By Cassaundra Brooks

Let’s tackle that unruly or bland backyard and transform it into a lively, user-friendly place for you and your family—or the next family who’ll reward your efforts by meeting or exceeding your asking price! Creating a luxury yard that maximizes space and functionality and maintains balance doesn’t always require a huge budget—just knowledge of the needs and general interests of families. You’d be surprised at the versatility your yard possesses. With a little planning and work, it could be that extra room for your house that you’ve always wanted!

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Before shot

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A spa is a luxurious, space-efficient way to relax with family or friends year-round. The six-seater Gulf Coast Spa LX 8000 (approximately $10,200) fits well into the average-sized backyard. The Better Homes and Gardens Westhaven canopy ($148 at WalMart) provides the much-needed shade and protection from the hot Arizona sun.

The bistro table with chairs benefits from the canopy’s shade ($100), and are well-positioned for viewing children playing in the pool or chatting with your spa-loving companions. A synthetic lawn is a great way to get the look of grass and conserve water during the blistering heat of the Arizona summer ($8 per square foot at Echelon).

This custom-made pool by DreamScapes Custom Pools and Spas fits this smaller yard like a glove and is suitable for a relaxing dip, a splashfest with your kids, swimming laps, or entertaining a small group of friends. Its streamlined rectangular shape maximizes available space. It’s gas-heated, uses an in-floor cleaning system and saltwater chlorination, and sports a pebble-sheen interior and hand-painted tiles from Italy. This size pool starts in the high $20,000s; the tiles cost anywhere from $16 to $20 apiece. A basketball sleeve and volleyball sleeves make even better use of the space and make for fun athletic activities regardless of season.

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These wok-pot fountains are aesthetically pleasing and ecologically conservative as they circulate the water already in use. The columns are made with real stacked stone. The fountain and columns run about $1,100 each. They are available through DreamScapes. River rocks add the final touch.

Rather than spending a fortune and a headache on planting full-grown trees to create a natural privacy screen from the two-storey neighbors, invest in the baby version, like these Italian Cypress trees from Home Depot.

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A combo of faux Saltillo tile and acrylic lace was custom created by DreamScapes to match the existing patio. These river rocks, available at Home Depot, are relatively inexpensive and not only provide an aesthetic finishing touch but solve the problem of cracks between the newly laid and existing patios.

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A Baja step is ideal for small children and for enjoying the refreshing water without submerging oneself under water. The umbrellas, available at JC Penny, are a solid investment at $170 each, providing shade and protecting your skin from the sun.

A convenient way to find fitting furniture is to check out amazon.com, which is where these Strathwood chaise lounges ($189.99 each) and Strathwood Talbot hardwood double sun lounger ($540) were located. The eggshell Strathwood Talbot double sun lounger cushion is $280; the single chaise lounge cushions by Delahey are from WalMart ($49.99 each). Striped chaise lounge towel covers are $25 apiece, protecting the cushions from fading and providing useful pockets for storing sunscreen and poolside snacks. Fun, striped cushions from Kohl’s complete the look and the comfort.

What backyard would be complete without a barbecue? This three-burner gas grill by Uniflame is a complete yet compact necessity for entertaining friends and family with a proper backyard barbecue feast. $399 at WalMart

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This fun, attractive putting green, ideal for all members of the family, utilizes the “dead” space at the side of the house. A custom putting green from Echelon runs $11 per square foot.

