, jewelry and handmade items, baked goods, health and wellness items, home goods and pet treats. Th e vendors off er high-quality, locally produced products. Th e markets will feature live music from local artists and food trucks selling coff ee, pizza, Middle Eastern cuisine and more.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. select Saturdays through April 29; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. select Sundays through April 30

WHERE: Living Water Lutheran Church, 9201 E. Happy Valley Road,

Adam Carlson of RhinoArt13 sells desert-inspired paintings and wooden plaques at High Street Farmers Market. (Adam Carlson/Submitted)

Scottsdale; Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Parish, 11300 N. 64th Street, Scottsdale

COST: Free

INFO: farmersmarket-northscottsdale.com

Roadrunner Park Farmers Market

At Roadrunner Park Farmers Market, Paradise Valley residents have a chance to shop local and pick up some fresh foods. Held on Saturdays throughout the year, the market offers produce, baked goods, crafts, fresh fish, natural pork and beef, and handmade artisan items and crafts. A number of vendors offer samples for those who want to try their products. While at the park, families can enjoy the playground and fishing pond.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays

WHERE: Roadrunner Park, 3502 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix

COST: Free INFO: arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com

Farmers Market on High Street

The Farmers Market on High Street is a place where neighbors can come together to support local businesses. The market, which usually has around 100 vendors over a block, will run every Sunday through May. Vendors will have items such as fresh produce, eggs off the farm, handmade jewelry and clothing, locally produced sauces and jams, natural meats and seafood, teas, dips, lotions, keto-friendly sweets, fresh bread, dog treats and baked goods. While at High Street, guests can also grab a bite to eat or drink at one of the local restaurants.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to1 p.m. Sundays

WHERE: 5415 E. High Street, Phoenix

COST: Free INFO: arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com

Hellbilly Holler Haunted House

Visitors are warned to stay clear of Hellbilly Holler haunted house, unless they want to be frightened. From the minds of Michaela and Athena Nastasir, an artist/prop builder and actress/singer, the North Phoenix home haunt tells the story of three hillbillies who venture to the wetlands to seek help from a swamp

witch. They are trying to lure visitors into their home for fresh meat and souls while a fortune teller attempts to warn away visitors. The haunted, which has won an AZ Haunter award, uses Halloween decorations and lighting and projections to create haunting effects.

WHEN: Sunset to 10:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays; Sunset to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; Friday, October 14, to Monday, October 31

WHERE: 14601 N. 40th Way, Phoenix COST: Free INFO: 602-509-6966, hellbillyholleraz.com

Haunted Graveyard

Haunted Graveyard is a home haunt that goes beyond average Halloween decorations. At the local home, guests try to survive a haunted graveyard filled with

Carefree Farmers Market

Carefree Farmers Market offers a Friday farmers market experience. Guests can shop for locally made and produced artisan items, crafts, clothing, accessories, baked goods, herbs, flowers, cheese, meats, seafood and produce.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays

WHERE: 1 Sundial Circle, Carefree COST: Free

INFO: arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com

Cave Creek Wicked

Cave Creek Wicked is a chance to experience the flavor of Cave Creek while dressed up as zombies, witches, vampires, ghouls and other creatures. The 21-andolder bar crawl takes participants to different hotspots in Cave Creek, including Mountain View Pub, Local Jonny’s, Big Earl’s Greasy Eats, the Hideaway, Buffalo Chip Saloon, Harold’s Corral and the Roadhouse. During the night, there will be a costume contest and drink specials. A free party bus will take participants to different bars. Parking is available at Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, and behind Local Jonny’s, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road.

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, October 29

WHERE: Various locations throughout Cave Creek

COST: Free

INFO: facebook.com/cavecreekwicked

Cave Creek Museum Presents: Cave Creek’s Haunted History

disturbing characters, fog, illusions, eerie sounds and jump scares. The October 25 and October 26 edition will be familyfriendly without actors. The scarier version featuring actors will run from October 27 to October 31.

WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, and Wednesday, October 26; 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, October 27, through Monday, October 31

WHERE: 8414 E. Valley Vista Drive, Scottsdale

COST: $5 suggested donation INFO: hauntedgraveyardaz.com

During Cave Creek Museum Presents: Cave Creek’s Haunted History, visitors have a chance to learn more about Cave Creek’s haunted history in an interactive way. A local paranormal investigation team, which has been featured on the Travel Channel, will lead a ghost hunting expedition that will take visitors to different parts of the museum. Guests will also have a chance to learn more about equipment used these paranormal investigations. It is open to ages 13 and older.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, November 4

WHERE: Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek COST: $30 per person

INFO: 480-488-2764, cavecreekmuseum.org

The story of the Babocomari Ranch

By Marshall Trimble

The Babocomari Ranch was sold to Frank C. Brophy in 1936.

