The entertainer! december 2017

PHX METRO » DECEMBER 2017

DRIPPING

METAL SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin spins heavy music into a lifestyle

OLIVER EKMANLARSSON

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A LWAY S O N Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers

New Year’s Eve

Leslie Jones

Sunday, December 31

Friday, December 29

In The Ballroom

Saturday, January 6

Tracy Morgan

Air Supply

Jason Derulo

In The Ballroom

In The Ballroom

Sunday, January 14 In The Showroom

Saturday, February 10 In The Ballroom

P L A Y

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Saturday, February 17 In The Ballroom

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

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

23

CONTENTS

5

ON THE COVER

14

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

METAL DETECTOR U of A grad Jose Mangin keeps music fans in the know

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS

36

Gilbert’s Lindsey Stirling feels blessed this Christmas season

Here are a few ways to usher in 2018

on the cover: Jose Mangin photo by Alison Roberto

6

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

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

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publisher

Steve T. Strickbine steve@entertainermag.com

executive editor

Niki D’Andrea ndandrea@timespublications.com

THE ABCs ON OEL Oliver Ekman-Larsson sees the

editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com

art director

Erin Loukili erin@entertainermag.com

Coyotes’ season turning around

CONTENTS THE METROPOLITAN

9

Top 25 • New Year’s Eve • It’s Christmas! • Phoenix Insider

THE EXTRAORDINAIRE 21 Annie • Shawn Johnson • Jose Mangin

THE TOURIST

25

designer

67 FEELS

Jaclyn Threadgill

circulation director

Aaron Kolodny aaron@entertainermag.com

contributing writers

LIKE HOME

Joseph J. Airdo, David Bowers, David Brown, Connor Dziawura, Daisy Finch, Joe Gilmore, Catherine Hathaway, Megan Marples, Carson Mlnarik, Randy Montgomery, M.V. Moorhead, Laura Stoddard, Adam Toriseva

Stephen Perkins finds comfort in Jane’s Addiction

Tour du Jour • Monterey

contributing photographers

THE ARTIST

Alison Roberto, Tim Sealy, Elias Tahan, Leavitt Wells

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74

The Sole of PHX • Arts Calendar • Carol Burnett • Lindsey Stirling • 98 Degrees

THE CRITIC

40

Coming Attractions • Ask Our Experts!

• The Report Card • Coco • 70 Years of Cinema

THE DINER

RUM PRINCESA

45

Mixologist Dre Fountain is never mum on rum

Best Food Events in December • Happy Hour • Mora • Mowry & Cotton

THE CRAFTMASTER

53

Beertender Tiffany Fowler • BeerFinder Directory • Beer Gear • Best Beer Events in December

THE HIGHROLLER

56

Casino Entertainment Calendar • Parmalee • Jody Watley

THE GLADIATOR

59

THE SHOWMAN

67

Best Sports Events in December • Golf • Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Jane’s Addiction • Live Music Calendar • Descendents • Colton Avery

THE YOUNGSTER

THE NIGHTOWL

Zoppé Circus • Best Family Events in December

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THE THINKER You’re Not Gonna Believe This

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ONE COPY PER READER

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

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

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Best Nightlife Events for December • Mad Mixologist Dre Fountain

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE METROPOLITAN

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PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE

Say Goodbye to 2017 14 A Dozen Days for the Holidays 16 Bringing Japan to Phoenix 19

TOP25 Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

Anjelah Johnson

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 3 Anjelah Johnson went from professional cheerleader to bigname comedian in just a few years. She made her mark with her MADtv character “Bon Qui Qui,” a disgruntled fast-food worker with no filter. Johnson has also appeared in several films, and released her own Netflix comedy special in 2015.

Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix.standuplive.com, times vary, $35.

and sample the festival’s extensive collection of domestic and imported wines. This year’s featured artist is scratchboard extraordinaire Paul Hopman, who uses needles on an ink-covered chalkboard to create masterpieces.

Gilbert Civic Center, 90 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, 480.837.5637, thunderbirdartists.com, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3 admission and wine tasting with glass $10.

Elf Academy

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 23 The next generation of elves is preparing to take over Santa’s workshop—until an army of polar bears threatens to invade and destroy the holiday spirit for good.

Brelby Playhouse, 7154 N. 58th Drive, Glendale, 623.282.2781, brelby.com, times vary, $17-$25.

Gilbert Wine Festival

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 3 Artists from around the world travel to Gilbert to show off more than 2,000 pieces. Patrons will have the chance to talk with the artists,

cream samples, colorful art and photo ops. Guests have an hour to explore the exhibit to their hearts’— and their stomachs’—desires.

Downtown Scottsdale, 4224 Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, 480.666.5545, artoficecreamexperience.com, times vary, $15-$25.

Santa Wine Around with Scottsdale Wine Trail

DECEMBER 2 Wine around downtown Scottsdale’s finest wine-tasting rooms for a festive celebration.

Guests can start at any participating room and bounce around at their own speed. Dress up as Santa, Mrs. Claus or an elf to receive a commemorative wine glass and discounted tasting fees.

Various wineries, including Aridus Wine Company, 7173 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, 480.312.7177, scottsdazzle.com, 6 to 9 p.m., prices for tasting vary.

Street Food Cinema: Elf

The Art of Ice Cream Experience

TO DECEMBER 31 This immersive pop-up celebrates America’s love for ice cream with an experience for the whole family. Guests walk through various themed rooms dedicated to different ice cream flavors and sweet treats. They can enjoy ice

DECEMBER 2 What goes together better than a movie and snacks? Purchase eats from food truck favorites like Cheese, Love and Happiness, Flyin’ K BBQ, and Chicken and Waffles for the People, and then enjoy the classic Will Ferrell Christmas film. The evening kicks off with a performance by The Senators.

Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix, 323.254.5068, streetfoodcinema. com, 4:30 p.m., $15-$20.

Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen

DECEMBER 2 TO DECEMBER 17 Just let it go, Elsa! The Center Dance Ensemble is here to present Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the real Snow Queen, set to music

by Sergei Prokofiev.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.254.7399, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $24.

Celebration of Christmas

DECEMBER 7 TO DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 13 TO DECEMBER 19 Experience the wonder of the holidays with this Broadway-style musical theater performance, featuring a live orchestra, state-ofthe-art technology and seasonal classics. This new show has a live nativity, dance numbers, aerial stunts, acrobatic silk artists and even flying angels.

Dream City Church, 13613 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, 602.867.7117, dreamcitychurch. us, times vary, $7-$25.

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you can find and hit the road.

Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, goo. gl/U1mCyg, 5:30 p.m., free.

Phoenix Volunteer Fair Hollywood Undead

Phoenix Festival of the Arts

DECEMBER 8 TO DECEMBER 10 Phoenix gets together for a threeday, nonstop local art celebration. In its sixth year, this festival has three stages, highlighting local bands, dancers, comedians, choral groups and spoken word artists. Guests will have a chance to paint alongside professional local artists in the Phoenix Mural Project, a hands-on community art venture, and grab grub at a selection of Phoenix’s favorite food trucks.

Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix, 602.254.3100, phoenixfestivalofthearts.org, times vary, free.

Las Noches de Las Luminarias

DECEMBER 8 TO DECEMBER 30 The Desert Botanical Garden glows, thanks to more than 8,000 hand-lit luminarias for multiple weekends this December.

Thousands of white twinkle lights and the sounds of 10 entertainment ensembles build the atmosphere, alongside the monumental sculptures of Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko. Get there early and enjoy dinner at the garden’s restaurant, or fold hot chocolate and cider into the agenda.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., $30.

DECEMBER 9 Los Angeles band Hollywood Undead–which consists of J-Dog, Charlie Scene, Danny, Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears–is perhaps best known for its 2008 breakout single "Undead." However, it is now returning to Arizona for a stop at Tempe's Marquee Theatre. Five albums into its career, the group's new project Five holds a special significance for its members, and marks the quintet's fifth debut in the Top 25 of the Billboard 200 charts.

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 7:30 p.m., $23-$53.

Ugly Sweater Lighted Bike Parade

DECEMBER 9 What’s more Christmasy than donning an ugly sweater and riding a bicycle adorned with holiday lights? Not much. The Belmont Bike Club is hosting the ride through Desert Ridge Marketplace and High Street that hits Humble Pie, Majerle’s Sports Grill, Barrio Queen and Modern Margarita. So, fix up your bikes with the brightest lights

DECEMBER 9 There’s no excuse not to give back this season as The Van Buren, Downtown Phoenix Inc., and the city of Phoenix present the first Volunteer Fair. Featuring more than 75 nonprofits, the event gives attendees the chance to learn how they can serve the community. From the Japanese Friendship Garden to Read Better, Be Better, there’s a cause that fits everyone’s heart and time.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx.com, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free.

A Christmas Carol – The Musical

DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 28 This musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ tale of hope and redemption during the holidays has become a cultural classic. Join Ebenezer Scrooge as he visits the Christmases of the past, present and future. Between the splendid costumes, exciting musical numbers and laughs, you’re sure to leave the theater a little less Scrooge-like.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix, 602.254.7399, herbergertheater. org, times vary, $49-$69.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

11

the Valley, but most folks probably didn’t realize its Mill Avenue location offers yoga on Sunday mornings.

Instructed by Natalie Hewitt, the class price not only includes the yoga lesson, but a fresh juice, fruit, mimosa and 25 percent off brunch.

Get stretched and get your brunch on with just one stop.

Pita Jungle on Mill, 4 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.804.0234, pitajungle.com, 8 a.m., $15.

It’s Feline a Lot Like Christmas DECEMBER 9 AND DECEMBER 10 Who needs that Mariah Carey song when you’ve got the Meow Mix radio jingle? This feline celebration shows off more than 350 pedigreed cats and kittens, as well as a special judging category for household pets. Visitors can check out various feline merchandise vendors and add a fur baby to the family with adoptions.

Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa, 623.328.8769, phxfeline.com, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, $5-$9.

Pueblo Grande Museum Indian Market DECEMBER 9 AND DECEMBER 10 The Pueblo Grande Museum celebrates American Indian art, music and food with an educational and fun event for the family.

Shoppers can peruse more than 100 booths of authentic Native American fine art, or check out dance performances, food trucks and Indian fry bread. Returning is the special Ki:him area, which brings the public closer to artists and performers for hands-on activities, including archery and painting.

Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.495.0901, pueblogrande.com, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $7-$10.

Yoga at Pita Jungle

DECEMBER 10 Pita Jungle is known throughout

The Nat King Cole Tribute

DECEMBER 15 NEA Jazz Master pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitarist-vocalist John Pizzarelli have joined forces to highlight Nat King Cole hits like “Route 66, “Mona Lisa,” and, of course, “Unforgettable.”

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter. org, 7:30 p.m., $44-$74.

Phoenix Theatre’s Holiday Cabaret

DECEMBER 15 TO 21 Let Phoenix Theatre put you in the “Chrizmaz” spirit with two holiday cabaret experiences. The first—a piano, drums and vocals trio—brings jazz, pop, nostalgia and new songs to the stage from December 15 to December 17.

The second show, which runs December 18 to December 21, puts a peppier style on things with a charming swing performance.

Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre.com, times vary, $29-$39.

Club ’90s Selena Night

DECEMBER 16 It’s a dance party fit for the Queen of Tejano at the swanky Van Buren. The night will feature a photo booth, pop-up shop with custom merch and a free Selena button for the first 400 guests.

The soundtrack for the night is, of course, a huge dose of Selena with the best ’90s and early 2000s throwbacks on giant video screens.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.

1641, thevanburenphx.com, 9 p.m., $12.

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Christmas show comes to the Mesa Arts Center for an experience like no other, complete with dazzling multimedia effects, the band’s signature sound and fans’ favorite holiday renditions.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter.com, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., $36-$81.

Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

DECEMBER 16 Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis is synonymous with Christmas, after nabbing top spots on Billboard’s seasonal charts each year. His Mannheim Steamroller

Dead and Destructo. Featuring food, various stages and nonstop dancing, this party has become an Arizona nightlife tradition.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 480.502.5600, rawhide.com, gates open at 3 p.m., $189-$799.

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY CARRILLO

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Jared and the Mill

DECEMBER 19 TO DECEMBER 24 Roger and Hammerstein’s tale of Cinderella combines the magic and timelessness of the fairytale with a contemporary script. The two-act musical, coming from Broadway, features laughs, costume changes, a flying fairy godmother and a number of toe-tapping tunes.

ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe, 480.965.3434, asugammage.com, times vary, $20-$159.

DECEMBER 23 The Arizona faves have spent the last year crisscrossing the country with some of music’s most talented acts. They bring it back home for its third annual holiday extravaganza, featuring Jerusafunk, Tony Martinez and Harrison Fjord.

The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, 480.659.1641, thevanburenphx.com, 6 p.m., $17.

Decadence

DECEMBER 30 AND DECEMBER 31 This two-day lineup is a can’tmiss EDM fans, bringing together artists like Steve Aoki, Zedd, Zeds

FREE!

Now in our 30th Year!

311

DECEMBER 31 The ’90s mainstays will ring in the New Year with a special Tempe show. Known for songs like “Beautiful Disaster” and “All Mixed Up,” the boys from Nebraska have sold more than 8.5 million records in the United States. They’ll be joined by openers The Original Wailers and Black Bottom Lighters.

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 7 p.m., $63-$98.

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SAY GOODBYE TO 2017 EDM to smooth jazz take over Arizona venues this New Year’s Eve

David A. Bowers » The Entertainer!

A

new beginning.

There is a certain catharsis about the ending of a year. There isn’t the lingering sense of sadness from legends who have passed like we experienced at the end of 2016, but this year has been worse. It has been riddled with catastrophic events across the country from Charlottesville to Las Vegas with tragedies in New York City and Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Music, however, provides an escape from all your worries and cares—even if it’s just for a couple hours.

Thankfully, there is something for everybody this New Year’s Eve.

DECADENCE 2017 EDM is taking over Rawhide Western Town and Event Center in Chandler over the New Year’s weekend.

“Decadence” hosts two days of music, with two stages boasting 33 acts, like legendary trance DJ Armin Van Buuren, French house pioneers Justice, Zedd, the electro/dubstep trio Black Tiger Sex Machine, who performs in tiger helmets, and the cake master himself, Steve Aoki.

Decadence, Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, decadencearizona.com, 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Saturday, December 30, and Sunday, December 31, $189-$2,500.

Osmond and Olivia Newton-John.

The adult contemporary juggernaut has earned a plethora of honors, including two Grammy nominations.

Brickman is no stranger when it comes to Christmas albums and concerts after hitting it big with The Gift in late 1997. He has gone on to produce 10 Christmas-themed albums including such titles as The Magic of Christmas, All Is Calm: Peaceful Christmas Hymns and On a Winter’s Night: The Songs and Spirit of Christmas.

Jim Brickman, Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.478.6000, mim.org, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, December 30, and 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, December 31, $45-$250.

SPAFFORD The multi-show weekend slots aren’t reserved for just million-selling acts.

Prescott-based Spafford, who plays the Crescent Ballroom on December 30 and December 31, is big on talent and renowned for being one of the best rock/jam bands on the scene.

Spafford effortlessly melds rock, funk, jazz, ska, reggae and improvisational music to create an experience like no other. With two studio albums and four live collections under its belt, the band has played a ton of music festivals, including Euphoria, Mad Tea Party Jam, Electric Forest and Head for the Hills, sharing the stage with

Rusted Root, Gov’t Mule, The String Cheese Incident and My Morning Jacket.

Spafford, The Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Avenue, Phoenix, 602.716.2222, crescentphx.com, 8 p.m. Saturday, December 30, and 8 p.m. Sunday, December 31, $20-$199 (December 30), $30-$35 (December 31).

311 W/ORIGINAL WAILERS AND PHUNK JUNKEEZ The Marquee Theatre in Tempe is lightin’ it up on New Year’s Eve with a pair of local funk and reggae bands opening up for two legendary funk and reggae outfits.

The Valley’s Black Bottom Lighters—otherwise known as BBL to their fervent fans—have released four albums and were voted Best Local Band in 2015.

Local music pioneers Phunk Junkeez are stalwarts of the Phoenix music scene and one of the few remaining acts intact after 25 years. The Junkeez have released eight studio albums and are best known for their songs “I Am a Junkee” and “Me n Yer Girl.”

The Original Wailers are a bit of an anomaly. Although band founders Junior Marvin and Al Anderson played with Bob Marley and the Wailers, they were not original members of the band.

The duo replaced Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1974, the true Original

Wailers who created the group with Marley in 1963. Anderson and Marvin formed the Original Wailers in 2008 as a reggae/jam band with dueling guitars and melodic rhythms. Marvin left in 2011 prior to the release of the band’s critically acclaimed EP Miracle, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album.

Closing out the show is the pride of Omaha, Nebraska—funk-rockers 311.

The venerable band has been rocking for nearly 30 years with its first studio album Music being released in 1993. It wasn’t until 1995 that the band achieved mainstream recognition with its self-titled album. Singles “Don’t Stay Home,” “Down” and “All Mixed Up” lit up the Modern Rock charts with “Down” reaching the vaunted No. 1 position.

311 recently released its 12th studio album (15th overall) titled Mosaic that mixes the vibe of a Caribbean island with hard-driving guitar riffs and Grateful Dead-esque jamming.

311 w/The Original Wailers, Phunk Junkeez and Black Bottom Lighters, The Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline. com, 7 p.m. Sunday, December 31, $63-$98.

OTHER NOTABLE SHOWS: • Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns, The Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602.265.4842, rhythmroom.com, 9 p.m. Sunday, December 31, $15.

• Jim Breuer, Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.921.9877, tempeimprov.com, various times, Thursday, December 29, to Sunday, December 31, $35-$68.17 (New Year’s Eve).

• Joel McHale, Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.6100, phoenix.standuplive.com, various times, Thursday, December 29, to Sunday, December 31, $40-$68 (New Year’s Eve).

• Mac Sabbath and The Dwarves w/Broloaf, Club Red, 1306 W. University Drive, Mesa, 480.200.7529, clubredrocks.com, 7 p.m. Sunday, December 31, $25.

JIM BRICKMAN If the softer, smoother sounds of adult contemporary music is more your speed, we have that for you as well. The American songwriter and pianist has collaborated with some of the biggest names in pop and country music including Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Donny WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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

David M. Brown » The Entertainer!

I

n the spirit of the holidays, let’s hop in our roof-landing sleighs, snap the belts tight on our swift Teslas and indulge in events— some familiar, others less so— throughout Arizona. Most locations won’t have snow, but the warmth of celebration and joy is everywhere.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Joyful Kwanzaa.

Sierra Vista: Santas in the Park

A DOZEN DAYS

FOR THE HOLIDAYS HOLIDAYS AT THE HEARD

SIERRA VISTA CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE

THE NORTH POLE EXPERIENCE

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 26 Santas take center stage in Sierra Vista’s Veterans Memorial Park this December.

At the Friday, December 1, tree-lighting ceremony, the Sierra Vista Community Band will play holiday songs, and free hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Approximately 50 Old World Santas will be showcased, designed by artists Susan Bell, Sue Ann Vannoy and Laura Sudduth. They will be on display through Tuesday, December 26.

“Ever since 2006, these Santas have encircled the park’s trees in December,” says Adam Curtis, Sierra Vista spokesman. “They offer residents and visitors a glimpse of how Santa Claus is seen in different households around the world.”

The 59th annual Christmas Light Parade is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 2, along Fry Boulevard, with the theme of “Christmas in Candyland.”

Santas in the Park, Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 E. Fry Boulevard, Sierra Vista, 520.439.2210, sierravistaaz. gov, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, December 1, to Tuesday, December 26, free.

Scottsdale: Father Christmas and the Snow Queen

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 17 This is the second revival of Alan Austin’s Father Christmas and the Snow Queen by Theatre Artists Studio, through December 17, Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays. Performed previously in 2009, this holiday romp follows the traditional English panto style, a musical play based on traditional children’s stories with songs, dances, jokes, outrageous characters and audience participation.

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Father Christmas and the Snow Queen, Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale, 602.765.0120, thestudiophx.org, various times Friday, December 1, to Sunday, December 17, $25, with discounts available for seniors, military personnel and groups of 10 or more.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

Flagstaff: North Pole Experience

TO DECEMBER 28 A family-focused holiday attraction, The North Pole Experience takes youngsters and the young at heart to see Santa through December 28.