Echelon Synthetic Lawns and Putting Greens: (602) 615-0328 or echelongreens.com

DreamScapes Custom Pools and Spas: (623) 587-7665 or dreamscapecustompools.com

Home Depot: homedepot.com

WalMart: walmart.com

Kohls: kohls.com

Gulf Coast Spas: gulfcoastspas.com

JC Penny: jcpenny.com

By Cassaundra Brooks
Photography by Mark Susan

Mesa’s Enmar Hardwood Flooring offers a design must-have for every Arizona home: reclaimed floors. The company culls the aged timbers from buildings left behind by the country’s pioneers. Prices vary. (480) 497-1633 or enmarflooring.com

Go for some rustic “green” with this “Dixie” demi wall table, made from reclaimed teak from northern Thailand, with a top formed from a solid wheel and legs made from an old wagon wheel hub. $369 at Valerie’s Furniture & Accents. (480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

This Bradington & Young chair is named “The Cameron,” and would be a comfortable, stylish addition to any Western home. The pillow, decorated with bone, beads, and fringe, is the perfect accent. $2,519 and $259, respectively, at Valerie’s Furniture & Accents. (480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

Cows beware: This tri-color Buckley sofa sports classic cowhide, along with a barn-wood finish, nailhead trim, and top-grain leather. Pillows are included in its $4,199 price tag. The horn-legged cowhide stool is sold separately for a bargain-price of $199. At Valerie’s Furniture & Accents. (480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

Store your wine in this classy Western wine bar with cowhide accents, a solid walnut slab top, and hickory legs. $2,759 at Valerie’s Furniture & Accents. (480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

Fittingly named “The Barb,” this lamp of hand-forged iron was created by a Tucson artist and is accompanied by a metal shade with mica reproduction inserts and a turquoise finial. $399 and $299, respectively, at Valerie’s Furniture & Accents. (480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

Slip into some lizard with these unique Dan Post “Gunshot” boots, made from lizard skin and denim. $295 at Saba’s. (480) 595-0959 or sabas.com

Whether riding, walking, or dancing, these Ariat “Gem Baby” boots, sporting beautiful brown and blue leather, complete your ensemble nicely. $119 at Saba’s. (480) 595-0959 or sabas.com

Fringe fanatics can show off in this Cripple Creek leather jacket with metal buttons and beautiful embroidery. $220 at Saba’s. (480) 595-0959 or sabas.com

By Alana Stroud

Take this quiz to see where your loyalties lie!

1) On a scale of one (not very) to ten (extremely), how green is your home?
A One. I’m only one person. How much difference could I make?
B Four. I recycle.
C Seven. I make my own clothes and reuse water. However, there’s always room for improvement!
D Ten. I compost all food waste, cook with natural gas, and use junk mail for the fireplace.

2) How do you feel about plastic bags?
A I love them! Use ’em all the time.
B I’ve really tried to cut back since I found out how bad they were for the environment.
C I use only canvas bags at the grocery store.
D I’ve blacklisted all my friends that continue to use plastic bags.

3) If you have a dog, how conscious are you of its waste when walking it?
A Dog poo is biodegradable, right?
B I try to remember to bring along pick-up baggies.
C I always pick up my dog’s waste.
D I clean up all waste, and read others their rights when they don’t pick up after their dogs!

4) What kind of car do you drive?
A A gas-guzzling muscle car or SUV.
B A newer compact or subcompact, like a Toyota Corolla or MINI Cooper.
C A hybrid or Smart Car.
D I don’t own a car. I walk, ride my bike, and use public transportation.

5) What best describes your bathroom habits?
A Water is there for me to use and enjoy.
B I take short showers and turn the water off when I brush my teeth.
C I use a washcloth and buy only organic body care products.
D I use my bathwater for the plants and have a low-flow toilet and showerhead.

6) What kind of electricity do you burn?
A I like to leave lights on around the house for a warm feeling.
B I try to turn off lights when I leave a room.
C I have contacted my local power company and switched to a plan that best accommodates my energy usage.
D I unplug all things not in use, have timers on my lights, line-dry all clothes, and use solar energy when possible.

7) When it comes to cleaning agents, what do you lean toward?
A I have a maid come in and do it for me.
B I use stuff from the supermarket.
C I buy eco-friendly products.
D I clean with baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar.

How do you spend your free time?
A I add to my collection of magazines, books, DVDs, and CDs, and watch a ton of TV.
B I rent movies, borrow books from the library, and download music.
C I participate in outdoor activities.
D I head up the local environmentalist group and picket outside of power plants.