NOW

From 1821 until the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the Mexican government sold and awarded granted land under Mexico’s 1824 Law of Colonization. It called for a three-year abandonment clause and the new owners were expected to mark the boundaries with monuments. The abandonment clause meant if the grantee abandoned the land for three years, he could lose it.

Dona Eulalia Elias de Gonzales and her older brother, Don Ignacio Elias, purchased the land in 1832 at auction for $380 for some 54 square miles. The land was some of the best grazing land in Arizona.

Earlier, during the Spanish reign in the 1780s, the Spanish made a treaty with the Apache called Establecimientos de Paz (Establishments for Peace) in which the Spanish provided alcohol to keep them pacified as well as firearms that were outdated relics and not nearly as effective as their bows, arrows and lances.

But in the years following, Mexico won her independence in 1821, there was much political unrest, and the treaty was ignored. In the 1830s the Apache went on the warpath causing many ranchers and settlers to abandon the lands.

Eulalia was a natural-born cattle boss. By 1840, the Babocomari Ranch supported 40,000 head of cattle. The ranch prospered until 1847, but after Ignacio died and two of the Elias brothers were killed, Eulalia and the ranch hands abandoned the Babocomari and returned to Arispe.

The range lay fallow for nearly 30 years during the Apache Wars. In 1877, Edward B. Perrin purchased the land from G.H. Howard and others. He later became one of Arizona’s largest landowners. He also owned the Baca Float No. 5 in Northern Arizona between Prescott and Seligman.

He later sold the Babocomari to his brother, Robert, for $16,000 in 1881. There were several owners in the interim and, in 1936, the ranch was sold to Frank C. Brophy.

Extraordinary Rides

Mercedes Benz C-300 Turbo Sedan is ‘a very nice ride’

By C.A. Haire

With a starting price of $43,000, the C-300 sedan allows consumers to enter the world of Mercedes ownership without breaking the bank. Naturally, there are always options to bump the tab.

Our vehicle added illuminated door panels, SiriusXM radio, upgraded cabin lights, navigation, phone charger, upgraded stereo

and wide-view camera unit. This brought the total to an even $49,000.

For this money, the factory has given a total redo of the cabin, and it looks fantastic. The quality of materials and workmanship are first class, with great smell of highgrade leather trim all around. A large info screen is easy to use, and that optional high-quality camera system offers a wide outside view. In fact, the overall design looks almost identical to the top Mercedes S-Class ($100,000) model.

Under the hood is a small, 2.0-liter, fourcylinder motor, with turbocharging and hybrid electric assist. The total output is 255 horsepower, and attached is a sharp ninespeed automatic transmission. A computer control inside the cabin allows for Eco, Sport, Comfort or Individual drive modes. Fuel economy is claimed to be 23/35 mpg.

words, it’s what a proper German sedan should be. On highway trips we observed an easy 36 mpg.

A large info screen

easy to

We put about 400 miles on the clock. This sedan is quick, handles like a champ, has strong brakes and is a smooth ride. In other

The only gripe we had was with the controls. There are just too many, a bit of overkill, and it takes a lot of time and effort to learn them all. But by the fifth day, we had them all figured out. If you are leasing this for 36 months, you will have more than enough time to do so. You will also have a very nice ride.

The Mercedes Benz C-300 Turbo Sedan is what a proper German sedan should be.

Haire/Contributor)

Under the hood is a small, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder motor. (C.A. Haire/Contributor)

Problem

Solved

By Christopher Elliott

Lyft charged $150 for cigarette burns, but I don’t smoke

After LeeAnn Hicks takes a Lyft ride, the company broadsides her with a $150 charge for cigarette burns. But she says she didn’t cause the damage. Does she still have to pay?

Question: After a recent ride in a Lyft ride-share, the company charged me a $150 damage fee for an alleged cigarette burn to the vehicle. I have sent numerous emails to Lyft informing them that I did not cause the damage.

I asked Lyft for the driver’s statement and evidence that led them to conclude that I caused the damage, but I never got an answer. A Lyft representative claims the company has reviewed the damage charges.

“As per checking the report made by your driver, it appeared that an investigation has been conducted and found that the claim was valid,” Lyft said. “With that having said, please know that no adjustment will be made to this claim.”

I do not smoke. Can you help me get my $150 back, please?

—LeeAnn Hicks

Answer: Lyft should not charge you for damage to one of its cars unless it has hard evidence. And there should be a system to handle any dispute arising from a damage claim.