Hosted by Little America Hotel, the Christmas adventure starts by taking guests on a trolley ride through the magic portal to Santa’s Workshop in the forest. Families then work side-by-side with the elves, building toys and learning all of Santa’s Workshop secrets.

They receive access to Santa’s main factory floor with toy slides and ceilings, attend Elf University, visit with Mrs. Claus, who reads stories, and enjoy cookies and snowman soup in the bakery. The group then meets Santa, who gives each child with a paying ticket a Teddy bear.

“We also invite everyone into Santa’s mail room, his personal office and his top-secret ‘Area 47’ Sleigh Hangar, with his famous sleigh, mission control center, radar systems and more,” says Scott Pace, North Pole Experience president.

North Pole Experience, Little America, 2515 E. Butler Avenue, 928.779.7900, northpoleexperience.com. See website for prices and times.

Phoenix: Black Theatre Troupe’s Black Nativity

DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 17 Last season’s sold-out holiday event by Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes returns to the Black Theatre Troupe stage.

Featuring uplifting musical selections and text, Black Nativity’s joyous company of singers, actors, dancers and musicians delivers its powerful message of joy, hope, victory and liberation.

“This tremendous song-play touches a special chord in the hearts of all at a very special time of the year,” says David J. Hemphill, executive director.

Black Theatre Troupe, Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.258.8129, blacktheatretroupe.org, various times Friday, December 1, to Sunday, December 17, $38.

Sedona/Williams: L’Auberge de Sedona & Grand Canyon Railway

TO JANUARY 6 Santa has your ticket to ride for the 17th Polar Express Train Ride. “All who truly believe” can enjoy the Grand Canyon Railway from the city of Williams to the North Pole, through January 6 on select dates.

The 90-minute holiday ride, inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s classic

children’s book, includes visits from chefs who deliver hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies from Santa.

South of Williams, in Sedona, L’Auberge de Sedona creekside resort is offering a discounted Polar Express Package with a special children’s amenity and a packed picnic. Polar Express tickets are not included.

L'Auberge de Sedona & Grand Canyon Railway, thetrain.com/ special-events/the-polarexpress and lauberge.com/ packages/polar-express/.

Pricing varies per package.

Phoenix, Desert Botanical Garden: Las Noches de las Luminarias

TO DECEMBER 30 The Southwest’s largest botanical garden will feature magical evenings through December 30. Guests will see 8,000plus hand-lit luminaria bags, thousands of white twinkle lights and dramatic nighttime desert views.

This year, visitors to the 39th annual event will experience trailside sculptures by Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko and musical performances by some of the Valley’s top performers.

Liberty Wildlife, Yellowbird/ Duncan Family and cowboy and cowgirl poets and musicians entertain. A buffet is available, and the garden’s Patio Café and Gertrude’s restaurant will be open.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.941.1225, dbg.org, various times to Saturday, December 30, $10-$25.

Fort Verde: Annual Candlelight Tour

DECEMBER 8 AND DECEMBER 9 Enjoy the celebration of a Victorian Christmas with traditional candlelight tours at Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9.

Fort Verde State Historic Park is one of the best remaining authentic Indian Wars-era military forts in the Southwest, with displays, exhibits and four walkable original adobe buildings that interpret the lives of those who helped shape Arizona.

“Our historic homes along Officer’s Row and the museum will be decorated in Victorian Christmas fashion, while reenactors dressed in period clothing guide you through the historic homes and tell stories as written and shared by soldiers and others from the past,” says Sheila Stubler, park manager.

Fort Verde State Historic Park, 125 E. Hollamon Street, Camp Verde, 928.567.3275, azstateparks.com/fort-verde, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9, $4-$7.

Scottsdale: Sister’s Christmas Catechism

DECEMBER 8 TO DECEMBER 17 Sister rules, with or without a chastising ruler to the knuckles, in Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold, on Stage 2 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts December 8 to December 17.

Unusually jolly, Sister (played by Patti Hannon) teaches you, her students, the Nativity story and asks for help to solve the greatest Christmas caper: Who took the gold the Three Wise Men gave to Baby Jesus? Help expose the sinner(s) for the fun and points upstairs.

Each performance is unique because of audience interplay, and people of all ages and faiths will be entertained.

Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org, various times Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 17, tickets start at $31.

Gilbert: 12K’s of Christmas

DECEMBER 9 The 12K’s of Christmas family festival on Saturday, December 9, celebrates health, fitness and the joy of Christmas, while supporting local animal rescue groups. It features a 12K run, 6K run/ walk and a 1.2K Santa “Sled Run,” plus a Christmas bazaar, Santa’s Pet Village with pet adoptions and Christmasthemed entertainment.

All participating rescue groups and Arizona Pet Project, the nonprofit arm of Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, receive proceeds from the event.

The 1.2k run/walk begins at 9:12 a.m. and the 12k/6k at 10:12 a.m.; the overall festivities start at 7:30 a.m. There is a fee to run or walk in the event, but event admission is free. Everyone receives a collectible finisher’s medal, and first-, second- and third-place agegroup awards will be given.

12 K’s of Christmas, Freestone District Park, 1045 E. Juniper Road, Gilbert, 480.609.3978, 12krun.com. 7:30 a.m. Saturday, December 9, free admission, fee to run or walk in the event.

Globe/Miami: Festival of Lights

DECEMBER 17 The 30th annual Festival of Lights at Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum showcases 2,600 luminaries atop ancient ruins walls, lighting the way for visitors to celebrate the magic of the season.

The Salado people inhabited the site from 1225–1400 CE. The city of Globe, about an hour northeast of the

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Valley, manages the site, whose museum has what is thought to be the world’s largest collection of Salado artifacts.

The Yellow Bird Dance Group and Native American storytellers will perform, and crafts and food will be available onsite.

“The festival is truly a one-of-akind experience. Once the sun sets, the ruins are hauntingly beautiful cast in the glow of so many luminaries,” says Leana Asberry, museum supervisor.

Festival of Lights, Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and Museum, 1324 S. Jesse Hayes Road, Globe, 928.425.0320, globeaz.gov/visitors/beshba-gowah, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, December 17, free. Shuttle parking is at 230 S. Broad Street in the Historic Train Depot.

Phoenix: Holidays at the Heard

DECEMBER 26 TO DECEMBER 30 The annual family-friendly Holidays at the Heard offers music from Valley musicians and groups, indigenous dance performances, artist demonstrations and art activities “Heard is the perfect place to celebrate the joyous holiday season, while embracing what makes the Southwest a unique winter wonderland,” says Shaliyah Ben, the Heard Museum’s director of public programming. “And Holidays at the Heard is a great way to enjoy the distinctiveness of the Heard Museum while celebrating the holidays through the lens of indigenous communities.”

Holidays at the Heard, Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, heard. org/events, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 26, to Saturday, December 30, free for members, $7.50-$18 nonmembers.

Show Low: Deuce of Clubs Drop

DECEMBER 31 In the White Mountains of Arizona, about four hours from the Valley, the city of Show Low celebrates the New Year with the year-ending Deuce of Clubs Drop.

The event includes entertainment, music, free photo booth, fire pits to keep warm by, and a food vendor that serves hot cocoa and other treats. At 11 p.m. in the Festival Marketplace, revelers count down the remaining seconds of the year as the illuminated deuce of clubs drops to the ground.

Fireworks complete the evening.

Deuce of Clubs Drop, Festival Marketplace, 1031 E. Deuce of Clubs, Show Low, 928.532.4141, showlowaz.gov, 11 p.m. Sunday, December 31, free.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

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INSIDER

Bringing Japan to Phoenix

Experience The Magic of Santa’s Village!

Stop in and write Santa a letter, make your own ornament or see Santa himself in person!

Joe Gilmore » The Entertainer!

T

he Ro Ho En Japanese Friendship Garden is a phoenix in the city of the same name.

“Ro” is for the heron, the bird symbol of Himeji City, while “Ho” stands for the mythical phoenix. “En” is garden. The 3.5-acre Japanese Stroll Garden boasts a tea house, representing the relationship between sister cities Phoenix and Himeji, Japan.

The Japanese Friendship Garden offers residents and tourists a peaceful place to take friends and family on a quiet afternoon. The garden aims to bring the essence of Japan to Arizona, melding the cultures of the East and West.

Himeji was Phoenix’s second official sister city, an affiliation that began in 1976. According to the garden’s website, the two cities “participate in business, governmental, cultural and educational exchanges that promote international goodwill and understanding.”

scottsdale center for the performing arts

The garden, which opened to the public in 2002, features more than 50 varieties of plants, a 12-foot waterfall, multiple streams and a Koi pond with over 300 fish. Guests can purchase Koi food at the gift shop.

The venue hosts events and workshops throughout the year, including a decoration-making class on December 9. A public tea ceremony on December 16 will give the public the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture.

Be sure to visit during the garden’s remaining active months, which run from December through May, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Japanese Friendship Garden

1125 N. Third Avenue, Phoenix, 602.291.9209, jfgphx.org, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, $7, with discounts for seniors, students and military personnel. Children younger than 6 are admitted free.

Play in the snow and make snow angels Climb the Rock Wall Fly down the Zip Line Bungee Trampoline Ferris Wheel Inflatables Sleigh Ride And Much More!

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Santa or sip on some hot cocoa. For an additional fee you can fly down the zip line, ride the Ferris wheel and bounce around on the different inflatables.

With holiday music and local performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

November 24th - December 24th

Gates are open every Fri, Sat & Sun: 2pm-10pm

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park

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THE EXTRAORDINAIRE

21

STYLE » ENVY » PASSION » FASHION » BEAUTY » DESIGN

TRIPLE THREAT

Anneliese van der Pol to take audiences down ‘Easy Street’ in ‘Annie’ Carson Mlnarik » The Entertainer!

W

hile television knows her as Chelsea Daniels, the ditzy best friend on Disney’s Raven’s Home, it’s the stage where Dutch-American actress Anneliese van der Pol says she truly thrives.

Valley audiences will see van der Pol in her element this January as Lily St. Regis in Scottsdale Musical Theater Company’s production of Annie.

Hungry for money and self-absorbed, Lily St. Regis is a bit of a departure from the friendly, goofy character people are used to seeing van der Pol play.

“I can’t wait to talk like this and do a New York accent,” she says, squeaking her voice. “But I’m most excited to dance, to be honest, and get to do all that fun dancing with Rooster.” van der Pol is no stranger to Arizona stages. In 2012 and 2013, she was in Arizona Theatre Company’s Emma and The Importance of Being Earnest.

“I love Arizona,” she says. “I love

driving around the city and I really appreciate how much Arizona appreciates theater. They have a big, wide appreciation for theatregoers and I think they’re interested in real talent.”

The theater has always been van der Pol’s favorite performance space. Her long list of stage credits, including Eva Peron in Evita and Esther in Meet Me in St. Louis, dates back long before she appeared on Disney Channel.

“Nothing is like the live audience aspect,” she says. “I always feel a bit more challenged, if I’m being perfectly honest, in the theater than I ever do in television.”

Between her acting, dancing and singing, van der Pol is a triple threat and even graced the Broadway stage as the last Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

Recently, however, she has been busy at work on Raven’s Home, a spinoff of the 2003 hit Disney Channel show, That’s So Raven.

The show brings together van der Pol’s Chelsea and Raven, played by Raven Symoné, as single mothers raising their children. One of Raven’s kids even has psychic visions like the original show.

The 33-year-old van der Pol says it’s been a little odd returning to the same character, set and parking spot she had at 19, but the cast and crew is truly her family.

“I happen to come in this age where they happen to be rebooting everything,” van der Pol says with a laugh. “I mean who does this happen to? I feel nothing but lucky.”

As the new show focuses more on the kids, van der Pol says she’s found herself taking more of a teaching role on set, helping the younger actors develop their sense of scene, comedic timing and improv skills.

In her spare time, she teaches an acting class on the weekends in Glendale, California. She admits it’s something she never thought she would do.

“But I’ve learned, holy smokes, I’m actually really good at this,” she says.

With plenty on her plate, van der Pol says her free time is rather limited.

She laughs when she describes the struggle in writing her bio for Annie’s program and coming up with an offstage hobby.

“I think I said juggling or something like that,” she says. van der Pol says it’s refreshing to be at a point in her career where she’s not auditioning but still getting offers and working. She points to a lack of strong comedic roles for women on network TV shows and says she’s thankful for her current role.

“When they told me I’d be doing (the show) with Raven and that we’d be raising children on our own together, I just thought that was the coolest freaking thing in the world,” she says.

“How lucky that we get to be strong individual women and fabulous together.”

SMTC’s Annie

Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 602.909.4215, scottsdalemusicaltheater. com, Wednesday, January 3, to Sunday, January 7, times vary, $32-$58.

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22

THE FOUNDATION FOR

GOOD MUSIC

Shawn Johnson finds diversity is the perfect fit

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

S

hawn Johnson saw his life change at age 20.

The Massachusetts native went camping with friends on Cape Cod, where he learned G-C-D on the guitar. He wrote a song that morning; it was a defining moment for Johnson who decided to pursue music for a living.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I can really do this,’” Johnson says. “I don’t want to say it came easy, but it was definitely for me.”

It’s definitely for him. The Tempe resident has risen beyond the comparisons to Dave Matthews to define

his own sound. He performs as the Johnson Twins with Jayson Johnson (no relation), as Shawn Johnson and the Foundation with a rotating group of musicians, and solo. He recently released his sixth album, Sunshine for Someone. It is available via digital outlets, and will be released on vinyl in March.

“I grew up on records,” Johnson says. “I always wanted to press a record.

For me, records were bigger than life. I remember when I saw News of the World, the Queen album that ‘We Will Rock You’ is on. I saw the pictures inside and thought, ‘What is that?’ It already had my interest before I heard the record.”

Johnson explains he knew exactly what he wanted in Sunshine for Someone.

“The musicians came in without written parts,” he says. “I love to record that way. I invite great musicians, listen to the song and let them play what they feel. A lot of people think I’m crazy. They want the parts down so it saves money.”

Johnson hopes that listeners will see the diversity in his music. He plays blues, jazz and gypsy on the album. There’s even a track with just piano and vocals.

“I have all of my loves and passions for different kinds of music on one record,” Johnson says. “I think most people who love music love different kinds of music. Ten or 15 years ago, I was pigeonholed as a Dave Matthews cover band. Sure, I used to play a lot of Dave Matthews. But I don’t understand being pigeonholed.

If you do a Zeppelin cover, I don’t call you a ‘Zeppelin guy.’”

Music is all Johnson has wanted to do. It’s been nearly 20 years since he had a “regular job.” Music afforded him the opportunity to watch his kids grow.

“A lot of people in their 20s want to be a musician, but they only give themselves a certain amount of time. If it doesn’t happen, the band members give up. Nothing else was ever an option for me.”

As for the local scene, Johnson feels honored to be a part of it. He calls peers like Ryan Sims and Blaine Long “brothers in arms, musically.”

But the roots of his success go back nearly 30 years to Cape Cod. “We grew up in the city,” Johnson says. “Going to Cape Cod for the

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summer changed a lot of lives. When my friends went home, I stayed on the Cape and learned how to play guitar. I worked nights and sat on the beach and played all day. It absolutely changed my life.”

Shawn Johnson and the Foundation

Tempe Festival of the Arts, Hayden Square, downtown Tempe, tempefestivalofthearts.com, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, December 1, free.

Shawn Johnson

Phoenix Festival of the Arts, Soliloquies Acoustic Stage, Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third Street, Phoenix, phoenixfestivalofthearts.org, 3 p.m. Friday, December 8, free.

Shawn Johnson

The Perch Brewery, 232 S. Wall Street, Chandler, 480.773.7688, perchpubbrewery.com, 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 16, free.

The Johnson Twins

Old Town Tavern, 7320 E. Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale, 480.945.2882, oldtowntavernaz.com, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Thursdays, call for charge.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

23

DRIPPING IN METAL

SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin credits his love of music to Arizona Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

S

iriusXM’s Jose Mangin calls from his Affliction office bounding with energy. The Phoenix-born host and programmer is ready to talk metal, the genre he has pushed since he was raised among cowboys and Latinos in the Arizona border town of Douglas.

“It’s always been my life,” Mangin says. “My plan was never to make riches, buy a house, get this, get that. I just wanted to be a metal guy. It was to be pure.”

The inked mogul with the gauge earrings has become one of the foremost authorities on heavy metal.

Sixteen years ago, he helped create satellite radio’s Liquid Metal and Octane stations. He laid down guest vocals on a Suicide Silence song, introduced Metallica at Yankee stadium, hosted a Korn concert in Los Angeles, and interviewed Ozzy Osbourne.

“I’m passionate about a lot of things,” Mangin says. “It’s led me to everything—my family, my wife.

Everything I have today is rooted in this lifelong devotion to metal. Being good and positive does pay off.

“There are so many people in positions of influence who are negative.

It’s gross. For me, I have to champion the genre to be the positive voice. I’m looking at the glass half full, instead of half empty. I’m always the optimist.

I look at metal as the key to making dreams come true.”

EARLY YEARS Mangin was born in 1977 at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. He and his family lived in Phoenix, Sierra Vista and Tucson before settling in Douglas.

He was introduced to metal by older cousins when he was in kindergarten.

“They had a room in the back shack with cool metal posters,” Mangin

recalls. “I thought, ‘Wow. That looks awesome. What is that?’ There was a big metal scene in Douglas.

“There were a bunch of long-haired dudes. There wasn’t anything in Douglas other than Mexican music, cowboy boots, Mexican language, and super, super Mexican dudes and chicks—then there were the in-betweens, who leaned toward rock and metal.”

His first concert was Iron Maiden and Anthrax at Compton Terrace, south of Chandler, in 1992. Mangin left school and took a bus from Douglas to Tucson, where he met his cousin and a friend. They drove to Compton Terrace, and took the same route back.

“It was a big deal,” he says with a laugh.

Mangin wanted to attend other shows, but his parents weren’t too keen on it.

“I tried to go to other metal shows,” he says. “I wanted to go to Clash of the Titans, but I couldn’t go. I was too young. I didn’t have the means to do any of that. We were very poor as well.”

To commemorate his first concert, Paul Booth’s Tattoo Parlor inked “Persistence of Time” on the back of his leg as Anthrax watched. It was during an episode of Headbangers Ball, which he has hosted since 2011.

After graduating high school with a perfect GPA, he attended University of Arizona, where he earned a degree in chemistry, thanks to a full-ride scholarship. He then headed to Tennessee to pursue a doctorate.

While at the U of A, he served as music director of KAMP, the studio radio station.

“Arizona is what made me into the metal person I am today,” says Mangin, who has family in the East Valley. “I love giving credit to Arizona. I wear Arizona jewelry. I always have my stuff that I bought in Bisbee or Scottsdale.

I have Native American jewelry, and turquoise jewelry. When people compliment me on my jewelry, I tell them it’s

from Arizona. I’m proud—and quick— to point out where I’m from and bring it up in conversation.”

While in town, he has joined Sebastian Bach on stage, and visited with Soulfly and Sacred Reich last year. He would love to start a “cool annual metal event” in Phoenix with “a bunch of tequila, tacos, Mexican beer and metal bands. I think it’ll be a fun thing.”

and a good hang with him, plus he’s from our home state of Arizona. The heat breeds metal heads.”

Mangin is proud of Arizona.

“I really talk about it and push it,” Mangin says. “Nobody is doing it, but I’ll take it. I’ve got it on a national level. I’m very proud of the Grand Canyon State.”

IT’S A FAMILY THING He met his wife nearly two decades ago while they were both working at TVT Records. As the story goes, a week after they met, they moved in together.

They were married nine months later.

A smart businessman, Mangin is sponsored by Mexican beer maker Modelo, and co-owner of Riazul premium tequila and rock ‘n’ roll clothing company Affliction.

He counts Osbourne, Robert Trujillo of Metallica and the guys in Slayer among his friends.

“Some say, ‘This dude is so overboard. He’s too much,’” he says with a laugh.

“After 17 years on SiriusXM, they say, ‘Oh, this dude’s for real.’ Then they really bring me into their inner circle.”

That includes the Trujillos, a family with whom he has a special bond.

“Tye, Robert and Chloe’s (12-year-old) son who played with Korn this summer, he can marry any one of my daughters,” he says.