9) How do you show your “green” at work?
A With my favorite pistachio green shirt.
B I carpool.
C I recycle all my paper and bring my own coffee mug and lunch.
D I organized recycling bins in the break rooms, double-side my copies, and police my coworkers’ printing habits.

10) Are you bringing up “green” kids?
A They get the latest and greatest of everything, no matter the cost (including to the environment).
B I teach them to recycle.
C I shop in secondhand stores for clothing and toys.
D They have earth-friendly toys, I buy all recycled school supplies, and they ride their bikes to school.

Answer Key
Mostly As: Being green doesn’t seem to mean a whole lot to you, but at least you’re honest! Perhaps you could start recycling, or even try to buy items in bulk. Every little bit helps!
Mostly Bs: You certainly get an E for effort! You try, and that’s more than some people can say. You might consider trying to be more energy efficient or purchase more environmentally friendly products.
Mostly Cs: Wow! You certainly have the Earth’s welfare at heart. Hopefully your enthusiasm for the environment will rub off on those around you.
Mostly Ds: You live and die by being eco-friendly. While your efforts are empowering, you might try to take it easy on those around you who don’t quite feel as strongly as you do. Keep up the good work!

By Cassaundra Brooks and Alana Stroud

Note: Miles based on Deer Valley Airport as a central location.

Arizona is a great state for enjoying pleasant fall excursions. In our search for autumn outings, we turned to the four elements: water, air, earth, and fire. If the price of another precious natural resource is making trips a little harder on you and your gas-guzzler, you needn’t drive far for some quality entertainment and relaxation. But if you don’t mind the drive and the few extra bucks, try out one of the more distant destinations for a nice extended weekend.

WATER

Lake Pleasant
peoriaaz.gov/lakepF.htm
Phone: (602) 372-7460
Approximately 24 miles
Fees: One day: $6 per car; $2 per watercraft. Developed campgrounds are $20 per night.
If you’re looking for fun, beautiful Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers recreational activities such as mountain biking, camping, and hiking, as well as developed sites for RV and tent camping. Visitors can enjoy waterskiing, Jet-Skiing, boat rentals, sailing, or fishing! While there, venture over to the educational visitors’ center that overlooks the New Waddell Dam.

Blue Ridge Reservoir
fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/mog_rim/blue-ridge-boat.shtml
Phone: (928) 477-2255
Approximately 128 miles
Fees: $8 per night/campsite
For a tranquil, scenic weekend away, this narrow reservoir winds gracefully between steep, forested canyon walls and is ideal for kayaking or canoeing. Try your hand at fishing for rainbow, brown, or brook trout—all are stocked by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The picturesque backdrop also provides ample opportunity for sightseeing, wildlife watching, hiking, and mountain biking.

Note to the physically impaired: The shoreline is very steep with large boulders. Plan to enjoy the reservoir on the water.

AIR

Turf Soaring School
turfsoaring.com/default.htm
Phone: (602) 439-3621
Approximately 16.5 miles
Fees: Scenic rides $109–$169; Sailplane rental $39–$59/hr.
Take your mundane day to new heights at Turf Soaring School. Your pilot will not only demonstrate basic flying techniques and draw your attention to points of interest, but will also hand the controls over to you so you can “taste the very personal freedom of flight,” as the Web site poetically states. When you’ve returned to solid ground, your flight will be entered into an official pilot’s logbook that you may take home as a souvenir.

Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
Phone: (888) 708-4706
Approximately 205 miles
Fees: $215.50 per adult and child for 50 minutes
Board a helicopter at the South Rim heliport and settle in for a narrated tour in the skies. Fly over the North Rim and Eastern Gorge and soar past the Dragon Corridor and Dragon’s Head. Check out the Kaibab Forest and the Kaibab Plateau as well as Zuni Corridor, where the Little Colorado River meets the Colorado River, Point Imperial, and Temple Butte.