I reviewed the photos of the alleged damage sent to Lyft by Timothy, your driver. They appear to show a small cigarette burn

in the side of the passenger seat. But they are low-resolution images. The metadata, which would show the location and type of camera used, appears to have been removed. That makes it impossible to tell if this is Timothy’s car or if you had been the passenger.

And that’s not the only thing that doesn’t make sense. If you burn a cigarette in Timothy’s car seat, that means you smoked in the vehicle. If that happened, I’m sure Timothy would have pulled over and asked you to extinguish your cigarette. But I don’t see any accompanying incident report that claims you smoked in the car. What’s more, you told me that you’ve never smoked. A Lyft representative admitted in writing that the driver only provided “anecdotal evidence of the situation.” That made me a little suspicious about this claim.

Lyft charges passengers anywhere from $20 for minor damage such as mud, dirt or animal fur in the car to $150 for “major” damage like biowaste all over the car or physical damage to fixtures inside or outside of the car. But it requires that drivers report the damage within two hours and take at least two photos of the damage. It isn’t clear to me if Timothy followed all of the rules.

Even if he did, there should have been some way for you to dispute the charge. But according to the email thread between you and Lyft, the company dismissed your appeal and insisted that you pay. You blocked Lyft from charging your card (smart move) and then contacted me.

You could have taken this to an executive at Lyft. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Lyft executives on my consumer advocacy site, elliott.org.

Lyft should not be able to arbitrarily charge $150 to your credit card without giving you a chance to review the evidence and respond. If a driver ever alerts you to damage, make sure you take pictures. Make note of the condition of the vehicle and be prepared to defend yourself against any charges. The system Lyft has in place appears to heavily favor its drivers and fails to give passengers their due process. It can do better.

I contacted Lyft on your behalf.

“After a thorough investigation into the claim, we found that the description of the events did not warrant enough proof that the passenger created the damage, so we elected to refund the damage fee,” a Lyft spokeswoman told me.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at elliott.org/help.

What's Cooking?

Queen Creek Olive Mill Spinach Salad

Some things are worth the trip, especially when they’re handcrafted food products that are local, organic and gourmet.

Yes, it’s worth the drive out to Queen Creek to visit the Queen Creek Olive Mill, where you can take in a factory tour or stroll the orchard, savor gourmet olives, sample fig or pomegranate white balsamic vinegars, try tasty tapenades and take home fresh pressed extra virgin olive oils infused with chocolate, white truffles, bacon, roasted garlic, Meyer lemon or blood orange.

en there’s the Tuscan-inspired eatery, wine tastings, music and dancing. e Queen Creek Olive Mill is Agritourism at its best, and the booming town of Queen Creek has had Arizona’s only olive working farm and mill all to itself for the last 17 years.

If Queen Creek is too far of a trek, you can visit Queen Creek’s Oils and Olives at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale. But the Olive Mill is certainly worth the drive.

Owner Perry Rea started with 10 acres, 1,000 olive trees and a retired career in the automotive industry. Now with 25 acres, 16

varieties of olives and 40 products under the Queen Creek label, many of us are happy that Rea switched from motor oil to olive oil.

At the heart of everything that Rea does is creating a fun, friendly atmosphere where families can gather around the table and enjoy good food, whether it’s at the olive mill or in your own home. So that brings me to my new favorite product from QCOM —

Queen Creek Olive Mill

Salad

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons Queen Creek Olive Mill g balsamic vinegar

• 3 tablespoons Queen Creek Olive Mill bacon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

• 6 cups baby spinach

• 4 green onions with tops, thinly sliced

• 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

bacon-infused extra virgin olive oil. What that means is you now get all the tantalizing flavor of bacon without any of the bacon fat. What better way to enjoy this dynamic duo of olive oil and bacon than with a good old fashioned spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, the flavor richly enhanced by fullbodied Queen Creek fig balsamic vinegar? is recipe was created just for you by Perry — for olive us to enjoy!

DIRECTIONS:

If sesame seeds are not toasted, in a small dry skillet, toast sesame seed over medium high heat until golden brown in color. Set aside to cool. In a skillet, add vinegar, bacon olive oil, lemon juice and sesame seeds. Stir to combine over medium heat until hot. In a large bowl, combine the spinach and green onions. Add the warm dressing and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle with Gorgonzola cheese and serve. Serves 4.

Watch Jan D’Atri’s how-to videos at https://bit.ly/JanDAtri.

BUILDING BLOCKS Nature’s

Vitality’s Best multinutrient collagen products offer numerous health benefits

By Kamala Kirk

Prior to moving to Arizona, Jennifer Keely would fly in from Chicago every year to attend the Waste Management Phoenix Open for her birthday. While staying at a hotel in 2020, a commercial came on that caught her attention — and ultimately changed her life.