“I even tell him, ‘Dude, take one of my daughters.’ Then I’ll marry into Metallica. It’s a prearranged marriage that we talked about, signed off on and the kids know about it. They haven’t met each other yet.”

He admits, though, he gives preferential treatment to Arizona acts like ded.

“Jose is the best,” says ded singer Joe Cotela. “His energy and enthusiasm for hard rock and heavy metal is unmatched. It’s always a good time

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THE TOURIST

25

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

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

Enjoy!

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

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

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

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

Four Valley locations, dillonsrestaurant.com

O.K. Corral Visit the actual site of Tombstone, Arizona’s legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and see Wyatt Earp and “Doc” Holliday in daily reenactments.

There are life-sized animatronic figures of the eight gun fighters, too.

Experience the Corral as it was in the 1880s, with working blacksmiths, antique cowboy gear, Western buggies and four museum displays. Ticket includes admission to multimedia Tombstone history show and a copy of the October 26, 1881, Tombstone Epitaph newspaper with original reports of the gunfight.

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

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also recently renovated, and the lodge boasts the ultimate in farm-to-table dining experiences courtesy of its three signature restaurants: Edgar’s, Quail’s Nest and Covey Breakfast Restaurant Bar & Deck. For a little on-site adventure, book the resort’s Land Rover Experience Driving School experience, which provides customized off-road driving lessons and adventure for all skill levels. Guided by a qualified instructor, you’ll make steep descents down a two-track trail, climb piles of logs and navigate tight hairpin turns.

Lessons and programs range from one hour to multiple days.

A MONTEREY GETAWAY

The bay, an aquarium, whales and wine await in Northern California Alison Bailin Batz » The Entertainer!

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ess than two hours from the Valley via plane, winter is the sneaky best time to visit the neighboring regions of Monterey and Carmel, California. With a fraction of the crowds that descend on the area in the spring and summer, consider a quick trip up north now. Here is our handy guide to where to see and what to do all season long.

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QUAIL LODGE & GOLF CLUB Quail Lodge is the perfect escape this winter—or any other time of year. In recent years, the property underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation to transform it from a more traditional resort concept to a quaint–yet Five-star lodge meant for a more intimate and exclusive getaway. The property boasts 850 eye-poppingly beautiful acres with miles of hiking trails and unrivaled views of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

The award-winning golf course, designed by Robert Muir Graves, was

info: quaillodge.com

CARMEL VALLEY RANCH Upon arrival at the newly renovated Carmel Valley Ranch, it’s impossible not to drink in the heady fragrance of fresh lavender growing on the nearby hillside.

All your senses will come alive as you realize the limitless possibilities of play in this special place, recently named a 2017 Conde Nast Traveler Award Winner. Because of its location, the climate tends to be a lot warmer, sunnier and less foggy than the coast—so it’s a great option in the winter. In addition to being one of the top resort destinations in the United States, it has one of the most unique on-site activities you will find anywhere: a bee experience, which puts you in the beekeeper suit for the buzziest adventure in the area. Tip? Book the lavender suite.

info: carmelvalleyranch.com

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM Monterey Bay Aquarium is the ultimate window to the magical marine world. It is home to 35,000 creatures and more than 550 types of sea life including sea otters, sharks, seahorses, tuna and penguins. In addition to ever-evolving special exhibitions, its acclaimed permanent exhibits include a towering three-story kelp forest (one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world); touch pools and other hands-on exhibits; the award-winning Splash Zone family galleries; and the million-gallon Open Sea exhibit. A can’t miss attraction this winter: the sea otters. On the second floor of the exhibit you can watch them swim at the surface, while first-floor windows offer an underwater view of their lively acrobatics that usually go unseen by the human eye.

info: montereybayaquarium.org DISCOVERY WHALE WATCH

Think of Monterey Bay as ground zero for whales, with winter being prime time to see the mighty gray whale and several species of dolphins. When fully grown, the gray whale can measure more than 50 feet long. Discovery Whale Watch, the most respected tour outfitter in the region, not only guarantees you to see the majestic mammals on their daily three- to four-hour trips, but has a marine biologist or naturalist aboard each trip to narrate the entire adventure. In addition to teaching you about the wildlife, its experts provide information about

the natural history of the local area and talk about conservation, often while collecting actual data for scientific research right with you there.

info: discoverywhalewatch.com CARMEL VALLEY WINE TASTING Recently recognized by the New York Times for excellence, Monterey’s nearby Carmel Valley Wine Country boasts vineyards dating back to the 1800s. The climate, geology and terrain culminate in the distinct flavor and depth for which Carmel Valley wines are renowned, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals, which make up 70 percent of the area’s AVA. Many of the area’s wineries—including Bernardus Winery, Holman Ranch Vineyards, Cima Collina and Joullian Vineyards—are walking distance from each other, and focus on giving guests personal interactions versus simply tasting and selling wines day in and day out. If seeking a tour to experience some additional tasting rooms and terrains in the area, do not miss the Tours Monterey five-hour Wine Trolley. Yes, a wine trolley! info: seemonterey.com

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small plates, fresh seafood and a selection of local wines, house cocktails and craft beer.

info: portolahotel.com/ jacks-monterey

JENINNI KITCHEN + WINE BAR Redefining the modern wine bar experience, jeninni kitchen + wine bar offers a contemporary take on the sultry cuisines of the Mediterranean coast, alongside quality wines and housemade specialty beverages. There is an emphasis on southern Spain dishes.

info: jeninni.com

JACKS MONTEREY AT THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA This newly renovated restaurant in the heart of downtown Monterey focuses on the globally inspired traditions on California cultural cuisine, emphasizing

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

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

DECEMBER CONCERTS AT THE MIM MUSIC THEATER SHARON ISBIN AND THE PACIFICA QUARTET Thursday, December 7 | 7:30 p.m.

A tour of Italy’s finest composers in the masterful hands of virtuosos

THE MIKE STERN QUARTET With Tom Kennedy, Randy Brecker, and Dave Weckl Friday, December 8 | 7 & 9 p.m.

“Blood, Sweat & Tears and Miles Davis sideman has long been a lyrically thoughtful as well as a rock-powered improviser” — The Guardian

ESTEBAN Saturday, December 9 | 6 & 8 p.m.

Master guitarist Esteban and his daughter, violinist Teresa Joy, return to the MIM Music Theater for a passionate and explosive performance that is a must-see live event.

TAYLOR HICKS Sunday, December 10 | 7 p.m.

Among the most popular American Idol winners of all time, his charming wit and soulful voice wow listeners from all over the world.

THE KLEZMATICS: A HAPPY JOYOUS HANUKKAH Wednesday, December 13 | 7 p.m.

The only klezmer band to win a Grammy Award, the Klezmatics produces music that is wild, mystical, provocative, reflective, and ecstatically danceable.

PHOENIX BOYS CHOIR Thursday, December 14 | 7:30 p.m.

Hop on the sleigh with the Phoenix Boys Choir and listen to the most endearing holiday songs and carols from around the world.

CHERISH THE LADIES: CELTIC CHRISTMAS Tuesday, December 19 | 7 p.m.

“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do.”

—Boston Globe

PETER ASHER: A MUSICAL MEMOIR OF THE 60S AND BEYOND! Wed. & Fri., Dec. 20 & 22 | 7 & 7:30 p.m.

Be in the theater audience as SiriusXM records music legend Peter Asher for broadcast! It’s sure to be a night of music, reminiscence, and fun.

DOM FLEMONS

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Wednesday, December 27 | 7 p.m.

Mon. & Tue., Dec. 11 & 12 | 7 & 9 p.m.

Carrying on the songster tradition, Flemons strives to mix traditional music forms with a contemporary approach, to create new sounds that will appeal to wider audiences.

“There’s no group that plays my stuff as good as them.”

—James Brown

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

2017 Concert Series sponsored by

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

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE ARTIST

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CULTURE » THEATER » DANCE » GALLERY » DRAMA » VISION

PHOTO BY TIM SEALY

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

THE

SOLE OF PHX

Area artists come together to celebrate the Suns’ golden anniversary Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

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Grand Canyon State native, artist Isaac Caruso has fond memories of Compass Arizona Grill— the never-ending view of the Valley, the colors and the Mother’s Day brunches.

“I recall looking out through the window and seeing the whole downtown skyline,” Caruso says. “It was beautiful.”

Caruso recreated the view on a 6-foot-tall sneaker dubbed The Compass Room in Phoenix City Hall. The artwork is part of The Sole of PHX, an oversized high-top sneaker art exhibit laced with designs influenced by the culture of basketball and the special people and places around the Valley.

The Sole of PHX exhibit is an interactive way to extend the Suns’ 50th anniversary celebration from the arena and into the community. The 15 Sunsinspired art pieces will be displayed throughout the Valley during the team’s 2017-18 golden anniversary season.

Caruso painted two; the other, Phoenix is Hot, is at Luke Air Force Base.

“It was so hot this summer while I was working on this project,” Caruso says. “I left a cheap plastic cup in my car and it just melted. I thought it looked really cool. So, Phoenix is Hot is a comment on the weather here, and how incredibly hot it can be.”

Caruso grew up in the North Valley, graduating from Thunderbird High School and then attending NAU. When he was 13, he realized he loved art—in particular, spray paint.

“I got into graffiti and then I started going to art class in school,” says Caruso, who worked on a previous Suns project. “I realized I had a knack for it.

At 16, I started going to First Friday.

I really liked the vibe and how anyone can go there and try to sell their stuff.

At 17, I brought pieces in and sold my first piece there.”

A full-time artist, Caruso also serves as a creative director for a website and tech firm. He is designing artwork for Valley Metro’s light rail extension.

The 29-year-old is also creating a 500-foot-long mural inside the Desert

Botanical Garden-affiliated Spaces of Opportunity.

Phoenix Suns’ director of marketing, Chris Kaiser, says he’s impressed by the works of Caruso and the other artists. He says the public has embraced the sneakers, which will be auctioned at the end of the season to benefit Phoenix Suns Charities.

“There’s a lot more engagement than we thought,” Kaiser says. “There’s nothing for us to benchmark it with.

But we were hoping to set a specific goal, which is people seeing the shoes.”

There’s an interactive component to it, too. Fans can use the team’s official mobile app to scan the code on the description plaque to unlock Suns prizes, content and achievements.

Prizes include 50th season rewards, discounts to the Suns Team Shop and Suns tickets.

Fans who scan 10 sneakers will receive two lower-level tickets to a Suns game and those who scan 14 sneakers (all displays except Luke Air Force Base) will be entered to win a pair of courtside seats to the Suns matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, April

Phoenix Suns officials chose local and regional artists to honor the team’s 50th anniversary.

Here is a list of the artists and their shoes’ locations: • Dick and Tom Van Arsdale, Talking Stick Resort Arena • Thomas Breeze, Talking Stick Resort • Isaac Caruso, Phoenix City Hall and Luke Air Force Base • Timothy Chapman, Phoenix Zoo • Curt Condrat, Harkins at Crossroads Town Center • Estevan Curiel, Tempe Marketplace • Bill Dambrova, Desert Ridge Marketplace • Gabriel and Isaac Fortoul, Encanto Park and the Light Rail Station at Central Avenue and Roosevelt • Gilda Garza, Legends Entertainment District • JB Snyder, Mesa Arts Center • Robert Vargas, Westgate Entertainment District and the corner of Fifth Avenue and Drinkwater Boulevard in Scottsdale • Graffiti artist Clyde, corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive in Tempe

8, at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Among the artists are Phoenix Suns legends Dick and Tom Van Arsdale.

“That’s a great piece,” Kaiser says about the artwork at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “We approached them, and they jumped at the opportunity.

They were the first ones to complete a shoe.

“We selected local and regional artists. We wanted them to be representative of the overall community and different styles of art. I think we ended up with a very cool list.”

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Vernacular Photography Exhibition and Sale

ARTS

CALENDAR THE NUTCRACKER DECEMBER 8-24

DECEMBER 2 Rare and unusual vintage snapshots and postcards dating back to the 19th century will be on display during the exhibition in Tempe.

Many of the pieces will feature an emphasis on Arizona and the desert. These snapshots are highly prized by collectors, curators and museums.

Fine Art Framing, 2010 E. University Drive, Tempe, 480.921.8616, fineartframing. net, 10 a.m., free.

Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts & Farmers Market

DECEMBER 2 AND DECEMBER 16 Browse the work of established and emerging artists while also finding local and organic produce in the heart of downtown Mesa. Woodworking, metal crafts, food items, jewelry, art, photography, handmade soaps and holiday gift items are among the items sold.

VERNACULAR PHOTOGRAPHY DECEMBER 2

Downtown Mesa, Macdonald and Main streets, Mesa, dtmesafest. com, 2 p.m., free.

HOLIDAY POPS DECEMBER 3

A CHRISTMAS CAROL DECEMBER 1-24

Randy Montgomery » The Entertainer!

A Christmas Carol DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 24 Charles Dickens’ classic has been adapted by locals Katie McFadzen and Matthew Weiner for Childsplay audiences. McFadzen is a Valley comedic actress who will bring A Christmas Carol to the stage as a one-woman show. Recommended for ages 9 on up.

Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, 480.350.2822, childsplayaz.org, times vary, $12-$30.

Frances Smith Cohen’s Snow Queen DECEMBER 2 TO DECEMBER 17 The Hans Christian Andersen classic has become a tradition for Valley families. The magical wintry fairytale brings audiences into the world of sprites, gypsies, ice maidens and, of course, the Queen’s Crystal Palace.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, 602.252.8497, herbergertheater.org, times vary, $14-$28.

Holiday Pops

DECEMBER 3 Under the direction of Michele Kalo, the 75-member Scottsdale Concert Band will perform a medley of holiday classics. The organization has won the Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Silver Scroll award, which is the most prestigious award available to a community ensemble.

Chaparral High School Auditorium, 6935 E. Gold Dust Avenue,

Scottsdale, 602.327.3168, scottsdaleconcertband.org, 3:30 p.m., free.

Siegel’s Keyboard Conversations

DECEMBER 5 Pianist Jeffrey Siegel plays virtuoso works for the keys, while offering verbal annotation from the stage before the performances, followed by a Q & A. December’s concert will feature the works of Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.TKTS (8587), scottsdaleperformingarts. org, 7:30 p.m., $29-$49.

The Nutcracker DECEMBER 8 TO DECEMBER 24 Ib Andersen and Ballet Arizona’s production of the holiday classic with sugarplum fairies and toy soldiers features more than 150 performers and hundreds of costumes. The company’s nationally recognized dancers are joined by the Phoenix Symphony.

Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second Street, Phoenix, 602.381.1096, balletaz.org, times vary, $25-$164.

A Christmas Carol – The Musical

DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 28 This collaboration between the Herberger and Arizona Broadway theaters invites audiences to travel back in time with Ebenezer Scrooge as he visits his past, present and future. Relive the message of family, friendship and love through musical numbers and comedic humbugs.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, 602.252.8497, herbergertheater.org, times vary, $34-$69.

Holiday Concert

DECEMBER 10 The Scottsdale Philharmonic is comprised of more than 120 volunteers, including 75 professional musicians. The nonprofit organization recognizes that music is an

Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection 3830 N. Marshall Way  Downtown Scottsdale  480-686-9539 scottsdalemuseumwest.org

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HO HO HO Holidays at the Center

December 5 Keyboard Conversations® With Jeffrey Siegel Keys to the Classics 8

Sister’s Christmas Catechism

9

’Twas A Girls Night Before Christmas

10

Scottsdale Philharmonic

15

David Britton Christmas

16

Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández Presents

21

Windham Hill®: Winter Solstice

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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild And Swingin’ Holiday Party (SOLD OUT)

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Sing-a-Long-a Grease (through Dec. 30)

The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold (through Dec. 17) The Musical

Sounds of the Season

A Merry-Achi Christmas

30th Anniversary Concert With Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie, Alex de Grassi and Todd Boston

Reserve your seats today!

Click ScottsdalePerformingArts.org Call 480-499-TKTS (8587) Visit 7380 E. Second St.

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

important part of the holidays and offers an affordable concert with traditional holiday classical pieces.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale, 480.499.TKTS (8587), scottsdaleperformingarts.org, 4 p.m., $5-$10.

The Santaland Diaries DECEMBER 14 TO DECEMBER 23 Belligerent parents, drunken Santas, flirtatious co-workers—it’s just a bit of what a struggling actor experiences when he arrives in New York and can only find employment as a department store elf. Recount the tales of a retail veteran working during the holiday season. Recommended for mature audiences.

Hardes Theatre at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, times vary, $40-$58.

A Rocky Mountain Christmas: Jim Curry and the Songs of John Denver

DECEMBER 15 Jim Curry will perform a medley of seasonal and John Denver songs.

Curry’s tribute music has garnered the attention of critics worldwide.

His music was also used for a television biopic on Denver.

Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. Kings Ranch

Road, Gold Canyon, gcac1.com, 7:30 p.m., $5-$25.

A Tuna Christmas DECEMBER 15 TO DECEMBER 23 Travel to Tuna, Texas, for its annual Christmas Yard Display Contest.

The competition is fierce amongst the townsfolk, who take it quite serious. One problem; the Christmas Phantom. This assailant is known to attack nativity scenes.

Hardes Theatre at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, 602.254.2151, phoenixtheatre. com, times vary, $40-$58.

Ahwatukee Arts & Crafts Festival

DECEMBER 16 AND DECEMBER 17 Shop arts and crafts created by artists from Phoenix and Tucson at a convenient Ahwatukee location. A variety of holiday gift ideas will be available, ranging from paintings, jewelry, clothing, beading, photography, wood works, metal art and home décor.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival, 5031 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee, 520.578.5142, artattackaz. com,10 a.m., free.

over-the-top, plus-size Italians from Brooklyn return to the Valley for a new musical culinary comedy, that promises a good time.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, 602.252.8497, herbergertheater.org, times vary, $50-$58.

Art Quilts: XXII TO JANUARY 7 Artists are asked to test the limits of their imagination and quilting skills for this annual exhibition, which features 23 multimedia pieces. Inspiration came from the phrase “as close to the edge as I can go,” and the result are bold colors, textures, and patterns.

Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org, times vary, free.

A ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 15

ART QUILTS TO JANUARY 7

MAGIC CARPET – LATIN STYLE, SUBMITTED AND MADE BY GEORGIA HELLER, 26-INCH BY 28-INCH.

THE CALAMARI SISTERS’ CLAM BAKE DECEMBER 21JANUARY 21

The Calamari Sisters’ Clam Bake DECEMBER 21 TO JANUARY 21 While others are busy preparing holiday ham and turkey, Delphine and Carmella, the Calamari sisters, are making a clam bake. The two

Straighten Up and Fly Right The Nat King Cole Tribute featuring Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli

Friday, December 15, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 11, 2018 · 3:00 p.m.

Friday, February 2, 2018 · 7:30 p.m.

Dec 27 Jan. 7

MUSIC MUSICKNIGHTS

Friday, March 16, 2018 · 7:30 p.m.

OF THEFriday, February 23, 2018 · 7:30pm

OF THE

KNIGHTS

Friday, March 23, 2018 · 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 27, 2018 · 7:30pm

Full season listing

Saturday, Feburary 24, 2018 · 7:30 p.m.

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ChandlerCenter.org 480.782.2680

The Hilarious Calamari Sisters Are BACK with More Singing, Dancing, Cooking & Comedy!

If You Liked Cooking With The Calamari Sisters, You’ll Love…

“Laugh Out Loud Funny!”

-Philadelphia Inquirer

December 21 - January 21

“Wicked Naughty Humor!”

-Broadway World

Thur. 2 & 7pm; Fri. 8pm; Sat. 2 & 8pm; Sun. 2 pm • Tickets: $50-$60

The Hit Musical Comedy Returns to Phoenix!

Jan. 24 Feb. 25

“TH AU DI EEN EATS THCE SHOW E U P!” - Miam i Hera ld

Book & Lyrics by Alan Jacobson Music by Vince DiMura Directed by Matt Silva

“BE PREPARED TO LAUGH OFF A FEW POUNDS!” - BroadwayWorld.com

In the same energetic and fun spirit as Menopause The Musical®, WaistWatchers The Musical! takes a hilarious and light hearted look at four women dealing with food, friendship, love, life and sex!