EARTH

Arrowhead Desert Tours: Gold Panning
azdeserttours.com/gold.htm
Phone: (602) 942-3361
Approximately 23 miles
Fees: $89/adult, $69/child
Gold never goes out of style! Try to strike it rich as experienced prospectors teach you how to prospect for gold on Paydirt’s mile-long gold claim. You will be provided with equipment, and your guide will show you both where to look and how to sluice the pan for gold and garnets. Enjoy the four-wheel drive through wonderful desert areas in Arizona’s backcountry along the way.

Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
oldpueblo.org
Phone: (520) 798-1201
Approximately 124 miles
Fees: Field trip prices vary
Return visitors are not uncommon at Old Pueblo’s Archaeology Center. The guided tours of ongoing excavations of ancient cultural features bring out the curiosity of children and adults alike to see the progress being made and the new archaeological discoveries that continually surface. Tours typically last one to two hours.

FIRE

Hot Air Expeditions
hotairexpeditions.com/index.html
Phone: (480) 502-6999
Approximately 0 miles
Fees: $175 per person; $195 per person with hotel pickup; $8 fuel surcharge per person
The romantic individual and the adventure seeker will both appreciate the exhilaration and serenity of ballooning. At speeds of five or six miles per hour, you can hardly detect any motion as you fly with the wind. To commemorate your experience, you will be inducted into the ballooning society and awarded the Certificate d’Ascension en Machine Aerostatique.

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
hallofflame.org
Phone: (602) 275-3473
Approximately 27 miles
Fees: Adults, $6; senior citizens 62 and up, $5; students 6 to 17, $4; children 3 to 5, $1.50; members and children under 3, free
Honor the history of firefighting at the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes. Over 90 restored pieces of fire apparatus dating from 1725 to 1969 and brought in from across America, as well as England, France, Austria, Germany, and Japan, are on display.

By Alana Stroud

Local cowgirl Karin Johnson experienced a vision after finishing a trail ride near Tonto Hills in June of 2008. Having been on a journey of self-discovery for the past year, she had been searching high and low for a way to make a living doing what she loved. In San Diego, at an advanced training exercise with Jack Canfield, she realized that her passion was animals. It was a start, but she still had no idea how to turn this passion into a living.

Johnson’s search eventually led to her developing Cowgirl Designs, an artistic adventure in expressing her love of animals with the rest of the world. Initially, her idea was to design custom greeting cards. When a member of the Cave Creek/Carefree Chamber of Commerce suggested she broaden her artistic offerings, she readily agreed. Her now full-time specialty is personalizing photographs of people and their animals. Johnson’s creative photography focuses on the theme of the Western lifestyle, including but not limited to cowboys, cowgirls, horses, ranch work, and the Sonoran Desert. Johnson’s only goal is to be an inspiration and share her passion with everyone in the hope that they too will discover theirs and live their dreams as she is living hers.

Not wishing to keep her success all to herself, Johnson donates 10 percent of the proceeds from all Cowgirl Designs sales to Dreamchaser PMU Rescue and Rehabilitation, a horse rescue and adoption facility at Dunrovin Ranch in New River, Arizona. Dreamchaser PMU gives horses that would otherwise be doomed to certain death another chance at life by placing them in forever homes through adoption. The organization purchases the horses and provides all housing and feeding supplies. Together, Cowgirl Designs and Dreamchaser are in the saddle changing the world, one horse at a time.

For more information and ways you can help, visit dreamchaserpmu.org. For more information on Cowgirl Designs and to view artwork, visit cowgirldesigns.com.

By Cassaundra Brooks

Men’s Club is a high-end, full-service barbershop whose old-time tonsorial charm and masculine environment invites men to enjoy a myriad of services offered while they sit in comfortable leather chairs. Individual televisions, dark cherry wood, and sports memorabilia—some signed photos from actual Men’s Club clients—help create a full, relaxing experience.