“At the time I was living in Chicago, and we would come out to Arizona to get some sunshine,” Keely says. “I was watching this ad featuring doctors from Beverly Hills who claimed they could restore youth and address the effects of aging with a pill they had formulated with collagen and other ingredients. I was really intrigued by the growing collagen trend and started looking into it.”

Keely, who has a science background, created a spreadsheet of the top 100 collagen products on the market and compared their ingredients. During her research she discovered that the pill the doctors were marketing was filled with preservatives and fillers, and didn’t have nearly enough of the necessary ingredients to be effective.

Around that same time, her 19-year-old daughter began to show interest in how to prevent aging, so Keely decided to try her hand at creating her own collagen product. She received a great response from her friends and family.

The signature product is the Collagen 18 Daily Multi-Nutritive. (Vitality’s Best/Submitted)

“I had just sold my previous company, and my life was in transition at the time,” Keely says. “So, I started researching collagen products and created the first version of my formulation. People were coming up to me and asking what I was doing and if I was getting Botox. I worked with a team of scientists and found good-quality suppliers. I knew

our product had to be well rounded and more than a single-ingredient supplement because our bodies are complex. ey need multiple facets of vitamins, enzymes and proteins to work. I wanted to offer the best of the best, and we formulated our product to make it as strong as possible.”

Just before COVID-19 hit, Keely launched Vitality’s Best (her wellness brand under her company Live Young Be Young). Her signature product is the Collagen 18 Daily Multi-Nutritive, a dietary supplement power that features an innovative blend of hydrolyzed multicollagen in addition to vitamins C, D, K and chelated zinc; methylsulfonylmethane (MSM); six digestive enzymes; hyaluronic acid and saw palmetto.

“We have the world’s first multinutrient collagen, which means we’re more than just collagen,” Keely says. “Our hydrolyzed collagen blend is better digested and absorbed by the body. If you consume collagen

Vitality’s Best is a wellness brand under the company Live Young Be Young. (Vitality’s Best/ Submitted)

but it doesn’t have vitamin C or zinc, then it doesn’t synthesize in the body and will flush right out of your system.”

Keely says collagen plays an important role in the human body and the amount we have of it decreases as we get older.

“As we age, our natural production of collagen slows down,” Keely says. “It’s the glue that holds our skin, muscles and joints together. As the production of collagen in your body decreases, you start to get more wrinkles, your joints ache and your vascular system changes. Ingesting the right kind of collagen can help replace some those things, and as a result, you’ll experience a wide array of health and beauty benefits including better skin, fuller hair, stronger nails, joint health, muscular recovery and a stronger vascular system.”

When creating the formulation, Keely opted for a powder supplement for convenience and maximum absorption.

“Pills don’t deliver enough of the ingredients you need on a daily basis,” Keely says. “We left the powder form completely unflavored so it can be personalized according to how each person wants to consume it. It can be mixed into coffee, yogurt, smoothies, soup,

apple sauce — any soft foods or beverages. We share all kinds of creative recipes on our website as well.”

To get the most out of collagen and its benefits, Keely recommends consuming it on a daily basis — the longer the better.

“Collagen is the gift that keeps on giving. e longer you take it, the more you benefit from it,” Keely says. “ e first thing people tend to notice with the first three weeks is that their skin plumps up and starts to look softer, smoother and fuller. Going into their second month, they’ll notice their hair is stronger, their nails grow faster, and joint aches start to go away. It also offers digestive support and helps hormones, so some people lose weight as a result. It also helps to slow down the aging process.”

Keely says collagen isn’t just for older people — kids and teens can also reap its benefits, which is why she created Teen 18, a multicollagen powder formulated with 18 nutritives for ages 4 to 18.

“Today’s kids and teens have a more active lifestyle than we’ve seen before. ey’re playing sports, pursuing academics and engage in more screen time,” Keely says. “ is supplement offers balanced nutrition, immune

support, provides energy, includes vitamin A for eye support, and aids with muscle recovery. Collagen is safe for kids as young as 4 years old, and any excess is simply excreted from the body. When a person turns 18, we recommend they switch over to our other formulation.”

Keely and her team are experimenting with creating products including collagen bars, Rice Krispies treats and other snacks. She’s also doing research on seniors and their health needs for a potential formulation in the future, and they have multiple media appearances in the pipeline as well.

Vitality’s Best products are sold on its website, but Keely is looking forward to expanding to numerous local markets and independent health food stores.

“My entire life I’ve been into wellness, and this is my passion,” Keely says. “I officially moved to Phoenix in February of last year because I wanted to be able to get to know the people in this community and be available to them. is feeds my soul; I love helping others grow and live their best lives.”

Vitality’s Best vitalitysbest.com