Wed. 2 pm; Thur. 2 & 7pm; Fri. 8 pm; Sat. 2 & 8 pm; Sunday 2 pm.

ENTERTAINER MAGAZINE DISCOUNT

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Use Code: EMAG and order by Jan. 10, 2018.

Limit 6 tickets per order. Not valid w/ previously purchased, group or discounted tickets.

222 E. Monroe, Phoenix, AZ

Tickets: 602-252-8497 • Groups (12+): 1-888-264-1788

www.PlayhouseInfo.com

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

‘FUNNY IS

FUNNY’ Carol Burnett’s humor resonates 50 years later

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

C

arol Burnett calls her eponymous landmark show “appointment TV.” Families stayed home on Saturday nights to watch her program, along with All in the Family, M*A*S*H and The Bob Newhart Show.

Thanks to YouTube, The Carol Burnett Show is experiencing a resurgence. So when she tours with her show, An Evening of Laughter and Reflection, she’s amazed at the fans who ask questions during the question-and-answer portion. The show comes to Comerica

Theatre on Sunday, December 17.

“I get audience members from 9 to 90,” she says. “It’s a real thrill that the show still holds up.”

An Evening of Laughter and Reflection continues one of Burnett’s trademark bits. She “bumps up the lights” and takes random questions from the audience.

“I used to open my shows with Q&As,” she says. “I never know what anybody’s going to ask or say. It was a little scary at first. If the audience comes prepared, I get some fun questions.”

Some, however, are downright startling. So are her answers.

“I’ve told this one before, but it bears repeating,” she says. “Nine or 10 years ago, I was in Texas and a woman in the balcony raised her hand. She asked, ‘If you could be a member of the opposite sex for 24 hours and then pop into being yourself again, who would you be and what would you do.’”

She was stumped—and then she prayed.

“I said, ‘OK Lord. I’m going to open my mouth and whatever comes out is going to be your fault.’ I had no idea what I was going to say.”

Her answer? Osama Bin Laden and she would kill herself.

“The audience went crazy, laughing and applauding,” Burnett says. “I said under my breath, ‘Thank you, Lord.

That was a pretty good answer.’”

Besides her Comerica Theatre appearance, Burnett is anticipating her TV special, The 50th Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show. Airing on CBS Sunday, December 3, the two-hour program will feature stars like Vicki Lawrence, Bill Hader, Lyle Waggoner, Jim Carrey, Jay Leno, Kristen Chenoweth, Stephen Colbert and Martin Short sharing their memories of the program.

“On the special, we show a long clip from the dentist skit that Harvey (Korman) and Tim (Conway) did,” she says. “Tim played a new dentist who was so nervous that he kept hitting himself with the Novocain. It was brilliant, and the audience was screaming and laughing. That sketch is 45 years old. It holds up.

“People ask me why my show is still happening after all these years. My

answer is, ‘Funny is funny.’”

And she’s still funny. Burnett has a slew of projects on her plate, including the 12-episode Netflix series A Little Help with Carol Burnett. The original, unscripted comedy stars Burnett and a panel of straight-talking 4- to 8-year-old kids who help “solve” life’s biggest dilemmas.

In each half-hour episode, the children will face real-life issues brought before them by celebrities and everyday people. They will offer their advice in front of a studio audience. The series is slated for a 2018 premiere.

“It is so cute,” Burnett says. “It’s out of the mouths of babes. They haven’t reached the point where they censor themselves yet. Some of it is pure gold. They are so cute.”

One guest said she was marrying a man with two young children. She wanted to know how to make them like her. A little boy on the panel answered, “Bribery always works. It works for me every time.”

“They’re real kids,” Burnett adds.

“They’re not actors.”

Burnett is still revered, 50 years later. During a recent appearance on the Emmy Awards, the crowd gave her an extended standing ovation. Many audience members tugged their ear in honor of The Carol Burnett Show.

“I didn’t see it on stage, but I recorded it,” she says. “There were people in the audience pulling their ears. That was really sweet. It touched me. I spoke to people like Kaley Cuoco and Tracee Ellis Ross who said they grew up watching The Carol Burnett Show. It’s so flattering to know these wonderful people watched the show.”

At 84, Burnett still loves her career.

There’s no real secret to her longevity, she says.

“I just enjoy it,” she says. “I’m still having fun and I hope that translates.”

Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, 602.379.2800, comericatheatre.com, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 17, $88.50.

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A VALLEY HOLIDAY TRADITION returns!

DECember 9 - 28 kids attend FREE with purchase of adult regular priced ticket.

Use coupon code CCarolKid online or by phone Some restrictions apply to seating location and availability

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PRESENTING PARTNER

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

WARMER IN THE

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37

WINTER Catherine Hathaway » The Entertainer!

L

indsey Stirling is a master multitasker.

Onstage, the Gilbert native plays the violin like a champ and captivates audiences with her unique EDM style on a traditionally classic instrument.

Offstage, she is literally dancing from project to project. Recently, she was balancing grueling rehearsals for her winter tour Warmer in the Winter, as well as working around the clock to hold her leading position on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and she couldn’t be more excited.

“It’s exhausting. I’m not going to lie,” Stirling admits. “Yesterday, I did five hours of Dancing with the Stars rehearsal, and then I worked for three and a half hours with my choreographer for tour. My mind and my body are so exhausted by the end of these days. I haven’t really felt like this in a long time.”

The performer and her dance partner, two-time Mirrorball Trophy champion Mark Ballas, were favorites for the coveted Dancing with the Stars award pulling high scores every week.

On the November 21 finals, it was revealed she took second place.

“I love that we get to be so creative,” Stirling says. “I know my favorite moments are right when I finish a routine and we’re like, ‘Ah, we did it!’

That’s such a high. It’s such a high to work on something so hard for a week and then go out there, be terrified, and then pull it off.”

And work hard she does. On October 29, Stirling went to urgent care for an injury that threatened her stint on the show. To her fans’ delight, she pulled through and knocked out her Paso Doble to her song “Roundtable Rival,” for which the pair scored a 27 out of 30 points from the judges.

“Mark and I have a really good time,” Stirling says. “We laugh a ton.

Our rehearsals, they’re exhausting, and we work so, so hard, but at the same

time it’s still a lot of fun.”

Although no stranger to dance, grooving her way to the top of the Dancing with the Stars scoreboard is not quite as easy as the self-taught dancer and violinist thought.

“I thought, to be honest, going into the show I would have this edge, but it’s not as much the case,” Stirling says. “In a way, I am self-taught and I’ve just kind of figured out how to do things and how to do them while playing violin and it turns out I do a lot of things incorrectly... And so Mark kind of had to untrain a lot of really terrible habits.

It’s amazing. I’m learning so much that I feel is actually going to start to affect my performances.”

She will showcase her newfound technique during a hometown show at the Comerica Theatre on December 23, the last stop on her Warmer in the Winter tour to promote her holiday album of the same name.

“It’s such a different show for me,” Stirling says. “It’s such a different album for me. You know, a lot of times I like to consider my previous shows as theatricality meets an EDM show. It has really heavy lighting and big screens that are LED and flashy, but this one is going to be, it’s a lot softer, a little more pixie dust on it, a little classic feeling.”

Dancing with the Stars led to Stirling’s decision on an opening act for her tour. Ballas is one half of the band Alexander Jean, which pairs him with his wife, BC Jean. Stirling went to the couple’s performance and was blown away.

“It just happened really organically,” Stirling recalls. “I know my fans are going to love it. He will be actually opening the show and then I might pull him on the stage for a couple moments during my set as well. Maybe we’ll make a little break in the music where the band plays and we’ll pull him out and we’ll dance or something. I really think the audience will get a kick out of that.”

She hopes fans appreciate her hard work and passion for the project and holiday season. Stirling wants her music to connect families and make memories

for them to relive when they listen to her music.

“I feel like Christmas songs, more than any other kind of music, is attached to memories, and I like to think of them almost as little time capsules for memories,” Stirling says. “I hear certain Christmas songs and they immediately transport me back to memories with my family and, you know, traditions.”

Growing up in Gilbert, Stirling’s family was passionate about the holiday season. The Mesquite High School alum recalls caroling with her family every year and baking treats for her neighbors.

Her incredible bond with her family was strengthened through caroling in the mild Arizona winters and the music they shared.

“Music was really important to my parents and my family and teaching us to appreciate it and to sing and the fact that music brings people together was very much a part of my family culture,” Stirling says. “That was a fun thing we did every year and it was great because it wasn’t cold outside, so we could.”

When she went caroling with her family, Stirling fondly remembers singing her favorite songs “Carol of the Bells” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.” She never considered that other families didn’t carol. It was always such a big part of her childhood holidays.

“Maybe my Christmas music will be able to preserve memories for other people and help other people create traditions,” Stirling says. “That is such a cool thought, and I’m really excited hoping that my music ends up in homes with families.”

Lindsey Stirling

Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 1.800.745.3000, comericatheatre.com, 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 23, tickets start at $35.50.

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THE METROPOLITAN | THE EXTRAORDINAIRE | THE TOURIST | THE ARTIST | THE CRITIC | THE DINER | THE CRAFTMASTER | THE HIGHROLLER | THE GLADIATOR | THE YOUNGSTER | THE SHOWMAN | THE NIGHTOWL | THE THINKER PHOTO BY ELIAS TAHAN

A SEASON OF LOVE 98 Degrees wants to become a holiday tradition Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

D

rew Lachey of 98 Degrees loves the warm feelings that come with the holidays. He just wishes the sentiment was year-round.

The rest of his act—his brother, Nick, as well as Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons—agree, so they wrote “Season of Love” for their 2017 holiday album, Let It Snow.

“The song is about continuing the season of love through the holidays and beyond,” Lachey says. “It’s not just about presents. We don’t want the holidays to end and then go back to being isolated in our own world. We want to continue the warm, loving feeling of Christmas.”

The act will share those feelings with fans when it plays the Mesa Arts Center on Tuesday, December 19. Holiday songs from Let It Snow and 98 Degrees’ first seasonal album, This Christmas, will be on the setlist, as will 98 Degrees’ hits like “Because of You” and “I Do.” “As a group, our favorite record, hands down, is (This Christmas),” Lachey says. “We’re proud of the music, the harmonies, the production. It’s a Christmas record that every year people can put on and enjoy.”

During the past 15 years, all four members have enjoyed careers outside of music. Nick Lachey, who appeared on this season of Dancing with the Stars, appeared as a TV host (VH-1’s Big Morning Buzz Live, NBC’s The Sing-Off). Drew Lachey was crowned season two winner of Dancing with the Stars and has been on Broadway. Both

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98 Degrees

Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, 480.644.6500, mesaartscenter. com, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, $40-$60.

is just one part of what we do...

K IN e& 

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brothers opened Lachey’s Bar. Timmons joined members of Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC for VH-1’s Mission Man Band and Nick Carter’s Sci-Fi feature, Dead Seven. Jeffre is involved in various mediaand cause-related projects stemming from his foray into politics as a mayoral candidate of Cincinnati.

“I think that’s a big part of what gave us the freedom to go back to 98 Degrees; we pursued separate passions,” Lachey says. “We didn’t neglect who we were as individuals. We were able to explore those opportunities, whether it’s Broadway or dancing or producing or politics.

“We’ve been able to pursue those other passions. When we came back together as 98 Degrees, nobody felt they were missing out on anything.”

It’s that camaraderie and dedication that makes Lachey proud.

“A lot of groups run their course and never talk again,” he says. “We’ve been able to carry on a working relationship and stay close friends.”

Lachey would like to keep 98 Degrees’ fans close to the vest as well by inviting them to the act’s Christmas show. He hopes they will become a holiday tradition.

“There are so many holiday traditions that people have,” Lacey says.

“They go see shows. We would like to see going to a 98 Degrees Christmas show to become part of this.”

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

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December 8, 10, 14, 16, 17

Multiple Locations Around the Valley www.boyschoir.org/holiday 602-264-5328

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COMING

ATTRACTIONS Permanent

Pitch Perfect 3

PG-13 - 93 MINUTES

PG-13 - 100 MINUTES

Kira McLean plays a 13-year-old who dreams about getting a perm to finally fit in at her new school, but when her clueless parents (Rainn Wilson and Patricia Arquette) bring her to a hairdressing academy to save a few bucks, things go incredibly wrong. Opens December 15.

After the highs of winning the World Championships, the members of the a cappella group the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, the girls come together to make music—and questionable decisions—one last time. Opens December 22.

Beyond Skyline

Downsizing

Frank Grillo plays a detective who, when the population of Los Angeles is vacuumed off the face of the earth, storms his way onto an alien ship to rescue his estranged son. But after crashing the ship in Southeast Asia, he must forge an alliance with a band of survivors to discover the key to saving his son and taking back the planet once and for all. Opens December 15.

Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig play a husband and wife who decide to abandon their stressed lives to get small and move to a new downsized community when scientists discover how to shrink humans to 5 inches to solve overpopulation.

Opens December 22.

R - 105 MINUTES

R - 135 MINUTES

Hangman

R - 100 MINUTES

Gotti

R - 105 MINUTES

John Travolta portrays infamous crime boss John Gotti—a.k.a.

Teflon Don of the Gambino Crime Family in New York City.

He and his wife (Kelly Preston) attempt to hold the family together among tragedy and multiple prison sentences. Opens December 15.

Bright

NR - 100 MINUTES

Will Smith and Joel Edgerton play cops from different backgrounds who embark on a routine night patrol that will alter the future of their world. Battling their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a young female elf and a thought-to-beforgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.

Opens December 22.

Al Pacino plays a decorated homicide detective who partners with a criminal profiler (Karl Urban) to catch one of the city’s notoriously vicious serial killers playing a twisted version of murder using the child’s game Hangman. Brittany Snow also stars.

Opens December 22.

The Greatest Showman PG - 100 MINUTES

Hugh Jackman portrays visionary showman P.T. Barnum, who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Zendaya also star. Opens December 25.

For more movie reviews, in-depth celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes insights, tune in to breakthrough entertainment 3–4 p.m. Wednesdays on BreakRadioShow.com.

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

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE CRITIC

LIGHTS » CAMERA » ACTION » SCREEN » ENCHANT » TRANSPORT

What movie should you see this month?

Ask our experts!

JOSEPH’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Daddy’s Home 2

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg reprise their roles from 2015’s Daddy’s Home in this holiday-themed sequel that is exponentially better than its predecessor. John Cena, who appeared in a cameo in the original, is not the only new addition as Mel Gibson and John Lithgow also join the cast playing Wahlberg and Ferrell’s fathers, respectively. Wahlberg continues to prove that his comedic chops are even bigger than his muscles, but it is Gibson who steals the show. Moreover, the movie makes good use of its Christmas qualities to amp up the laughs and touch our seasonsoftened hearts.

RANDY’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Lady Bird

It’s always refreshing to see a movie about real people, with problems that audiences can relate to. In Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, her usual on-screen dry, comedic personality is put into the characters, who are perfectly played by Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf.

The daughter/mother duo constantly bicker, while Ronan’s Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson struggles with the usual high school problems. The direction and performances stand out, and should garner numerous Oscar nods.

While Ronan shines, this is Metcalf’s best performance.

The Report Card

Our film writers grade what’s in theaters Movie

Joseph

Randy

A Bad Moms Christmas

C

C

Daddy’s Home 2

B

Happy Death Day

B

C

Jigsaw

B

B

Lady Bird

A

Murder on the Orient Express

C

Only the Brave

B

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

B

M.V.

A

B B

The Star

D

Thor: Ragnarok

B

A

SOUNDBITE SPOTLIGHT

M.V.’S MOVIE OF THE MONTH:

Happy Death Day

Our unlikable sorority-girl heroine (Jessica Rothe) gets murdered by somebody wearing a hoodie and a smiling one-toothed baby mask. Then she wakes up at the beginning of the same day—her birthday—and it starts all over. As she gets repeatedly re-murdered and keeps getting do-overs, she starts unraveling the mystery, and also growing as a person. If you missed this crazed application of the Groundhog Day premise to the slasher genre at Halloween, catch up with it now—the no-name cast is energetic, Scott Lobdell’s script is ingenious, and there’s plenty of humor along with the chills.

ABOUT THE FILM WRITERS JOSEPH J. AIRDO is a film critic, producer and onair personality for Breakthrough Entertainment, a talk radio show airing 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays on BreakRadioShow.com that shines a spotlight on the practical perspectives of the topics and themes explored in movies. He has a pet duck named Frozen who is as opinionated about movies as he is. Email him at joseph.airdo@gmail.com.

FILM FACTS The protagonist in the new animated retelling of the first Christmas, The Star, was initially going to be a lamb—an animal from which the film’s original title The Lamb was inspired—but was changed to a donkey during the creative process.

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

“Because it features our own moms in it—the characters’ mothers— hopefully it will remind moms of just how precious and short this time of the year is. And to enjoy every second of it and not to be so overburdened. Because who cares if you burn a cookie?”

—Kathryn Hahn, A Bad Moms Christmas

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

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SAYING

THANK YOU

‘Coco’ is a sweet tribute to its writer’s family Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

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aised in a MexicanAmerican family in Grass Valley, California, Adrian Molina quickly learned about the culture, values and traditions of his mother’s home country.

Molina felt so honored and touched by those stories that he wrote Coco, the latest Disney•Pixar film that topped the box office Thanksgiving weekend.

“This is my way of saying thank you,” Molina says. “We had a screening and people were unable to speak for a little bit. They’re touched

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because it reminded them of someone in their family.

“The movie sparks a memory for them of something meaningful for them. Sometimes they feel like their experiences are represented on screen.

I’m Mexican-American and it’s a very powerful thing to see the way you experienced your family and upbringing on screen for the whole world to see.”

Coco introduces Miguel, an aspiring singer and self-taught guitarist who dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, Mexico’s most famous musician. Many years ago, Miguel’s great-great grandmother and great-great-grandfather split because he preferred to pursue music, instead of care for his family.

As a result, his grandmother banned music. The story takes place during Día de los Muertos.

“We started on it about six years ago,” Molina says. “We went down to Mexico for Día de los Muertos for four of those years with different groups.

Sometimes it was the directors and writers, or the story artist, or the sound designers. We wanted to really experience the celebration—the holiday, the sounds, the smells.”

Molina began his career at Pixar Animation Studios as a story intern in the summer of 2006. Since joining the studio full-time that fall, Molina has worked on the Academy Award-winning feature films Ratatouille and Toy Story 3, and was a story artist for Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” he says. “I joined Ratatouille right at the tail end of it. Toy Story 3 was the first project where I had a big part in the storytelling.

“It’s been 11 years. They’re all so beautiful, but to be able to contribute as much as I have on this one has been a highlight of my career.”

He credits his parents for encouraging him to embrace his artistic and creative instincts, and his high school literature program for teaching him how to be critical and aware of storytelling and structure.

He attributes his success to “hard work and passion.”

“Plus, there’s a culture of collaboration within the studio,” he says. “It wouldn’t be possible if the door wasn’t always open for interesting ideas, for new voices and the support of the first directors on Toy Story 3. The staff encourages him to “rip things apart and put them back together in the spirit of play.”

“They challenged me and wanted me to spread my wings,” he says. “That’s why these films feel different. They’re made in an organic way. You can’t put a recipe to it.”

Coco comes from a specific place, one with which most can relate.

“We all have families,” Molina says. “We all have those relationships that meant something important to them. This is the way to say thank you to my family for all the sacrifices they made. To put that on the screen was an important moment for me. That was me saying thank you.”

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

43

70 YEARS

OF CINEMA

Tracing Arizona’s presence on the silver screen Laura Stoddard » The Entertainer!

T

urn on any old Western, and it’s safe to assume that it was filmed—at least partly—in Arizona. Those wide, blue-skied expanses of desert, perfect for wagon train journeys and exciting chases; beautiful red rocks and sunsets to provide a soft background for romantic moments; and majestic, sometimes daunting natural wonders, just made for epic shoot-outs. But our state isn’t just the epicenter for Western films. Thanks, not only to our deserts, but also to our sprawling cities, unique monuments, and small, colorful towns, Arizona has been a hotspot for cinematic production for nearly a century. Here is a countdown of the most notable movies that highlight our great state, and where they were filmed, one decade at a time.