Owner Sayat Stepanyan, along with his wife Gayane and his brother Armen, opened the shop four years ago and has focused on quality of service and professionalism from Day One. Perhaps this explains the number of sports stars who frequent Men’s Club, including Tom Chambers of the Phoenix Suns, former Coyotes goalie Sean Burke, former football player Dick Butkus, and golfer Fred Couples.

The world-famous product line they use and sell exclusively also gives them an edge over the competition. Truefitt & Hill produces some of best professional products for men and has enjoyed widespread popularity in both America and Europe for years. Men’s Club clients benefit from their pre-shave oils, shaving creams, aftershave balms, colognes, brushes, and hair and bath products. These items are all made with natural ingredients that do not contain any alcohol, menthol, benzocaine or dyes, all of which are agents that can irritate and numb the skin. King George III of England, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, and John Wayne are among the political figures, singers, and actors who have been known to use Truefitt & Hill products.

The upscale barbershop’s long list of services gives men good reason to get that desperately needed haircut or a nice clean shave. While you’re getting that shampoo and haircut, razor cut, color, or perhaps that overdue shave, try the hot towel treatment, a facial, a manicure or pedicure, a wax, or a shoeshine. And if you complete your visit with a relaxing stress massage, you’ll likely think that you need a haircut a little more frequently from now on.

Visit mensclubbarberspa.com for more information on Men’s Club Barber & Spa or call (480) 538-0999 to set up an appointment. 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054

By Amy Vynalek
Photography by Jamie Peachey

Gary and Susan Atkins
Gary and Susan met more than seventeen years ago and have been married for eleven years. Ohio-born Gary has close to thirty years of worldwide experience in the financial service and asset management in the electronics industry. Susan moved from the Midwest to Phoenix at the age of ten. She worked in the semiconductor industry in The Netherlands and worldwide for most of her career, but now her most important jobs are wife and stay-at-home mother—they have two boys, who keep the family on the go. The Atkins’s community service work includes volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Sun Angel Foundation, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Our Lady of Joy Church, Pope John XXIII School Development Board, the American Cancer Society, and the Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation.

Scott and Jackie Baumgarten
Jackie and Scott Baumgarten met at a bar in Tempe, quickly discovered that they both worked at the same company, and spent the next year in a forbidden office romance! They married in 2007. Scott grew up in California and now works in the commercial real estate industry as an office broker with Grubb & Ellis BRE, where he is a senior associate. Jackie is a Valley native and works in commercial real estate at CB Richard Ellis. When the Baumgartens aren’t busy with their community service work—which includes volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House, St. Vincent DePaul, Brokers for Kids, St. Luke Board of Visitor and the Thomas J Pappas School—they enjoy entertaining, traveling, attending concerts around the Valley, and spending time with their dog, Ivy.

Bryan and Meghan Gottfredson
Bryan and Meghan Gottfredson met in college at the University of Arizona and married in 2002. Bryan was born in New York but was raised in Tucson, where he became a true Wildcat when he attended law school at U of A. He is now an attorney at Galbut & Galbut, and currently serves in the Phoenix Men’s Arts Counsel, is on the University of Arizona Law College Class Alumni Committee, is a volunteer lawyer for the Democratic Clean Elections Program, and is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Board of Directors. Meghan was born and raised in California before attending U of A for her undergrad degree, and she returned to California for her master’s degree. She currently is a second-grade teacher. Meghan’s most recent community service activities include Junior League of Phoenix, Tucson Children’s Museum Board of Directors, and Habitat for Humanity. Together, Bryan and Meghan enjoy golfing, entertaining, watching Pac 10 sports, and visiting friends and family. They now call Phoenix home.

Patrick and Carrie Klein
Patrick and Carrie Klein met at the University of Arizona and are huge Wildcat fans. They have been married for ten years. Patrick, who is originally from San Diego, is now an attorney at Fennemore Craig and previously worked for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His community service work includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and volunteer work with Brophy College Prep. Carrie is currently a yoga instructor at Desert Song Yoga and Massage Center, where she also serves as marketing director. Community highlights include serving on the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Art Museum’s Women’s Metropolitan Arts Council, and volunteering with the North Central Parenting Group and the Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center. The Kleins are the proud parents of a 2-year-old son, Kellen, and enjoy spending time with family and friends and exploring all Arizona has to offer.