3:10 TO YUMA, 1957 Glenn Ford, Van Heflin, Felicia Farr locations: Yuma, Contention City, Bisbee Desperate for money, small-time rancher Dan Evans takes on the job of transporting nefarious, captured outlaw Ben Wade to the 3:10 train to Yuma, so that he can be taken to jail. But Wade’s loyal, vicious gang pursues the duo, trying at every opportunity to free the outlaw. Finally making it to the train station, Evans thinks his job is done, however, as the minutes tick by to 3:10 p.m., he is faced with a moral dilemma when the scheming Wade offers him $10,000 to set him free. Presenting a gripping tale of physical and mental cat-and-mouse, the film ends with a classic, Wild West showdown.

PLANET OF THE APES, 1967

Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Linda Harrison, Maurice Evans locations: Grand Canyon, Colorado River, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon and Page George Taylor and a crew of astronauts on a long-term space mission, crash on a remote planet, having no idea where they are. They soon learn that the planet is ruled by an intelligent, dominant race of apes who govern society, keeping humans in pens and treating them like animals.

Taylor discovers that to stay alive and learn more about the surreal civilization,

he must keep his intelligence and use of language and speech secret. However, when ape leader Dr. Zaius learns that Taylor can speak, he insists the astronaut be killed. An exciting escape, with the help of some sympathetic apes, leads Taylor out of danger, but onto an even more horrific reality—realizing where, and when, his space shuttle landed.

THE GAUNTLET, 1977

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince locations: Phoenix and surrounding desert Disenchanted, alcoholic cop Ben Shockley is assigned to transport female witness, Gus Mally, from Las Vegas to Phoenix for a mob trial. However, Shockley is unaware a hit has been put out on Mally, and that the Phoenix Police commissioner is in on it. This action-packed film, also bordering on romantic-comedy, involves one chase after another, requiring Shockley to run, and survive, the gauntlet of obstacles thrown at him. Amid surviving a house shoot out, car bombs, and a helicopter-motorcycle chase Shockley and Mally find love; and after a final, dramatic push through a massive police barricade, using an armored bus to muscle through, the two safely make it to their destination.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE, 1987 Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson, Seth Green location: Tucson Teenage nerd Ronald Miller is about to embark upon his senior year of high school and wants desperately to finally make it into the cool crowd, maybe even attracting the attention of his longtime crush, (head cheerleader and most popular girl in school) Cindy Mancini.

When Mancini accidentally ruins an expensive outfit of her mother’s and doesn’t have the money to replace it, Miller sees his opportunity and offers to pay the $1,000 bill if Mancini will pretend to be his girlfriend for one month. She agrees, and Miller soon achieves the popularity he’d always wanted. He also becomes a jerk in the process. Fed up with his behavior, Mancini reveals their bargain at a big party, and the fallout is a learning experience for everyone.

U TURN, 1997 Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Nolte, Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe location: Superior After drifter Bobby Cooper’s car breaks down while he’s on his way to Las Vegas to pay a gambling debt, he finds himself embroiled in the tumultuous lives of a small, Arizona town’s locals. Trouble seems to find Cooper wherever he goes; as evidenced by the two fingers he’s missing due to a recent run-in with the Russian mafia, and things in the town aren’t any better. When he’s propositioned by a married couple, each separately and secretly, to kill the other for a large amount of money (enough to fix his car, outrun the mafia, and make it to Vegas), Cooper is faced with a difficult decision.

In the end, he takes drastic action—but not in the way you may be expecting.

THE KINGDOM, 2007

Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman locations: Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Sonoran Desert In the aftermath of a deadly attack on an American housing compound in Saudi Arabia, FBI agent Ronald Fleury assembles a secret team to get to the bottom of what happened, and to avenge a fellow FBI agent killed in the attack. Because U.S. diplomats are slow to act, Fleury and his crew of counter-terrorism investigators enter the city where the attack took place and quickly find themselves enmeshed in the dark and complex underbelly of Saudi Arabia’s crime world. Using daring, risky and perhaps unscrupulous methods, the team gets its satisfaction.

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT, 2017 Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Laura Haddock locations: Loop 303, Peoria Arriving at his home planet of Cybertron, Optimus Prime is devastated to learn that he was responsible for its destruction, and vows to find a way to bring it back to life; which requires finding a special artifact back on Earth.

In his absence, the world is at war; the Autobots battling the Decepticons, with mankind once again caught in the middle. Meanwhile, inventor (and friend

of the Autobots) Cade Yeager embarks upon a quest, along with Bumblebee and an assortment of intellectuals, to discover the true history of the Transformers’ time on earth (which includes a surprising link to King Arthur). With this knowledge, Optimus Prime’s return, and the special talisman he knows wields, they work to defeat their worst foe yet and restore peace to planet.

ADDITIONAL FLICKS

Other movies you may not have known were filmed in Arizona: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, 1989 Locations: Phoenix and Tempe, including Coronado High School, Metro Center Mall and Golfland Sunsplash Jerry Maguire, 1996 Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe Little Miss Sunshine, 2006 Locations: Chandler, Phoenix and Flagstaff Return of the Jedi, 1983 Location: Desert outside Yuma Psycho, 1960 Locations: Downtown Phoenix, including the San Carlos Hotel Revenge of the Nerds, 1984 Locations: Tucson and University of Arizona campus A Star is Born, 1976 Location: Gammage Auditorium, Tempe Thelma & Louise, 1991 Location: The Grand Canyon Waiting to Exhale, 1995 Locations: Phoenix, including Biltmore Fashion Park, the Arizona Supreme Court Building, and the Hermosa Inn Three Kings, 1999 Location: Desert outside Casa Grande —Compiled by Laura Stoddard WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE DINER

45

EAT » EXPERIENCE » INDULGE » SAVOR » DEVOUR » NOSH

Happy Hour Guide 46

From Pipes to Pizza 48

Comfort Food in Disguise 50

DECEMBER FOOD EVENTS Gilbert Feastival

FRIDAYS IN DECEMBER More than 15 gourmet food trucks and local handmade craft vendors gather in the Sam’s Club parking lot at Gilbert Road and Houston. Check the website for the visiting food trucks, as the organizers rotate between 120 trucks.

Sam’s Club, 1225 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, azfeastivals.com, 5:30 to 9 p.m., free admission.

Mesa Riverview Park, 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, tasteofarizona.org, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., free general admission, $38-$45 for VIP.

Queen Creek Feastival

FRIDAYS IN DECEMBER Boutique vendors and gourmet food trucks fill the parking lot at Queen Creek Library. Check the website for the visiting food trucks, as the organizers rotate between over 120 trucks.

Queen Creek Library, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, azfeastivals.com, 5:30 to 9 p.m., free admission.

Taste of Arizona Festival

DECEMBER 2 Taste of Arizona Festival showcases the 48th state’s top restaurants, vendors, music and more. Santa will stop by and take free photos with kids. Alcohol will be served.

VIP tickets include food catered

by La Canasta Capitolio Mexican Food, $12 food vendor credit, three alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks, a 16-ounce Taste of Arizona glass and a goody bag.

settled in the Valley. The goal is to help this family raise enough money to pay their rent, which they were unable to make due to a recent job loss. Among the items on the menu: Syrian chicken with peas and rice; Syrian peas and rice for vegetarians; pita; hummus; cabbage salad; tabouli; cake; fruit and coffee.

The night will also include a slide presentation and talk about life in Syria. Tickets must be purchased in advance for the dinner, open to those 12 and older.

Clubhouse at Three Fountains of Mesa, 1550 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa, bit.ly/2joaY5Z, syriansupperaz@ gmail.com, marciaheller@gmail. com, 4 to 7 p.m., $36 minimum donation. Tickets in advance only.

Asian Treasures: Arizona Asian Festival

DECEMBER 2 AND DECEMBER 3 Come by and sample Asian food, while perusing marketplace items and souvenir booths. Cultural performances, dance and poetry contests are also on the schedule.

Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, 310-500-7256, aaaa-az.org, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission.

AZ Syrian Supper Club

DECEMBER 3 The dinner will be prepared by Syrian refugees who have recently

hands-on classes; youths must be accompanied by an adult. A local farm or producer will supply the main ingredients for each of the classes.

Scramble: A Breakfast & Lunch Joint, 6590 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, azscramble.com, 6 to 7:30 p.m., $25 includes hands-on cooking class, eat what you cook and a goodie bag.

Somerton Tamale Festival

DECEMBER 16 More than 85,000 tamales—beef, chicken, pork, turkey, corn, spinach, pineapple, peach and strawberry— will be served to fund scholarships for local students. Hosted by El Diabilito ASU Alumni Club, the event also features music and entertainment for the 30,000 people expected to attend.

Along Main Street in Somerton, 928-388-4837, somertontamalefestival.com, visityuma.com, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission.

Roederer Estate Champagne Dinner

“Think Global — Eat Local” Junior Edition

DECEMBER 13 Executive chef Mike Williams at Scramble Scottsdale will teach the

DECEMBER 28 The Boulders’ executive chef Brian Archibald will join Lon’s executive chef Jeremy Pacheco for a multicourse year-end celebration featuring Roederer Estate.

The Hermosa Inn, 5532 Palo Christi Road, Paradise Valley, 602.955.7878, hermosainn.com, 6 to 9 p.m., dinner starts at $110.

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

HAPPY HOUR GUIDE Brat Haus

Nestled in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, this Euro-inspired eatery and beer garden just launched its happy hour program from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Food and drink specials include $1 off all draft beers, $5 glasses of wine, $7 Haus cocktails, $4 fried pickles, $6 brat burgers, $15 giant pretzels, and a free brat for dogs. For late-night visitors, reverse happy hour is 9 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, when there is $2 off all draft beers, $5 glasses of wine, and $5 well drinks. As a new twist on “Sunday Funday,” guests can enjoy Stein Sundays with bottomless steins and mimosas for $20 from noon to 3 p.m.

3622 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480.947.4006, brauthausaz.com.

Buck & Rider

Happy hour is through 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday, when patrons can enjoy $6 signature cocktails, house pours and featured glasses of wine and draft beer. Reverse happy hour is from 9:30 p.m. to close Thursday to Saturday.

4225 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.346.0110, buckandrider.com.

Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers

Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers lives up to its name, but offers more that. Check out the menu and see. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and includes domestic pints for $3, domestic alum bottles and Four Peaks pints for $4, and premium wells and house wines at $5.

Valleywide locations, coldbeers.com.

Copper Blues

At Copper Blues, headliners don’t just occupy the stage, they surround it in the form of tap handles and inviting service.

Happy hour is offered from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Sunday.

50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 480.719.5005, copperblueslive.com.

Craft 64

Craft 64 specializes in local craft beer and artisan woodfired pizza. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. daily, when there is $1 off all local beers, five wines for $6, and small plates for $8.

6922 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, 480.946.0542, craft64.com.

CRUjiente Tacos

CRUjiente Tacos offers taco therapy with deals on globally influenced tacos and cocktails. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m.

Monday to Thursday, and the modern taqueria recently launched reverse happy hour from 9 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Specials include $3 for the Korean fried chicken, $3 short rib tacos, $3 pork belly tacos, $7 Tex-Mex-style queso, $7 chips and salsa, $5 on any of the tacos CRUjientes (beef, pork or lamb), $5 Premier CRU margaritas, $1 off all draft and bottled beer and $2 off wine by the glass.

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

Dirty Dogg Saloon

Dirty Dogg Saloon has built a reputation as a local watering hole. Happy hour is 3 to 8 p.m., with live music on Thursdays. Daily drink specials are also offered.

10409 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.368.8095, dirtydoggsaloon.com.

El Chorro

Paradise Valley’s historic El Chorro offers an authentic Arizona dining experience with stunning views of the Valley’s most prominent landmark, Camelback Mountain.

Happy Hour is 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays.

5550 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, 480.948.5170, elchorro.com.

EVO

EVO features recipes true to the Central and Northern regions of Italy, including risotto, alfredo, ragu and carbonara, Chef Steven Fowler strives to perfect a balance of simple yet robust flavors. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. daily.

4175 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, 480.265.9814, evoscottsdale.com.

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Gallagher’s Sports Grill

Gallagher’s Sports Grill loves sports as much as it loves food, so it brings the two together. There are dozens of TVs and inspired dishes. Happy hour is 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 p.m. to close Friday and Saturday.

Valleywide locations, visit gallaghersaz.com.

Hard Rock Café

Take a break from the heat and stroll into the musical oasis that is Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix. With the Flying V over the door, the Hard Rock Café features a fully loaded bar, food, memorabilia and music. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.

3 S. Second Street, Suite 117, Phoenix, 602.261.7625, hardrock.com.

Hungry Monk

Chandler’s The Hungry Monk pours 27 craft beers, with daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food specials run from 3 to 7 p.m.

1760 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, 480.963.8000, hungrymonkaz.com.

Lucky Strike Bowling

Happy hour is offered from 3 to 7 p.m. daily, and includes $5 food specials, $2 domestic drafts, $3 craft/import drafts and well drinks, $4 premium cocktails and select wine.

50 W. Jefferson Street, suite 240, Phoenix, 602.732.5490, bowlluckystrike.com.

Luxe Lounge

Experience UltraStar’s 21-and-older sports bar, restaurant and lounge that boasts 14 HD flat-screen TVs, four pool tables, Golden Tee Golf, soft tip darts and foosball. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and all day Sundays. Specials include $3 well drinks, $3 house wines and $3 domestic draft beers. Appetizers are $3 to $6, including cheese crisp, fried pickles, cheese curds, spicy Cajun fries, hoagie bread, cheese pizza and garlic cheese bread.

16000 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 520.233.2426, ultrastarakchin.com.

Pedal Haus Brewery

Mill Avenue’s resident brewpub and beer garden, Pedal Haus Brewery offers beer enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

It features $2 off Pedal Haus beers and, spirits and $5 select wines while receiving $2 off all appetizers on the menu. “Sunday Funday” specials run all day and include $3 Pedal Haus beers, $3 mimosas, $4 Bloody Marys and $5 margaritas.

730 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.314.2337, pedalhausbrewery.com.

Philly’s Sports Grill

Happy hour is 3 to 7 p.m. daily, and 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and specials include appetizer discounts.

1826 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe; 1402 S. Priest Drive Tempe; 4855 E. Warner Road, Phoenix, phillyssportsgrill.com.

Pig & Pickle

Pig & Pickle handcrafts cocktails, bakes its own bread, makes its own aioli and grows its own herbs. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. daily.

2922 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, 480.990.1407, pigandpickle.com.

Pure Sushi & Dining

Pure Sushi & Dining offers fine sushi and hot menus in an intimate atmosphere. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

20567 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, 480.355.0999 puresushibar.com.

Pure Sushi Colony

Open daily, Pure Sushi Colony serves happy hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. Enjoy $3 off regularly priced cocktails, wines by the glass and sake, along with $2 off regularly priced bottles of beer. Try its signature Asian pear martini, crafted with organic pear juice or the refreshing cool cucumber. Pure Colony offers unique and approachable wines and sake for the perfect pairing.

5538 N. Seventh Street, Suite 110, Phoenix, 602.730.3566, puresushicolony.com.

Rack Scottsdale | Old Town Scottsdale

Rack Scottsdale offers fine spirits in a laid-back environment. Happy hour runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and features half-priced appetizers, such as mozzarella sticks and bacon cheese fries, $1 off beer and $2 off cocktails. It’s more than drinks, though. Pool is half price ($5) for the table.

3636 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480.476.1035, rackscottsdale.com.

Rehab Burger Therapy

Rehab Burger Therapy was founded on the idea that everyone deserves a break from the daily grind. Happy hour is offered from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and 11 a.m. to close Thursdays. This includes $1 off “party starters,” wines by the glass and “rapid relief.”

7210 E. Second Street, Scottsdale; 480.621.5358, rehabburgertherapy.com.

Social Tap Eatery | Downtown Scottsdale

Downtown Scottsdale’s Social Tap Eatery offers happy hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday that include $4 Social Tap drafts, $5 select wines and discounted fan favorites like the double royale with cheese ($9), pulled pork sliders ($6) and social hour taco of choice ($3). Guests can enjoy an alfresco dining experience on the patio that overlooks Drinkwater Boulevard and Brown Avenue, or sit inside and watch the game or music videos on Social Tap’s two 90-inch TVs and 27 65-inch TVs in the restaurant and bar.

4312 N. Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, 602.432.6719, socialtapscottsdale.com.

The Stockyards

In 1947, The Stockyards, Arizona’s Original Steakhouse, opened its doors with a menu focused on its historical past: beef. Staying true to its heritage, The Stockyards’ menu continues to feature only the finest corn-fed, aged steaks and prime rib. Happy hour is 4 tto 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, when house wine, draft beer, saloon snacks, domestic beer and well drinks are discounted. Complimentary tenderloin sliders are also offered.

5009 E. Washington Street, suite 115, Phoenix, 602.273.7378, stockyardssteakhouse.com.

SunUp Brewing Co.

SunUp offers beer brewed on site, with happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.

322 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.279.8909, sunup.beer.

TapHouse Kitchen

TapHouse Kitchen of Scottsdale offers a menu by Chef Patrick Karvis centered around modern American cuisine, in addition to a respectable selection of craft beers. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. Special are plenty, with $2 off all draft beer, spirits and wine on tap, and $2 off all beer flights.

Hilton Village, 6137 N. Scottsdale Road, suite 108, 480.656.0012, taphousekitchen.com.

Tutti Santi

Tutti Santi’s menu offers Nina’s original recipes for Italian classics, from antipasti freddi to mozzarella caprese.

Happy hour is 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 to 11 p.m. Fridays. The late-night specials include live music.

6339 E. Greenway Road, Suite 108, Scottsdale, 480.951.3775, tuttisantiristorante.com.

Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap

Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap’s extensive menu includes favorites like garlic parm fries, fried mozzarella, beer cheese soup, Cajun-spiced chicken salad, black and bleu burger, guacamole and prime rib. Happy hour is 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 p.m. to close Sunday to Thursday. The kitchen closes at midnight Friday and Saturday at midnight, and at 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday.

9053 E. Baseline Road, Mesa; 2115 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek; 4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, unclebearsbarandgrill.com.

Wasted Grain

Happy Hour is offered 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 4 to 9 p.m.

Friday.

7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, 480.970.0500, wastedgrainscottsdale.com.

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

FROM

PIPES TO PIZZA Plumbing took a back seat to Scott Conant’s culinary aspirations

Laura Stoddard » The Entertainer!

C

hef Scott Conant is something of a nomad.

With restaurants from Las Vegas to New York, constant public appearances and a steadily expanding brand to cultivate, the Chopped judge just wanted a place to call home. He found comfort in the Valley.

“I’ve spent some time in Scottsdale over the years, and I moved to Scottsdale a little over a year ago,” Conant says. “I spend a lot of time on planes nowadays, but I liked the idea of having businesses in the Phoenix market.”

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Those businesses include Mora Italian, a modern Osteria, which he describes as having exceptional and innovative cuisine in hip-but-sophisticated surroundings.

“We just want people to come in and have fun and be casual,” Conant says. “You could drink or you could eat, or you could just nibble on some things; but basically, it’s a place where you feel comfortable, and a place you can go to a couple times a week. It’s also great for special occasions, so it’s not limited to anything. It could be exactly what you need it to be for yourself.”

During a recent meal there, we couldn’t have been more pleased. From the ambiance to the knowledgeable waitstaff to the delectable meal, it was exactly, as Conant says, what we needed.

For our meal at Mora, we settled onto the comfy, tufted bench, which runs the length of the north wall, beneath images and advertisements hastening back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Mora’s menu boasts a wealth of tapas-style appetizers, but we opted to start with tomato bruschetta ($10), thick slices of warm, soft bread topped with tomatoes, ricotta and basil.

Choosing entrées was time consuming, because, not surprisingly, all the dishes on the menu looked inventive and delicious. We settled on the Ricotta and Mascarpone Gnudi ($25), decadent, gnocchi-like dumplings filled with cheese, accompanied by tender, perfectly cooked pieces of lobster, guanciale ragu, and delicate shards of bacon, all atop a creamy sauce that was rich and flavorful without being too heavy.

We also ordered the roasted linecaught halibut ($36), a substantial piece of fish with a beautiful, golden crust on the outside, and a moist and flaky interior.

Accompanied by sunchoke puree, olive gremolata, trumpet mushrooms and herbs, every bite offered layers of dynamic flavor.