Nicole Gonzalez-Valentino and Ryan Patterson
Ryan Patterson and Nicole Gonzales-Valentino were engaged this last April and are busy planning their June 2009 wedding in Puerto Rico. Nicole was born in California and spent her youth living in Puerto Rico, Honduras, and other countries. She graduated from the University of Arizona Law School and is public affairs manager for the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Her community service work includes volunteer work with YMCA and the Red Cross, fund-raising for the U of A College of Law, the Hispanic National Bar Association mentoring program, and others. Ryan is a Valley native who also attended law school at the U of A. He now is an attorney with Quarles & Brady. Ryan’s community service highlights include fund-raising for the U of A College of Law, being a homeroom parent at an underprivileged elementary school, and volunteer work with the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA. Ryan and Nicole are excited about starting their lives together and planting their roots in Phoenix.

John Shaff and Charlotte Risch
John Shaff and Charlotte Risch met at an Arizona Cardinals football game and are currently planning their wedding in January of 2009. John is an Arizona native and a physician’s assistant at Arizona Hand and Wrist Specialists. John is a member of the Team in Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, and has volunteered time at Big Brothers Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity. Charlotte hails from the Midwest. Following a career in TV and advertising, she started her own PR business, The Media Push, three years ago. Charlotte has been a Fiesta Bowl Media Relations Committee member since 1999, is a mentor for the Pat Tillman Scholar program, and provides numerous hours donating her talent in public relations to local charities. When they aren’t planning their wedding or working, they enjoy watching local sports, going out to eat, watching movies, and throwing pool parties at their Phoenix home.

Curt and Leslie Smith
Curt and Leslie are both Valley natives and were high school sweethearts at Brophy Prep and Xavier. Curt is a CPA, has his MBA, and has worked in commercial banking for more than thirteen years. He is senior vice president and Southwest Credit Executive at MidFirst Bank. Curt volunteers on the executive council for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and as the board liaison to the Board of Directors. Leslie practiced law at Snell and Wilmer for ten years and is now working in government for Federal Judge James A. Teilborg. Leslie participates in the Volunteer Lawyers Program and contributes pro bono services to several charitable organizations. She is a member of the Junior League and spent two years on the Women Living Free Committee. They are proud parents of 4-year-old Carter and 1-year-old Madeleine. The family enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Cory and Christine Whalin
Cory Whalin and Christine Corey Whalin met on April Fools Day, and some say fate brought them together, given the name they have in common. They were married in 2006 and reside in Phoenix. Cory is from Texas. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves and served in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. After service, he followed his passion and opened Scottsdale’s First Winery, Su Vino Winery. His community service work includes helping the Epilepsy Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more. Christine is proud to call herself an Arizona native. She attended Northern Arizona University and is currently an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Christine supports the Ronald McDonald House and served as a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

–GROUP PHOTO–
Top Row (left to right): John Shaff, Ryan Patterson, Curtiss Smith, Leslie
Smith, Bryan Gottfredson, Carrie Klein, Patrick Klein, Cory Whalin, Scott
Baumgarten
Seated (left to right): Charlotte Risch, Nicole Gonzalez-Valentino, Meghan
Gottfredson, Christine Whalin, Jackie Baumgarten
Not Pictured: Gary and Susan Atkins

By Greg Rubenstein

Your next luxury car could—and very well should—be a diesel. Far-fetched, you say? Not in the least! With the reintroduction of diesel engines by pioneering diesel manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, these new oil-burning luxury vehicles are exceptionally quiet, powerful, and economical.

What’s made this all possible is the government’s new ultralow sulfur diesel regulations. Begun in 2006, this fuel is now standard at pumps across the country.