Open since February, the 5,800-square-foot Mora is separated into different areas, yet still cohesive.

There’s the comfortable, trendy patio, with roll-up doors and access to the indoor/outdoor bar. The more casual, TV-laden bar is stocked with local and noteworthy beers, fine wines and craft cocktails. The contemporary, somewhat industrial main dining room has a playful décor, long velvet curtains, and touches of natural stone and brick. The vibrantly red-hued open kitchen allows guests to see the culinary magic.

Conant says he was drawn to the Phoenix area by friends and business partners, but its food movement as well.

“I like to be part of that,” he says.

When I moved into the (Phoenix) market, they approached me at Chopped and asked me if they should have more chefs from Phoenix, and I said, 100 percent absolutely. So now they’re getting a lot of chefs on the show from this market, which has been really beneficial.”

He also hastens to add he’s a lot nicer than they make him out to be on the show. “I think it’s the editing,” he says with a laugh.

Cooking was not Conant’s first choice as a career. It was plumbing. Food, however, was part of his childhood, and it was intriguing to him. In fact, he began cooking classes when he was 11.

“I went to a vocational school for high school and I couldn’t get into the plumbing program, so I chose culinary arts as a second choice,” Conant says.

“Fortunately, it worked out. I figured I’d try the cooking thing until the plumbing program opened.”

By the time Conant could enroll, he was already hooked on the excitement and possibilities the culinary field offered. He was ready to shift his focus from pipes to pizza.

Conant says that he’s been blessed in his career, but one wonders if he is expecting to open other eateries.

“I’m kicking some ideas around,” he says. “I hope so.”

Mora Italian

5651 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 602.795.9943, moraitalian.com.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

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50

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‘COMFORT FOOD IN DISGUISE’ Mowry and Cotton focuses on friends, family and food

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he Phoenician’s new dining experience, Mowry and Cotton, gives a tip of the hat to the area’s history, with an emphasis on friends, family and comfort food.

“It’s not your typical western-themed restaurant at all,” says Lisa Mercer, food and beverage director. “We’re calling it a modern American cuisine.”

The menu, as well as the ambiance sets it apart from other Southwestern restaurants. The walls are adorned with wine bottles, while succulents and rustic lighting fixtures decorate the dining room to retain an Old West atmosphere.

Mowry and Cotton features indoor seating as well as a patio for outdoor seating. The restaurant’s high ceilings and earthy tones create a beautiful open-concept that combines a unique style but also reflects the feel of the Sonoran Desert.

Named for two bartenders who opened Scottsdale’s first upscale bar, Mowry and Cotton features an a la carte, modern American menu that focuses on fresh ingredients. Market mixed greens with charred carrots, hazelnuts and cranberries, with maple balsamic drizzled on top ($10), sit alongside caramelized cauliflower, with citrus, Calabrian chile and pine nut ($13) on the dinner’s extensive appetizer menu.

Cowboy ribeye with smoked bleu cheese, onion, pepita and chimichurri ($36) and bison carpaccio, with turnip, radicchio, grapes and fruit crostini ($15) bookend the meat entrees.

Salt spring mussels ($16) and seared sea scallops ($29) are among the fish selections.

“We get whatever we can that’s local and in season,” Mercer says. “We take pride in simple ingredients with a lot of flavor, done really well.”

Those seeking something lighter can opt for flatbreads like apple

BREAKFAST!

camembert ($12), brimming over with acorn squash, sage and watercress.

There is an array of bread, soup, salad and veggie options, such as barbecue beets ($11), made with mustard greens, chickpeas and smoked onion yogurt.

“Our menu doesn’t focus on starches or bread, and you’re not going to find a lot of cheese on our menu,” says Mercer, adding it’s perfect for vegetarians, vegans and those who prefer a gluten-free diet.

“This menu is almost like comfort food in disguise, and at the end of the day, it’s really healthy.”

Mercer stresses the menu is “mid-priced.”

“We are not trying to be the highest-priced place in town,” she says. As everything is priced a la carte, guests can build their own meals.

Behind the menu is Chef de Cuisine Tandy Peterson, an Arizona Culinary Institute alum who honed her craft at the likes of Café Bink, Binkley’s Restaurant and Bizkaia, Spain’s Asador Etxebarri.

The use of fresh produce doesn’t stop with the food menu. Mowry and Cotton features crafted cocktails made with fresh fruit puree that changes seasonally. Mowry and Cotton also partnered with New Mexico’s Gruet Winery to provide house sparkling wine.

Mowry and Cotton balances elegance with comfort. Walk-ins, as well as reservations are honored, and there is no dress code.

“We want people to be comfortable,” Mercer says. The atmosphere is relaxed and conducive to a communal setting.

Mercer and her team have one goal.

“We want to stay true to who we are, we don’t want to get caught in the trap of wanting to change things,” she says.

The Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 480.941.8200, thephoenician.com.

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THE CRAFTMASTER

53

SIP » BREW » RELAX » EXPERIMENT » REFRESH » TOAST

BEER TENDERS Bartenders who really know their beer Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

PHOTO BY TIM SEALY

who often collaborate. They assist a lot of people who need help, like hosting fundraisers. It’s like a family. I’ve made awesome friendships because of that.

Everyone’s excited to talk about beer and drink beer.

A

s a bartender at Tempe’s Pedal Haus, Tiffany Fowler has heard her fair share of stories. But armed with a degree in psychology and anthropology from ASU, Fowler is in the perfect profession.

Most importantly, though, she’s a “beer educator.”

Fowler started working for Pedal Haus in March, but has been in the beer industry for four years. After spending time at Upward Projects, she was employed by Arizona Wilderness in Gilbert for three and a half years.

Pedal Haus differs from her other jobs.

“They do a lot of German-style beers,” she says. “The head brewer is very true to the style. He’s a traditional brewer. He does it really well.”

Beer wasn’t always a thing for Fowler. After attending NAU and ASU, she worked with a global health nonprofit for her internship. It took her to Bolivia, where she worked with the country’s water programs.

“I got to see a little bit of everything they do down there,” she says. “I sat in on surgeries. I saw nutrition-based farming. It’s cool. They taught the whole community how to do these things.”

Fowler sat down with The Entertainer! to talk about her passion for beer, and how Pedal Haus is always true to the German brew.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES CRAFT BEER SPECIAL? I think for me, personally, it’s the community around it. It really is a supportive community, a network of people

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN CRAFT BEER? I sold craft beer and started learning about it through Upward Projects, and helped open Joyride Taco House. I started at Arizona Wilderness the year they opened. They really fostered my beer education and my love for the community. The head brewer was a huge advocate for me. If I had questions, he answered them. Coming over to Pedal Haus, I’m learning even more.

They’re letting me be myself.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE BEER CULTURE IN ARIZONA? I love how the breweries have different styles, and the creativity that every individual brewery has. It’s cool to see how it’s ever-evolving.

WHY IS PEDAL HAUS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR CRAFT BEER? The bartenders really know their stuff.

I think it’s cool for people to come in and have a great beer, maybe something outside of what they normally drink.

We do beer well. You can have a cold one and have great food along with it.

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54

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

Craft 64

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

Mellow Mushroom Pizza

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

Papago Brewing Company

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

Boulders on Broadway

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

Hungry Monk

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

Harvey American Public House

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

Goldwater Brewing Co.

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

Spokes on Southern

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

Culinary Dropout

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

Scottsdale Beer Company

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

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

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

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

Garage Wine and Tap

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

Thirsty Lion

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

Copper Blues/Stand Up Live

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

Brat Haus

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

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

Fox Cigar Bar

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

Philly’s Sports Grill

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

Flanny’s Bar and Grill

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

Phoenix Public Market Café

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

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

Pig & Pickle

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

House of Brews Sports Bar

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

The PERCH Pub & Brewery

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

TapHouse Kitchen

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

Ground Control

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

The Brass Tap

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

Uncle Bear’s Brewery

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

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

55

Beer Over Here Drink up at any of these Valley beer events this month Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen, 5813 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 602.313.8713, centralkitchenaz.com, 1 to 3 p.m., $35.

Repeal Day Celebration

Central Kitchen Holiday Beer Crafts

DECEMBER 2 Create beer-centric customized gifts during Central Kitchen Holiday Beer Crafts. Attendees will leave with two gifts: an individualized, personalized beer mug and a choice between making a “beer-nament,” a holiday ornament decorated with alcohol-based inks, or “beer-rings,” special earring made from sections of beer cans.

DECEMBER 5 Celebrate the 84th anniversary of repeal day with a special tasting of beer, wine and cocktails. It features jazz music and Prohibition-erainspired dinner specials.

D’Vine Bistro, 2837 N. Power Road, Mesa, 480.654.4171, dvinebistromesa.com, 5:30 p.m., call for charge.

Christmas at the Dirty Drummer

DECEMBER 13 Celebrate Christmas with Coors Light and the Dirty Drummer.

Dirty Drummer, 2302 N. 44th Street, Phoenix, 602.840.2726, 5 to 7 p.m., menu prices vary.

BEER GEAR Handlebar Pub Nub

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

Cyclists can grab their bikes, hit the trails with friends, pop open their cooler and crack open a cold one with the Handlebar Pub Nub. Not getting it? It’s a simple detachable bottle opener. Yep, the Handlebar Pub Nub screams, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” Just attach it to your bicycle’s handlebar and get going. Riders should keep their beer consumption as the end game. After all, it’s not safe to drink and bike! The Handlebar Pub Nub can be purchased for $20 at uncommongoods.com.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

56

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

CASINO ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

Megan Marples » The Entertainer!

DECEMBER 3

DECEMBER 1

One of These Nights: A Tribute to the Eagles

Robert Cray

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

¡Vive Selena!

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Harry Luge

Hon-Dah Resort and Casino, hon-dah.com

DECEMBER 2 Tamal Festival

AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol, casinodelsol.com

¡Vive Selena!

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Bill Burr

Desert Diamond Casino at Sahuarita, ddcaz.com

Harry Luge

Hon-Dah Resort and Casino, hon-dah.com

DECEMBER 9

DECEMBER 28

Cash, Killer and the King

Jay Leno

Conference Center at Casino del Sol, casinodelsol.com

The Showroom at Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

DECEMBER 29 Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

Britain’s Finest

The Showroom at Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Harry Luge

Fort McDowell Casino, fortmcdowellcasino.com

DECEMBER 7 Colors of Christmas

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Harry Luge

Fort McDowell Casino, fortmcdowellcasino.com

DECEMBER 8 Cash, Killer and the King

The Showroom at Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Parmalee

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

Clay Walker

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, harrahsakchin.com

DECEMBER 30

Charlie Daniels Band

Britain’s Finest

Desert Diamond Casino at Sahuarita, ddcaz.com

The Showroom at Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

DECEMBER 10

DECEMBER 31

Ronnie Milsap

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

Raven’s New Year’s Eve Gala

DECEMBER 17

Sapphire Sky

Talking Stick Resort, talkingstickresort.com

Motown Magic Holiday Concert Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, wingilariver.com

DECEMBER 22 98 Degrees

Desert Diamond Casino at Sahuarita, ddcaz.com

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Str8up

Casino Arizona, casinoarizona.com

Soul Persuasion

Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino, wingilariver.com

Soundwave

Lone Butte Casino, wingilariver.com

Holiday cheer is on special at Rush Bar.

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1

11/22/17 4:27 PM

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE HIGHROLLER

57

PLAY » SPIN » LAUGH » GROOVE » UNWIND » WIN

COLORS OF CHRISTMAS

Jody Watley celebrates the holidays with her peers

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

J

SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE

Parmalee hits Maricopa for Masik Das party Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

P

armalee has hit the Country Thunder stage multiple times, but now it is on its first headlining tour, which comes to Maricopa on Friday, December 8, as part of the Masik Das celebration.

“It’s going to be fun in Arizona— especially in December,” says singer-guitarist Matt Thomas from cold Nashville.

Parmalee is touring in support of its album 27861, named after its hometown of Parmele, North Carolina.

The collection features Parmalee’s latest single “Sunday Morning.” Thomas calls 27861 a work in progress.

“It’s been three and a half years from the time we released (Feels like) Carolina to this album,” he shares. “It’s been great, though. I’ve had a lot of chances to write good songs. We had 35 songs to pick from.”

The rollicking “Hotdamalama” is one of his favorites to play live.

“It’s rocking, that’s for sure,” Thomas says. “‘Big in Savannah,’ that’s another good one. There are so many songs that it’s hard to decide which ones we’re not playing every night. So we switch them up. That’s a good problem to have.”

The 2016 ACM New Vocal Duo/ Group of the Year nominee is one of

four groups since 2001 to earn three consecutive Top 10 singles from a debut country album. Since its debut at country radio, Parmalee has earned over 339 million Pandora streams, 61.5 million plays on Spotify, over 26.5 million YouTube/ VEVO views, and 1.5 million Shazam subscribers.

The band—which also includes Thomas’ brother, Scott, on lead vocal/ guitar/drums; cousin/bassist Barry Knox and guitarist Josh McSwain—recently released a holiday song with Jake Owen, “Christmas Spirits.”

“We released it last year under the radar, but this year we’re pushing it,” he says. “It’s really fun. It’s a party Christmas song.”

Parmalee is considering playing it during the Maricopa show. Meanwhile, Thomas is impressed with the reception the new songs have received.

“People are starting to catch on now,” he says. “Everybody’s talking about certain songs at the meet and greets. Then to see them sing along?

That’s cool.”

ody Watley hasn’t had to rely on her late 1980s hits like “Looking for a New Love” and “Real Love” to keep her career going.

In 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 21st most successful dance artists, thanks to those tracks as well as her recent foray into dance and electronic music. Earlier this year, the Black Music Honors TV special recognized Watley as crossover music icon honoree.

Now, she’s returning to the Colors of Christmas tour, along with Peabo Bryson, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., and Ruben Studdard.

“When I did it 10 years ago, it was a beautiful experience,” she says.

“It was a nice show because it’s one of the few that’s totally for the family.

You get holiday classics and artists singing together who wouldn’t ordinarily be singing together.

“Then, you get us doing a few of our individual hits as well. It’s a wonderful evening of music. There’s no twerking here.”

This is the 25th incarnation of Colors of Christmas, which comes to Wild Horse Pass Hotel and

Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom on Thursday, December 7. Watley recently released a Christmas single, “Like a Holiday,” to advance the tour.

“I’m a traditionalist,” says Watley, who enjoys Harry Connick Jr.’s holiday releases.

“I love the classics. I love the warm sounds. I wanted the song to be a holiday song that’s not a total Christmas song. It’s a groovy, ambient song. It’s about the spirit of love that I wish people had year-round, every day. The holidays bring out the best in people most of the time—except for Black Friday sales.”

Watley will feature “Like a Holiday,” as well as her hits at the show. She may even throw in the dance and electronica music that’s been keeping her busy.

“But the most fun part is performing with Peabo Bryson,” she says. “I listened to his music before I became a professional singer. I have such respect for him. As for Ruben Studdard, I voted for him on American Idol.

“One of my favorite songs is ‘Aquarius.’ I get to perform that with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis from the Fifth Dimension. There’s something for everyone at this show.”

Colors of Christmas

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, 800.946.4452, wingilariver.com, 8 p.m. Thursday, December 7, $40-$85.

Parmalee and Clay Walker Harrah’s Ak-Chin Circle Field, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 408.802.5000, caesars.com/harrahs-akchin/shows, 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 8, free.

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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59

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE GLADIATOR

CHEER » HIT » HIKE » LEAD » ROOT » COMPETE

DECEMBER’S BEST

SPORTS EVENTS

Joe Gilmore » The Entertainer!

Hot Chocolate Run

DECEMBER 3 This race entices chocolate lovers from across the Valley to participate in the annual Hot Chocolate Run. Runners can choose from either the 5K or 15K course. At the end of the race, participants can indulge in hot chocolate and chocolate fondue. Don’t miss out on “America’s Sweetest Race.”

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, hotchocolate15k.com, 7:30 a.m.

(5K), and 8:15 a.m. (15K), $49-$79.

Phoenix Suns vs.

San Antonio Spurs

DECEMBER 9 With Devin Booker leading the charge, the Suns hope to get revenge on their division rivals after a rough loss in November. The game will be tough with the Spurs likely to have their defensive and offensive powerhouse, Kawai Leonard, back in their lineup.

Talking Stick Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7900, nba.com/suns, 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.

The 12K’s of Christmas

DECEMBER 9 Don your finest Christmas clothing and run through Gilbert’s Freestone District Park. Pets are welcome to participate in the races, which are 12K, 6K and 1.2K. The fastest runners aren’t the only one being honored.

Participants will vie for best costume, while their furry friends compete for best dressed pet.

Freestone Park, 1045 E. Juniper Avenue, Gilbert, 480.609.3978, 12krun.com, 7 to 11 a.m., $15-$50.

Caribbean Christmas Twilight 5K DECEMBER 9 The Caribbean Christmas Twilight 5K is perfect for those who prefer to run under the glimmer of holiday lights. Run through the decorated streets of Fountain Hills and finish the race with a holiday reggae party.

All participants receive a hoodie or racerback tank top, along with a “sunglasses” finisher’s medal.

Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, 131events.com, 5 p.m. Saturday, December 9, $15-$35.

home to face the Arizona Coyotes, for what is sure to be a tough game.

The Yotes look to get their season back on track after a rocky start.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson hopes to be a deciding factor.

Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Massachusetts Avenue, Glendale, 480.563.7825, nhl.com/coyotes, 7 p.m., tickets start at $34.50.

ASU Sun Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats

DECEMBER 30 The Sun Devils and the Wildcats face off for the first time this year at the end of the month. The Wildcats, ranked No. 3 at the start of the season, look to display their

dominance against the state rival and take this game at home.

McKale Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, Tucson, 520.621.2211, ArizonaWildcats.com, 7 p.m., visit website for pricing.

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Football Classic

DECEMBER 30 The champion of the Big 12 Conference and another top college football team in the nation will meet at the University of Phoenix Stadium for the annual Fiesta Bowl.

University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, 480.350.0911, fiestabowl.org, 2 p.m., tickets start at $95.

Holiday Lights Run 2017

DECEMBER 13 Run through the Glendale Holiday Lights 3-mile course and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies at the finish line.

Nonperishable food items will be accepted, and a raffle will help local schools this holiday season.

Tortoise & Hare Sports, 17570 N. 75th Avenue, Suite 605, Glendale, 623.792.7900, tortoiseandharesports.com, 6 to 9 p.m., $10.

Santa Hustle

DECEMBER 17 Runners are invited to show their holiday spirit during this 5K race.

Participants will receive a Santa hat and beard, a shirt, and, new this year, candy cane socks.

Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Glendale, 847.829.4536, santahustle.com/arizona, 6 a.m. to noon, visit website for pricing.

SHOW US YOUR GAME FACE! Join us for our Daily Specials

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FRI ------------- Shrimp Platter $9.99 SAT/SUN ----- Breakfast until 11am. Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar until 4pm.

Starting at 4pm: Jack Daniels Rib-Eye Steak, Salad, Baked Potato - $13.99

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Arizona Coyotes vs.

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DECEMBER 28 Scottsdale’s Auston Matthews comes

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Duke’s Now Open in Rocky Point!

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60

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

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62

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

SHOOTING STAR For OEL, not every victory shows up on the scoreboard WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

C

oyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson wants to be the one who saves the struggling team.

“I’ve always been a guy who wants to help other people, and who turns things around, too,” EkmanLarsson says via telephone from Ottawa where the Coyotes were playing. “I want to make the difference between being out of the playoffs and getting into the

playoffs. That’s why I’m still here.”

Baby steps. In an October game against the Boston Bruins, OEL, as he’s known, set a franchise record for powerplay goals scored by a defenseman. Still, it’s been a lopsided season for the Coyotes.

“I’m not going to lie,” he says.

“It’s hard. I’m 26 years old. I’ve been through this for four or five years now.

You want to get better. You want to win games. You want to be in the playoffs.”

Staying positive is one of OEL’s admirable traits. Instead of dogging the

Coyotes, he takes the high road and says he’s excited about the team’s rebuild that included shedding Shane Doan and Mike Smith.

“Everybody has been great,” he says about the fans. “They know what kind of situation we’re in right now. We have a lot of young guys and we’re trying to build for the future.

“We know it’s going to take time.

We have a new coaching staff, new trainers and we acquired a few new players this offseason. We’re playing a different system than we’re used to.