Prior to the 2009 model year, engines that could use the new diesel and meet super-stringent U.S. emission regulations were essentially nonexistent. There still aren’t many, but Mercedes-Benz is leading the way with its introduction of BlueTEC SUVs, including the five-passenger 2009 ML320.

Compared to its V6 and V8 gasoline-powered siblings, the turbocharged and intercooled 3.0-liter V6 diesel powering this luxury SUV produces far more useable power while achieving at least 20 percent better fuel mileage per the EPA’s estimates. In our experience, we observed even better results, averaging 23 mpg in city driving with a very heavy right foot.

In almost a week of motoring between work, during hitting the mall and running various other errands, we burned barely more than a quarter-tank. It would have been nearly time to fill-up had we been in the gas-powered V8 ML550.

Even if better fuel economy isn’t always paramount to luxury buyers, what makes this ML320 so appealing is the overall package of tremendous utility it offers. With a stout towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, gracefully styled exterior design, refined and spacious interior with all the expected appointment, plus a cruising range of up to 600 miles between fill-ups, there are no drawbacks to this marriage of luxury and diesel.

Mercedes-Benz has gone the extra mile to eliminate intrusion of the “diesel clatter,” which is completely absent from inside in the ML320. There is no wait time to start up, nor is there any telltale blue smoke puffing out the tailpipe. In fact, Mercedes claims that this engine’s exhaust is so clean that you can hold a white handkerchief over the exhaust tip and it will remain white.

Equipped with a standard seven-speed automatic transmission and all the expected safety features Mercedes-Benz is renowned for, the ML320 starts at $48,125, about $2,000 more than the gasoline V6 model, but $7,000 less than the V8 model it most closely matches in power. Expect popular options like navigation and entertainment packages to add around $10,000 to the base price.

For the 2009 model, the ML receives revamped exterior styling with a larger front grille and modified headlights, larger side mirrors and stainless-steel skid plates. Inside, updated sportier seats are new, along with four-stage power lumbar for the driver and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle-shifters.

Our test model came equipped with the impressive Airmatic air suspension, an optional system that uses air bladders instead of coil springs. Combined with gas struts, this suspension provides a variety of sport and comfort modes as well as manual or automatically adjustable ride height, all at the touch of a button.

In sport mode, the ride is crisp and quite trucklike, while the comfort setting soaks up almost every bump for a very gentle, more relaxed drive. Off-road, the Airmatic can raise the ride by more than three inches, offering almost 10.5-inches of ground clearance.

When we last test-drove the ML320, we thought the 2007 model’s interior was a bit less than what it should have been. For 2009, that shortcoming has been eliminated, and now this model is easily the best value in luxury SUVs.

With diesel fuel available at almost every gas station out there, you can now go green with luxury. Try it—you’ll love it!

San Francisco’s Orchard Garden Hotel Paves the Way for Eco-Friendly, Luxurious Holidays

By Alison Malone
Photography courtesy of Orchard Garden Hotel

A green holiday doesn’t have to mean holing up in a log cabin with no running water and living on foraged berries. Au contraire, some of the hippest cities on the planet are making big strides in the green revolution. Launched just one year ago, San Francisco’s boutique-style Orchard Garden Hotel is both eco-friendly and luxurious, to a T.

The property—steps from Union Square, the financial district, the famed cable cars and Chinatown—is only the fourth hotel in the world to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, which aims to construct green, high-performance, and energy-efficient buildings. Eco-friendly details at the hotel begin at the base with the use of sustainable wood and concrete made with recycled coal. The 100 percent tobacco-free hotel uses organic cleaning products, recycled paper, energy-efficient lighting, soy-based inks, and carpets and fabrics made with recycled materials. Faucets and toilets are also low-flow, minimizing water waste.