Still, it’s the same arena and the same fans, but at the same time there are a lot of new things we need to focus on and learn.”

Personally, life has been challenging as well. It’s the first holiday season without his mother, Annika, who died after a long battle with cancer. The family’s bond has strengthened through it all. Ekman-Larsson is thankful for his younger brother, Kevin, who is signed to the Tucson Roadrunners.

“I think this is good for both of us,” Ekman-Larsson says. “We’re pretty busy, but it’s nice to have him closer and to get to see him a little bit more than when he was back in Sweden.

“Before, we always talked on the phone, texted and stuff like that. Now I can watch the games and go down to Tucson if I have a day off and they play that night. It’s good for both of us—especially having a tough year, personally. We can stick together, be close together and get to see each other.”

When his mother died, EkmanLarsson stayed with the team as long as he could, only taking a leave of absence for the last three games.

“She was so strong and so positive, and she always told me, ‘Listen, whatever you do, I love you. Don’t worry about me. I want you to stay over here,’” he recalls. “I wanted to do something for her and I’m really proud of myself that I did that for her.”

Now his focus is on the team and helping any way he can. That includes giving advice to the new Coyotes.

“I tell them to believe in the system, and work hard even when things aren’t going the right way,” Ekman-Larsson says. “It’s easy when you’re a young guy and just got into the league to do your own thing instead of playing to the system. We should stick together as a team. That’s how you turn things around.”

MAY

APRIL SUN HOME AWAY 1

MON

TUE

WED

29

FRI

SAT

COL 30 COL 31 COL 7:10 6:40 5:10

LAD 3 LAD 4 LAD 5 STL 6 STL 7 STL

2

6:40

6:40

12:40

7:15

12:45

6:40

6:40

SF 10 SF 11 SF 12

8

STL 9

15

LAD 16

11:15

7:15

17

TBD

4:15

11:15

SUN

6

1 8 15 22 29

WED

THU

7:10

7:10

20

NYM 21 MIL 22 MIL 23 MIL 24

27

OAK 28 CIN 29 CIN 30 CIN 31

TBD

6:40

6:40

5:10

TBD

4:05

10:05

PHI 27 WAS 28 WAS

1:10

6:40

6:40

12:40

10:10

4:40

4:40

10:10

1:05

1:10

6:40

6:40

6:40

SUN

SAT

LAD 9 LAD 10 WAS WA 11 WAS WA 12 WAS WA

8

1:10

SF 18 SF 19 SF 20 SD 21 SD

7:10

FRI

LAD 2 LAD 3 LAD 4 HOU 5 HOU 6:40 6:40 12:40 6:40 5:10

1

WAS WA 14 MIL 15 MIL 16 MIL 17

6:40

5:10

4:10

4:10

6:35

1:05

3

18

NYM 19 NYM

10

25

OAK 26 OAK

17 24

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1:10

ATL 16

17

COL CHC

24

5:40

5:40

12:10

1:10

5:05

1:10

6:40

1:10

6:40

5:10

7:10

5:40

5

COL 21 COL

12

CHC 25 CHC 26 CHC 27 SD 28 SD

19

18

19

ALL-STAR GAME ALL-STAR GAME

23

4:35

SUN

5:05

SD 30 TEX TX 31 TEX TX

12:40

11:20

11:20

20

26

MON

TUE

1

WED

2

CIN 13

6:40

10:10

14 21

1:10

SF 3 6:40

FRI

SF 4 6:40

7:15

MIA 4

SF 5

TUE

WED

SF 6

THU

SF 7

1:10

7:15

7:15

12:45

12:10

6:40

6:40

12:40

1:10

7:07

7:07

10:35

4:10

4:10

1 8

FRI

SAT

2 MIA MIA 6:40 7:10

COL 9 COL 5:40

TBD

6:40

6:40

7:10

4:05

4:05

1:05

9:10

6:40

7:10

COL 11 PIT 12 PIT 13 PIT 14 NYM 15 NYM 16 NYM LAA 19 LAA NYM 18 LAD LAD 20

21

PIT 22 PIT 23 PIT

PIT 25 MIA 26 MIA 27 MIA 28 MIA 29 SF 30 SF

SF 5:10

SUN

TEX TX 15 TEX TX 16 SD 17 SD 18 SD

9

12:40

5:05

5:05

6:40

6:40

10

7:10

24

4:10

4:10

7:10

5:40

6:40

5:10

SEA 25 SEA

SEA 27 SF 28 SF 29 SF 30 LAD 31 LAD 1:10

SAT

2

6:40

LAA 22LADA LAA 23 LADA

SD 20

THU

CIN 11 CIN

SF 6 PHI 7 PHI 8 PHI 9

1:10

MON

4:10

SEPT

AUGUST

MON

3 STL 4 STL 5 SD 6 SD 7 SD SF 2 STL 7:10 6:40 1:10 6:40 6:10 6:40 6:40 10 COL 11 COL 12 COL 13 ATL 14 ATL SD 9

10:35

HOU 7

TUE

13

13

JULY SUN

JUNE

MON

LAD 14 LAD

23 24 SDSD 1:10 PHI 25 PHI 26 29 WASWA 30 LADLAD 4:05 4:05 10:35 6:40 22

THU

7:15

7:15

7:10

7:10

MON

TUE

WED

LAD 3 SD 4 SD 5

THU

6

TBD

5:10

6:40

1:10

5:40

5:40

5:40

11:10

6:40

6:40

6:40

1

SAT

LAD TBD

ATL 7 ATL 8 ATL 6:40

6:40

5:10

5:10

4:10

6:40

5:10

7:10

5:40

ATL 10 COL 11 COL 12 COL 13 COL 14 HOU 15 HOU

16

HOU 17 CHC 18 CHC 19 CHC 20

23

COLCOL 1:10 24 LAD 25 LAD 26 LAD 27 6:40 6:40 6:40 SD SD 12:10

30

FRI

12:10

21

COL 22 COL

LAD 28 SD 29 SD

64

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

FAMILY CIRCUS The Zoppé family enjoys the holidays under the big top

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

T

he Zoppé Family Circus has been entertaining audiences around the world for 175 years.

But Tosca Zoppé and her husband, Jay Walther, find comfort in coming to Chandler each holiday season.

“It’s our favorite spot,” Zoppé says. “We’ve been coming there for so long that we feel like we’re part of the community.

“We usually come in around the 20th. We get the tent and everything set up. On Christmas Eve, we decorate the tree in the center of the ring. We hang stockings in the tent, then we have a big Christmas dinner in the circus tent.”

Zoppé: An Italian Family Circus returns to its 500-seat tent on the Chandler Center for the Arts’ lawn Wednesday, December 27, to Sunday, December 31, and Tuesday, January 2, to Sunday, January 7.

The circus was founded in 1842 in Budapest, Hungary, when French street performer Napoline Zoppé wandered into a plaza, where he met an equestrian ballerina, Ermenegilda. The two ran away to Venice, Italy and founded the circus.

Starring Nino the clown, the circus is propelled by a central story that features acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowning and audience participation. Nino is played

by Giovanni Zoppé, a sixth-generation circus performer.

Giovanni is returning, as is Tosca, an equestrian performer, while Walther is Papino, the white-faced clown. New this year is Chiques Sanchez, a bicyclist in a vintage act called the Black Hole.

“It’s a bottomless cone, basically, made out of wood,” she says. “One of

our artists, Chiques, starts riding the bicycle, circles it and is then lifted into the air. That’s a really interesting act we have this year.

“We also have Owen Sanchez, doing a hand-balancing act, and a beautiful artist, Elena Sanders, who does a strap act, an aerial act. She has a strap on each arm and circles the tent.”

The Zoppés love to share the family’s tradition.

“It’s our life,” she says. “It’s our heritage. It’s who we are. It’s just embedded in us. We love our tradition and we’re grateful that we can share it with everyone else.

“Being able to talk in that ring and know that our ancestors did the same thing we’re doing is something to be really proud of.”

Zoppé: An Italian Family Circus

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org, various times Wednesday, December 27, to Sunday, December 31, and Tuesday, January 2, to Sunday, January 7, $15-$40.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE YOUNGSTER

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FROLIC » DISCOVER » IMAGINE » FAMILY » FUN » CONNECT

THE BEST FAMILY EVENTS IN DECEMBER Daisy Finch » The Entertainer!

Glow on Monroe

DECEMBER 9 This downtown Buckeye parade will be a sight for all ages. Say hi to Santa, make new friends and keep the tradition alive.

Historic Downtown Buckeye, 602.881.9111, buckeyemainstreet. org, 6:30 p.m., free admission.

SANTA HQ

TO DECEMBER 24 Santa is visiting area malls, thanks to HGTV. Celebrate the holidays with Elfie Selfies, a Naughty or Nice O’Meter and 10,000 lights.

Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, 480.812.8488, shopchandlerfashioncenter.com, various hours, call for pricing.

Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 480.941.2140, fashionsquare.com, various hours, call for pricing.

Christmas at Gainey Village

DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 16 AND DECEMBER 17 Arizona Big Train Operators is celebrating the holidays with G-scale railroads in Cardon Children’s Hospital and 11 Valley homes. Donations are accepted.

Arizona Big Train Operators, throughout the Valley, azbigtrains.org, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., free, donations accepted.

Movies in the Desert Merry Main Street

TO JANUARY 5 It’s time to ice skate, shop, eat and celebrate the holiday season’s arrival with a giant holiday tree, Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest, and more in downtown Mesa.

Downtown Mesa, Main Street and Macdonald, merrymainstreet.com, free admission.

DECEMBER 9 Celebrate the coming winter festivities with a screening of Frozen, fun activities, music and prizes. Kids—and the young at heart—can meet Queen Elsa and learn how to draw Olaf, too. Bring blankets and chairs.

OdySea in the Desert, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, 480.951.2100, odyseainthedesert. com, 5 p.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 18 TO DECEMBER 22 DECEMBER 26 TO DECEMBER 29 Kids ages 3 to 13 can spend their winter break learning ziplining, dance, gymnastics and more. Fulland half-day options are available.

Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance Center, 15801 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, 602.992.5790, arizonasunrays.com, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., prices vary.

Family Flicks

DECEMBER 2 The Shops Gainey Village kick off the holiday season with face painting, raffles, balloon artists, and horse and carriage rides.

Shops Gainey Village, 8777–8989 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, theshopsgaineyvillage.com, 1 to 4 p.m., free admission.

Trains in the Garden Christmas Open House Tours

Winter Supercamp

It’s a Down Home Holiday

DECEMBER 16 Surprise Towne Center and Surprise Marketplace are celebrating the holidays with music from Desert Dixie, along with Santa photo ops, arts and crafts and more.

Surprise Towne Center, 13706 W. Bell Road, Surprise, shopsurprisemp.com, noon to 3 p.m., free admission.

Pots for Tots

DECEMBER 17 This pottery craft event is perfect for kids ages 6 and younger. For two hours, parents can learn the craft with their tiny tots and watch their creativity spark. No registration required.

Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.495.0901, pueblogrande.com, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 21 Bring the whole family and enjoy hot cocoa, a screening of Elf, pictures with Santa and popcorn.

Bundle up and bring blankets, chairs, holiday sweaters and a jolly attitude.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, Chandler, 3 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, downtownchandler.org, 6 p.m., free admission.

Winter Break Dance Camp

DECEMBER 27 TO DECEMBER 29 Certified dance instructors will teach kids ages 7 to 12 hip-hop, jazz, swing and other dance forms. This class is for boys and girls who are at any level of dance.

Kaleidoscope Dance, 2848 S. Carriage Lane, Mesa, 480.692.0332, kaleidoscopedance.com, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $35 per child, per day; $95 for all three days.

New Year’s Eve Party & Sleepover

DECEMBER 31 Kids can take part in trampoline races, dodgeball tournaments, dance contests and karaoke fun during AZ Air Time’s New Year’s Eve party and sleepover.

AZ Air Time, 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 145, Scottsdale, 480.427.2000, azairtime.com, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., $99 per child.

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SKYLER GREENE / ALIVE COVERAGE

LISTEN » JAM » INNOVATE » EVOLVE » ROCK » SING

NO ONE’S LEAVING Drummer Stephen Perkins calls Jane’s Addiction home

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

J

ane’s Addiction is like comfort food or a cold, firm pillow to drummer Stephen Perkins.

Even though the band has only played once this year, returning to the stage is like coming home after a long tour.

“It feels like that pillow that you love,” Perkins says. “It’s your pillow— not the pillow at the hotel, or the pillow your friend let you borrow because you slept over. You can fall asleep on someone else’s pillow. Jane’s Addiction feels like those great, old memories. It caresses the feeling, the songs and the future, and what’s possible.”

Jane’s Addiction will return to the stage this month for a handful of shows, including a Wednesday, December 27, gig at the Marquee Theatre.

“I’m excited to have shows coming up,” he says. “It’s nice to have a handful of them. The shows are action packed with energy and emotion because we haven’t played in so long.”

Playing clubs/small theaters was a conscious decision for Jane’s Addiction.

Known for its songs “Been Caught Stealing” and “Jane Says,” the band has played a myriad of venues, ranging from 300 to 200,000 capacity. Perkins explains he prefers smaller crowds.

“I kind of relate it to a phone call in a quiet room,” he says. “You can hear everything everyone’s talking about.

That’s what it’s like on a stage in a small room. If you’re at a bigger show, 400 yards away you see someone bungee jumping, or there’s some dynamic light show far away in some field.

“Distractions are good for the creative part, but I appreciate the quiet moments between band members. We can really hone in on the music if there are 500 to 1,000 fans.”

He adds that he loves the experience of a successful band, but as the stage gets bigger, there is less of a connection between the musicians— and the fans. Perkins visualizes what is going on between fans when he’s behind the drumkit.

“When we’re on stage, someone’s getting a phone number,” Perkins says. “Someone’s getting a kiss for the first time. Someone is arguing. There’s a whole world out there when we’re playing. I love that.”

Jane’s Addiction’s world came together singer Perry Farrell and Eric Avery were seeking musicians for a new project. Perkins met guitarist Dave Navarro when he was 14. Farrell came along when Perkins was 17. Avery was the bassist from 1985 to 1991, and from 2008 to 2010. Current bassist, Chris Chaney, played with Jane’s Addiction from 2002 to 2004, and again since 2011.

“Chris Chaney’s been in the band longer than Eric Avery,” Perkins says with a laugh. “We’re partners in crime.

We’re all friends.

“It’s remarkable to see all the changes in music, and the losses we’ve had in the last few years. To be able to still do it and make people feel good when you play music, that’s all that matters. I’ve been so lucky growing up in Jane’s Addiction, and Infectious, Porno for Pyros, Banyan and Hellride with so many different players. But when I get back together with Dave, Perry and Chris, it’s amazing.”

Jane’s Addiction

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline.com, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 27, $83.

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LIVE MUSIC

CALENDAR

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

The Dear Hunter

DECEMBER 1

Footlight District

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $25-$28

George Bowman & Bluesmen

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Grant Ferguson

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $25

Rhythm Room, 8:30 p.m., $8

Rhythm Room, 5:30 p.m., $12

Kim Wilson’s Blues All-Stars 191 Toole, 7:30 p.m., $14-$20

Lucki

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $15-$35

Marty Ashby’s Holiday Jazz Celebration Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $40-$50

Random Rab

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $12-$15

Muskellunge

Ne Obliviscaris

Club Red, 6 p.m., $15-$17

Pale Waves

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $10-$12

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Gila River Arena, 3:30 and 8 p.m., $37.50-$72.25

Warren G

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

The Mike Stern Quartet

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $49-$110

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 and 9 p.m., $30-$40

Wheeler Walker Jr.

Raheem DaVaughn

Van Buren, 8 p.m., $18-$33

DECEMBER 7

Celebrity Theatre, 8:30 p.m., $15

SonReal

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $13-$85

Aaron Gillespie

The Spill Canvas

The Delta Bombers

Whitechapel

Rebel Lounge, 7:15 p.m., $13-$15 Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Parmalee

Orpheum Theater Flagstaff, 8 p.m., $27-$33

Private Island w/ Luna Aura Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12

Sharon Isbin & the Pacifica Quartet

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $55-$75

The Skyler Lutes Band

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Tony Bennett

Celebrity Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $78-$138

Van Hof

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $10

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $23-$25

DECEMBER 8

DECEMBER 4

Anuhea

Valley Bar, 6:30 p.m., $15-$17 Club Red, 6 p.m., $23-$25

DECEMBER 9 Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding w/Slash and Rob Halford Celebrity Theatre, 7 p.m., $120-$750

Esteban

Musical Instrument Museum, 6 and 8 p.m., $35-$50

Hollywood Undead

Marquee Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $23-$53

Loren Battle

Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $10-$12

Moving Units Presents the Songs of Joy Division Valley Bar, 9 p.m., $10-$12

The Repeat Offenders

Rhythm Room, 5:30 p.m., $10

Club Red, 6 p.m., $20-$25

DECEMBER 10

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Coco Montoya

Casey Donahew

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., free

DECEMBER 5

Desert Frostover III Day 1

Kodak Black

Sun System

Alex Lahey

Mark Farina

Marmalade Skies

Robert Cray

The Showroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $30-$50

The Scorpion Decides

Sports w/ Pro Teens

Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $8

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $12-$14

Trivium w/ Arch Enemy

Marquee Theatre, 6:30 p.m., $25-$55

Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native

DECEMBER 2

The Foster Family Band

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Dr. Fresch

Club Red, 7 p.m., $17-$35

Kim Wilson and the All-Star Blues Band

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $32-$37

Nachito Herrera Presents “Gershwin Meets Lecuona”

Comerica Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$172

191 Toole, 9 p.m., $15-$25

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $15-$20

Rhythm Room, 4 p.m., $15

Makana

The Piano Guys Prayers

Riva Starr w/ Mat.Joe

SCC Jazz Combos

Monarch Theatre, 10 p.m., $20-$25

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

Supersuckers

Susto w/ Esme Patterson

Club Red, 7 p.m., $16-$20

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$14

DECEMBER 3

DECEMBER 6

Charity Lockhart w/ The Andy Gonzalez All-Stars

Delcoa

WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

191 Toole, 10 p.m., $13-$15

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $33-$99

Ghostmane

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., $38.50-$45.50

Rhythm Room, 2 p.m., free

Marquee Theatre, 6 p.m., $13

191 Toole, 8 p.m., $16.50-$20

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $12-$15

AMTRAC

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $17-$20

Rhythm Room, 8:30 p.m., $15-$20

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $18-$20

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

SCC Jazz Combos

The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15

The Drums DECEMBER 13

Van Buren, 8 p.m. $20-$35 Nearly 10 years into its career, The Drums is touring off the back of its fourth studio album, Abysmal Thoughts, which was released this past summer. Now essentially a solo project led by founding member and lead vocalist Jonny Pierce after the remaining studio members left, The Drums has continued to put out catchy lo-fi jangle pop with a light post-punk influence.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

Taylor Hicks

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $37-$42

DECEMBER 11 Descendents

Marquee Theatre, 8 p.m., $30.50

Metalachi

Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $15

Tower of Power

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 and 9 p.m., $40-$70

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party w/ Rise Against Mesa Amphitheatre, 6 p.m., $39

DECEMBER 12 The Foster Family Band

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Tower of Power

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 and 9 p.m., $40-$70

Vista Kicks

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $10-$12

DECEMBER 13 Agnostic Front w/ North Side Kings Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $17-$20

Dance Gavin Dance

Nile Theater, 6 p.m., $22

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Natalia Jimenez

Van Buren, 8 p.m., $40

Night Drive w/ Bogan Via Valley Bar, 6:30 p.m., $12-$15

Sundressed

Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12

Young Dubliners

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $22-$31

DECEMBER 16 Desert Frostover III Day 2 Marquee Theatre, 2 p.m., $13

Hundredth

Underground, 6 p.m., $15

Julien Baker

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $18-$20

Timothy B. Schmit

Musical Instrument Museum, 7:30 p.m., sold out

Under the Streetlamp Hip to the Holidays!

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $65-$75

Wayne “The Train” Hancock Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $12-$15

DECEMBER 17

Mac Sabbath DECEMBER 31

Club Red, 7 p.m., $25 Fast food-themed covers of Black Sabbath songs. Entertaining?