The Architecture International-designed guest rooms and suites boast a nature-inspired aesthetic of wood tones and fresh, calming colors, and are outfitted with recycling bins and organic Aveda products, along with luxuries such as spa-style cotton robes, LCD flat-panel HD TVs, iPod docks, and inviting private terraces. Guest room key cards use an energy control system—the first of its kind in San Francisco. As far as taste goes, the on-site Roots Restaurant uses organic, seasonal, and local foods, along with naturally raised meats, and sustainable seafood, whenever possible.

The crown jewel of this eco-chic hotel? The English country-style rooftop garden, which just begs you to take in stunning city views while sampling organic wine from nearby Sonoma Valley.

Sustainable? Check. Luxurious? Most definitely.

By Ben Miles

Written over a three-year period (between 1988 and 1991), Rob Becker’s Defending the Caveman wormed its way across the nation and in March of 1995 made it to the Big Apple. On July 17, 1996, after 399 performances on The Great White Way, Caveman surpassed Lilly Tomlin’s Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe to become the longest-running solo show in Broadway history. In honor of this dramatic benchmark, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani designated July 18, 1996 as Caveman Day in New York City.

Though Becker is the performer most associated with this well-studied monologue—Becker explored the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, sociology, and mythology in preparing this performance piece—the show has played in 30 countries and has been translated into 15 languages, requiring actors of various nationalities and linguistic orientations to take on the role of The Caveman. Nevertheless, cavemen will be cavemen, regardless of culture, creed, tongue, time, or place—and that’s the point of Becker’s conceit.

Defending the Caveman has now found a hospitable permanent home at Las Vegas’s Golden Nugget hotel. With former circus clown and stand-up comedian Kevin Burke as our stout Caveman host, we plunge into the gene pool to have a swimmingly pleasant encounter with gender distinctions.

Burke, making Becker’s words his own, illustrates that from time immemorial, women have been the gatherers and men have been the hunters. Applying those ancient impulses to today’s society, Burke the Caveman informs us that for women, shopping is the new gathering. Men, however, sublimate their hunting instinct into various activities, including aiming the remote control device like a dart gun at the television to hunt down programming. Men and women are each, according to Caveman Burke, specifically modeled for their respective hunting and gathering tasks. Caveman’s contention is supported with videotaped evidence of incidents and episodes that contrasts Burke’s real-life wife’s behavior with his own manly man displays. Clearly, his lady is all about sharing and nesting. He, by juxtaposition, is single-minded and, frankly, base in behavior. One screened image has our Caveman on the commode, reading the newspaper with the bathroom door open. Of course, Caveman isn’t shy in alerting us to the fact that physically, the female’s body encompasses and contains, while physiologically, the male replicates and is anatomically analogous to the hunter’s spear. The form is suited to the function, advises our primordial chronicler.

With regard to communication, Caveman humorously asserts that gender divisions remain utterly distinct to the present day. While the feminine among us are more focused on cooperation, the roughly half of us who are of the masculine persuasion are more concerned with negotiating our place in the world. Caveman observes that at a meeting of females, if the potato chip plate and dipping bowl are at low ebb, the gals work together to replenish the drinks and treat trays. In contrast, the males will do some verbal fencing to justify why they’re not obligated to refill the bowl. One might comment, for instance, “I brought the chips,” while another would claim credit for bringing the beer. After a brief go-around, the hierarchy becomes apparent, and the man at the bottom of the prestige pole is the one assigned the resnacking tasks. Another intriguing communication factoid offered by Caveman for our consideration is that on average, women use 7,000 words in a day and men utter only 2,000. Yet 90 percent of what’s said isn’t verbal. Rather, it’s the language of the body—eye contact, touch, facial expression, and gestures.

Defending the Caveman is a fabulous foray into the battle of the sexes. Its humorous take on the male/female divide serves as a bridge of understanding and appreciation. Maybe that’s why thousands of psychologists, therapists, and counselors have endorsed the show.

Defending The Caveman plays nightly at 8 p.m., with matinees at 3 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays. The Golden Nugget is located at 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV, 89101. For reservations, dial (866) 946-5336. To book online, visit onlineseats.com/defending-the-caveman-tickets/index.asp.