Gimmicky? Call it what you will, but the members of the enigmatic Mac Sabbath have been making a name for themselves in the tour circuit after three years of performing their hilarious covers. Described on its Facebook page as “Drive Thru Metal,” the band transforms the classic songs of Black Sabbath—“Iron Man” becomes “Frying Pan,” “Sweet Leaf” is “Sweet Beef.” These are just some of the ridiculous parodies you can expect to see when this four-piece—Ronald Osbourne, Slayer MacCheeze, Grimalice and Catburgler—performs in Mesa this New Year’s Eve. But hey, if Macaulay Culkin can have his The Pizza Underground, surely there’s a place in the world for the likes of Mac Sabbath.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Rialto Theatre, 8 p.m., $35-$40

Timothy B. Schmit

DECEMBER 22

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers

Mesa Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $59-$89

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., sold out

The Blunt Club

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 8 p.m., $40

The Klezmatics: A Happy Joyous Hanukkah

Under the Streetlamp Hip to the Holidays!

The Sugar Thieves

Spafford

Dave Koz

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $40-$45

Skating Polly w/ Starcrawler

Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 3 p.m., $65-$75

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $10

DECEMBER 23

DECEMBER 30 Jim Brickman

Pub Rock Live, 8 p.m., $12

DECEMBER 18

Holiday Extravaganza

Xavier Omär

Nathan Pacheco

Lindsey Stirling

Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$18

DECEMBER 14 Cody Jinks

Van Buren, 8 p.m., $23.25-$202

Mesa Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $28-$52

DECEMBER 19 98°

Fleetmac Wood

Mesa Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $40-$60

Lonestar

Club Red, 6 p.m., $10-$13

Crescent Ballroom, 8:30 p.m., $10 Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $65-$75

Sales

Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $15-$17

DECEMBER 15 The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Celebrity Theatre, 8 p.m., $63-$96

Harmonica Bands Showcase Rhythm Room, 8 p.m., $10

Kimie Miner

Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $15

Davey Suicide

The Foster Family Band

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

DECEMBER 20 Uno the Activist

Club Red, 7 p.m., $20-$100

DECEMBER 21 Tribal Anarchist w/ Pink Saturn

Club Red – West, 5:30 p.m., $10-$15

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$199

Van Buren, 6:15 p.m., $17

Comerica Theatre, 8 p.m., $35.50$65.50

Soul Power Band

Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $8

Yucca Winter Formal

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

DECEMBER 24 I Am Hologram

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

DECEMBER 28 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Van Buren, 8 p.m., $35-$54

DECEMBER 29 Dira

Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free

Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $45-$65

The Original Wailers

Orpheum Theater Flagstaff, 7:30 p.m., $35-$40

Smokestack Lightning

Rhythm Room, 6 p.m., $10

Spafford

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$199

DECEMBER 31 311

Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $63-$98

Chuck Ragan

Rebel Lounge, 9:30 p.m., $22-$30

Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns Rhythm Room, 9 p.m., $15

Jim Brickman

Musical Instrument Museum, 6 and 8 p.m., $45-$65

Spafford

Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $20-$199 WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

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COOL TO BE YOU

Descendents’ Milo Aukerman talks impressing his kids and hitting the Top 20 Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

D

escendents is considered one of the most important bands in the ’80s hardcore punk scene, having been instrumental to pop-punk’s inception.

Now, 40 years and seven albums into its career, the band is still reaching new levels. Descendents earned its highest charting spot, No. 20, on the Billboard 200 with 2016’s Hypercaffium Spazzinate, its first album in 12 years.

Vocalist Milo Aukerman, however, isn’t particularly interested in such statistics.

“The label, of course, would drum that up to us, and as you get old, you can maybe appreciate that stuff a little bit more,” says Aukerman, who has two kids with his wife.

“The only use that information has for me is so I can try to impress my kids. Eventually, they’re not going to be impressed with you.”

Music was more of a side project for Aukerman, who also earned a Ph.D. and worked toward a career in biochemistry.

Descendents has always been intermittent effort, with the band reconvening for the fourth time in 2010.

While this reformation began with weekend shows, it became permanent WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

when Aukerman was laid off from his job as a research scientist at DuPont last year.

“The mindset is pretty easy,” Aukerman says of their sporadic reunions. “Maybe it has been my destiny. Otherwise, I think if it wasn’t, then maybe you’d have to get back into that kind of mindset. It was like riding a bike and I just got back on.”

Now in his 50s, however, performances are the most challenging part of his Descendents return.

“For the actual singing part of it, I’m not a naturally talented singer,” he adds. “It’s something that I had to work a lot at. So, when I would get back into the band after these hiatuses, there were some rough periods of just making sure my voice could still handle it.

“I think kind of motivationally or just my enthusiasm, I could always do it, but it was definitely more of trying to make sure my voice could handle it.

That was a challenge.”

There were intermittent gaps between albums—nine years between All and Everything Sucks; eight years before Cool to Be You; and 12 years before Hypercaffium Spazzinate. In between collections, the remaining band members—drummer Bill Stevenson, bassist Karl Alvarez and guitarist Stephen Egerton—found success as All.

But while Aukerman was prioritizing his biochemistry career, music remained on his mind, making new albums easier to craft when the time came.

“I was definitely writing in between,” he says. “I wasn’t giving up music. I was just giving up the being in a band part of it.”

When he was laid off by DuPont last year, Aukerman had already considered leaving his science career behind due to lack of interest. Now, he’s just enjoying living in the moment with Descendents as a full-time endeavor.

“I’m trying to have fun with what I’m doing, and this is probably the first time in my life where I can look at the band and go, ‘Well, this is a new challenge for me.’ The challenge being conduct your life as a musician would conduct their lives,” he explains. “That means being prolific or trying to write songs and trying to kind of work on your craft, so to speak.”

Speaking of new music, Aukerman predicts albums won’t take as long as fans have come to expect.

“We can guarantee that it won’t take (12 years) to put another record out, because we definitely have designs on making new music,” he says. “I’ve written a few new songs. Stephen’s written a few new songs. I think I would say within the next year we would at

least be able to compile a song list that we could then go and record.”

Aukerman is unsure when new music will come, but he can guarantee Descendents will continue to evolve.

“I think every time we make a record, it’s a new development of sounds,” he explains. “I think this next record will definitely not sound the same as Hypercaffium Spazzinate.

“We’ve got Stephen contributing some more melodic elements in his newest songs. He’s starting to write lyrics, which is an exciting development for us because, for a while, he would write music and someone else like me would write lyrics over it. He’s now contributing some lyrics, and that’s kind of fun to hear his perspective on life.”

Aukerman adds, “I think there’s definitely designs on probably getting a new record out, I’m going to say within the next few years, which still makes it better than the last time.”

Descendents w/ The Flatliners, Pulley

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.1300, luckymanonline.com, 8 p.m.

Friday, December 15, $30.50.

THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

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PHOTO BY LEAVITT WELLS

FROM SMALL TOWN TO LONDON

CINDERELLA STORY

Colton Avery has the script for success

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

C

olton Avery believes in the theory of less is more.

Formerly of Peoria, the singer-songwriter wasn’t quite ready to play another gig after opening for Katastro at the Marquee in 2014.

When Live Nation called him to entertain in the VIP tent at Ak-Chin Pavilion during the Train/Gavin DeGraw/The Script show that following June, he was hesitant.

“The pay wasn’t that good for the time we were playing,” Avery says. “The show was four hours. We were doing well locally at that point. I weighed if it was worth it or not.

“It was 100-something degrees that day. We had to show up at the ungodly hour of 4 p.m. and we didn’t start until 7.”

He decided to play it and

thought, “This is the worst thing ever.” The audience wasn’t paying attention to his covers, so he switched up the set to originals. With each song, the crowd—including Gavin DeGraw and members of The Script—came closer.

DeGraw and The Script singer, Danny O’Donoghue, asked for CDs. Still daunted, Avery went straight from Ak-Chin, to a park at 59th Avenue and Happy Valley Road, stopped his car and reassessed his career.

“I hoped they liked the music on the CD,” he recalls. “But I didn’t think I would hear from them.”

Things changed and the gig paid off when The Script’s management called, flew him to London, England, and signed him to a temporary publishing deal. Avery spent the next two years writing songs and touring the world as an acoustic artist with the Irish pop band. He now splits time between

London and Los Angeles.

He is now wrapping up his sophomore album, which does not have a title yet. The first single, “Religion,” was released in October. His first album, 2012’s Waves, spawned the hit “Cinderella,” which was used on ABC Family’s Switched at Birth.

“I feel like people write about relationships in a funny way,” he says about “Religion.” “It’s always like, ‘You’re bad for me, but so good for me.’

“I just wanted to write about something that I could relate to. With long-term relationships, the moment after the honeymoon phase, each person will go through a struggle of their own. It doesn’t involve the other person, but your partner develops doubts. ‘Is this person going to leave me?’ ‘No, it’s just something I’m going through. You actually saved me more than any religion.’ It’s a cool, vibey track.”

Avery spent most of his childhood in Farmington, New Mexico, until high school, when his dad relocated the family to Peoria to start a new job.

“Farmington is a really small town,” Avery says. “My family moved out here when I was 16. They ripped me out of high school when my dad got a job offer, which paid him a lot better.

“I was kicking and screaming. I was going into my junior year. My friends were set. But it was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me musically. I didn’t know anyone at first, so I didn’t leave my room.”

Instead, he got lost in his guitar.

As a student at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Peoria, he was more of a baseball star than admired musician.

“I was a closet musician,” he says.

“Nobody knew about it. I played baseball for years. I credit my career to two players on my team.”

Avery told two teammates about his music, but made them promise not to tell anyone. He didn’t think about it, and went to New Mexico to play baseball.

When he returned, all hell broke loose.

“People at school knew me who I didn’t even know,” he says with a laugh.

“They heard my music. It was then that I sort of thought, ‘Maybe I should do this.’ It gave me that little extra boost to pursue it.”

He attended Glendale Community College for a year, but “checked out” because music was calling him. He gigged around town, but it wasn’t until meeting O’Donoghue that doors opened for him.

“The Script’s audience was so receptive,” he says of the world tour. “Their fans love good music. It’s the best focus group. They won’t listen to it if it’s not good. I’m lucky they took me on that tour around the world and introduced me to so many people.”

Those gigs featured just Avery and his acoustic guitar, something he says wasn’t intimidating.

“They just plopped me out there with my acoustic,” Avery says, his blue eyes widening. “They pulled me out of the studio with two weeks to prepare. That was never part of the plan for me. I was there as a writer, strictly, but they liked my music and vibe. It was really kind of them. They didn’t have to do that.”

Avery, who has also written songs with Natasha Bedingfield, plans on releasing a single or two every month leading up to the splash of his new album.

“I’m an independent artist,” he says. “As soon as I make something new, I can release it whenever I want. I can react and that’s what I’m doing. ‘Here’s the single. I really love this. What’s next?’ I’m planning my career by ear.

“I came from a small town and made it to London. Life is beautiful.”

Visit coltonavery.com to hear Colton Avery’s music.

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THE ENTERTAINER! MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2017

THE NIGHTOWL

73

SIP » UNLEASH » MIX » MINGLE » PULSE » SHAKE

THE BEST NIGHTLIFE EVENTS FOR DECEMBER Party Pupils w/ Win and Woo

Connor Dziawura » The Entertainer!

DECEMBER 15

4B w/ Nitti Gritti DECEMBER 2

New Jersey DJ and producer 4B doesn’t like to be boxed into one category. This should be clear from his Facebook, where his genre is listed as “everything.” Just look through his SoundCloud page and you will see remixes of everything from Childish Gambino’s “Redbone” to tracks by Major Lazer and Fetty Wap. Supported by Nitti Gritti, 4B will stop by the Monarch Theatre.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.456.1991, monarchtheatre. com, 9 p.m., $20-$35.

Nora En Pure DECEMBER 8

Swiss electronic musician Nora En Pure will stop by Maya Day + Nightclub this December for a late performance at the Scottsdale venue. The producer has released a plentiful stream of music this year already, including popular SoundCloud tracks like “Fever” and “Waves.” But not only that, she has maintained the release of her continuing Purification series of DJ mixes, which can be streamed on SoundCloud or downloaded via iTunes for free.

Maya Day + Nightclub, 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, 480.625.0528, mayaclubaz.com, 10 p.m., $15.

Riva Starr w/ Matt.Joe DECEMBER 2

Living in London, the Italian DJ and producer Riva Starr will bring his own brand of electronic music to Monarch Theatre early this month.

Riva Starr has released a number of tracks and EPs this year, including “The Wickedest Sound” and “Pull Up,” which were released together this past summer. Now he will release two collaborations with Green Velvet, entitled “Keep Pushin’ (Harder)” and “I Feel Good,” just a day before this performance.

RBDeep at Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.456.1991, monarchtheatre. com, 10 p.m., $20.

While Party Pupils may not be the most prolific electronic music duo (but who is in the age of singles?), the group has released several tracks that have racked up a solid SoundCloud following.

With recent remixes of Manila Killa and Robotaki’s “I Want You,” and T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It,” as well as original tracks like “Patient,” Party Pupils is set to stop by Maya Day + Nightclub mid-December.

Maya Day + Nightclub, 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, 480.625.0528, mayaclubaz.com, 10 p.m., free with RSVP.

a philosophy. That’s what they’ll tell you, with their biography stating, “a philosophy based on attaining subconscious harmony through rhythm, timbre, melody and movement.” Comprised of Christopher Mohn and Reagan Denius, the duo makes what it refers to as “futuristic minimal techno.”

Now, having released Kindisch Stories Presented by Dance Spirit in April, a project featuring original tracks and remixes by the group, Dance Spirit is set to grace the Monarch Theatre stage just days before Christmas.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.456.1991, monarchtheatre. com, 9 p.m., $20-$25.

Anjunadeep North American Tour DECEMBER 16

Anjunadeep returns with its North American tour. 16 Bit Lolitas, Joseph Ashworth and Luttrell headline the tour. Founded in 2005 in part by Above & Beyond, Anjunadeep is a record label that, according to its website, seeks to focus on the “deeper and more progressive” aspects of Above & Beyond’s performances. Now, the label’s continuing Anjunadeep tour series will return to Arizona for this Monarch Theatre show.

Monarch Theatre, 122 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.456.1991, monarchtheatre. com, 9 p.m., $20.

Zoey Dollaz DECEMBER 9

Decadence Arizona 2017

Coming off of his opening slot on the Future/Migos/A$AP Ferg tour that stopped by Ak-Chin Pavilion earlier this year, Zoey Dollaz returns to Arizona for a performance at Glendale’s Salt Tacos y Tequila. The Miami-based hip-hop musician, signed to Epic Records, released his Nobody’s Safe mixtape this past June.

Salt Tacos y Tequila, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Suite E-109, Glendale, 623.772.7282, relentlessbeats.com, 9 p.m., $10-$15.

Kick off the transition into 2018 the right way with this massive electronic lineup at Rawhide. With artists like Borgore, Armin van Buuren, Zeds Dead, Zedd, Steve Aoki, TOKiMONSTA and a DJ set

by Justice scheduled across the weekend, this is arguably the perfect show to end the year.

Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 480.502.5600, relentlessbeats. com, 3 p.m., $109-$699.

DECEMBER 30 AND DECEMBER 31

Dance Spirit w/ Tara Brooks DECEMBER 23

Dance Spirit isn’t just simply about the music. Dance Spirit is

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

MAD MIXOLOGIST

Getting down and dirty with the Valley’s hottest shot slingers David M. Brown » The Entertainer!

Y

ou’ll never find Dre Fountain mum on rum.

As the Rum Princesa for Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar, the Chandler resident is always talking in that spirit for Chef Richard Sandoval’s Pan Latin restaurant at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

Overlooking the TPC Stadium course’s 18th hole in the redesigned TPC golf clubhouse, Toro offers innovative cuisine by Executive Chef Forest Hamrick and Chef de Cuisine Fernando Fernandez. Their suviche bar (sushi and ceviche), wok dishes, small plates and grilled entrées incorporate South American, Japanese, Peruvian and Chinese influences.

A Raleigh, North Carolina, native, Fountain was attracted to the food and beverage industry at 12, began working in it at 16 and started bartending at 19. When her father was transferred to Mesa, the family moved to Chandler where she has lived since.

What is your responsibility as Rum Princesa?

Our spirits bar has sugar cane drinks, cocktails, Latin wines and 151 rums; that’s one of the Valley’s largest selections of rum, which is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from molasses or sugarcane juice. Toro also has rum lockers; with the WWW.ENTERTAINERMAG.COM

purchase of a bottle, clients can have it safe-kept for up to six months.

My job is similar to a sommelier, sharing the fascinating history of rum with our guests.

Every bottle of rum has its own rich, colorful story and background.

There is so much to explore with the many flavors from both the popular and perhaps lesser-known brands of rum.

I share that with our clients and the opportunities Toro offers in rum cocktails or just sipping neat.

The spirits are important, but so is the spirit of engaging others. I get the chance to meet so many people from all over the state, across the country and around the world. It’s terrific, and I hear some of the most amazing stories!”

A little about your background and how you came to the Princess?

During college, I did my research papers on spirits, their history and how they are made. I also considered medicine as a career, so I earned three degrees from ASU: mortuary science, biology and business. On weekends, I worked at a Mesa bar and was a mortician during the week, but I didn’t really enjoy the latter. So, I returned to my passion in spirits and hospitality.

I fell into this position by luck, and it has been the most amazing experience of my life. I knew a little about rum from a few documentaries that I watched and wanted to learn more,

and am learning new facts and stories every day.

What’s the unique experience of rum?

The finest rums offer a tasting experience equal to that of a good whiskey or single malt Scotch. I love learning about these unique flavors and characteristics and introducing them, whether it is a sweet tropical fruit, the vanilla and spices, or a smoky oak with hints of dark chocolate and tobacco. I love being able to pair rum with people and their individual tastes.

Custom drinks and rum flights are Toro specialties. A customer favorite is the Toro, and they’re also liking the Rum Old Fashioned, and I recently created a dessert martini with rum and apple pucker tasting which tastes like apple pie. It is delicious!”

This past summer your vacation was work-related?

I am not formally certified yet, so I went to Barbados and Martinique in the Caribbean to learn from master rum craftsmen.

Here at home, I’m planning more rum-paired dinners and researching rums while sharing my joy with Toro guests.

I am fortunate to work with some of the most hard-working, friendly and passionate people in the industry. The team here at Toro is incredibly knowledgeable, and we are always learning from each other.”

You are caretaking a very special bottle at Toro?

Yes, it’s called Black Tot, one of the world’s rarest rums. The name stems from a 300-year-old British Royal Navy tradition and is from the last consignment of stock from 1970. This bottle is aged more than 50 years, and once it is gone, it is gone.

Drinking it is drinking a part of history.

What drink will you be sharing with us this month?

The Toro.

THE TORO AT TORO 1/2 ounce Plantation overproof rum 3/4 ounce Plantation pineapple rum 3/4 ounce lime juice 3/4 ounce simple syrup 4 pineapple chunks 4 cilantro leaves Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin. Add ice and shake well then double strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge and cilantro leaf.

Toro

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, 480.585.4848, scottsdaleprincess.com.

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

YOU’RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS

Bizarro facts that will stretch your noggin

Flying fruitcake inbound!

Manitou Springs, Colorado, hosts the Great Fruitcake Toss every January when competitors throw the dessert to raise money for charity.

Grab some fruitcake and celebrate on December 27 for National Fruitcake Day! Pineapple fruitcake is out of this world— literally! The Apollo 11 space mission brought the food along with them.

One of the holiday treats in Spain is

FRUITCAKE AND COCA-COLA! That’s quite the combination.

Need to know who your soulmate is? Just slide a fruitcake under your pillow!

Unmarried wedding guests in England would sleep on fruitcakes to dream of the person they would marry.

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Christina Fuoco-Karasinski » The Entertainer!

FRESH FRUITCAKE ANYONE?

SAY NO THANK YOU!

Fruitcake needs to sit for at least a month before it can be eaten, and it will only get better with more time to ripen.

The earliest evidence of fruitcake was a Roman recipe that called for nuts, pomegranate seeds and barley mash.

The Middle Ages added honey, fruits and spices. Hunters packed this food for long journeys.

Expiration date:

2042

Fruitcake can sit for 25 years and still be perfectly edible.

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