By Dana Mahon

If the idea of being a world traveler without having to leave home appeals to you, Residential Cruise Line offers the ultimate seafaring lifestyle. Imagine cruising the world in the comfort of your very own luxury condominium!

The new ultimate in fine living is purchasing a condo on the world’s largest private residential cruise ship, the Magellan. The $750 million-dollar ship features 210 private residences, including 16 penthouses, and world-class amenities like a tennis court, a retractable marina, two golf simulators, a putting green, an observatory, four fine-dining restaurants, an all-weather heliport, an Aqua Spa, a casino, a gourmet marketplace, a microbrewery, a 430-seat Broadway-style theatre, two pools and more. Owners can access their new floating home via the ship’s two executive jet helicopters, Venetian tenders, or at ports.

The 860-foot-long ship boasts a multinational crew of 500 to cater to the every need of condominium owners and their guests. Twice-a-day housekeeping services are part of everyday life onboard, with the exception perhaps of a Dramamine left on the pillow as part of turndown service. Owners on the ship’s platinum levels will also have access to concierge services, a personal shopper, personal chef, private day care for children, and even butler services, trident not included, of course. Each of the ship’s restaurants has a distinctive menu prepared by master chefs, and if you want to be your own galley chef, you can buy the same select ingredients used by the ship’s master chefs in the gourmet marketplace and cook up a meal in your own personal residence. Feeling worse than seasick? There’s a physician onboard, and even a vet for your small pet.

Magellan will circumnavigate the globe every two years. Shout “Land ahoy” in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Stockholm, New York, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Acapulco, Vancouver, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bali, Honolulu, Alexandria, and hundreds of other ports.

Randall Jackson, chief executive officer of Residential Cruise Line, Ltd., developed the Magellan concept of richly appointed residences and five-star service.

“I was touring the Strait of Magellan during a holiday cruise with my family when I envisioned the possibility of a home-away-from-home, touring the seven seas in the greatest of luxury,” Jackson says. Jackson’s concept of luxury at sea would have set the captain of the Queen Mary into a fit of envy. The Magellan’s residences all feature fine wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, granite surfaces, marble baths, china and crystal, and spectacular ocean views. Floating a home loan takes on a new meaning aboard the ship: two-bedroom residences start at $3.66 million for full ownership, with fractional ownership of one month per year for fifty years available to part-time seafarers, starting at about $300,000.

If the sea beckons you, answer the call. Life aboard the Magellan amounts to making the world your oyster—in your own snug bed!

For more information about the Magellan visit ResidentialCruiseLine.com.

By Jon Kenton

In January, we hail in the New Year, make our resolutions, and head back to work after the holidays. If you are in the technology industry, January means heading to Las Vegas for CES, the International Consumer Electronics Show. This is where everybody shows off their latest innovations and techno gadgets.

I spent a week there, and here is my rundown of the latest and greatest. If you like to be an early adopter, make sure some of these items are on your buy-me list.

Televisions loomed large in the central hall, and when I say large, I mean large! Panasonic introduced their 150-inch plasma screen. In case you have some spare space in your living room, you’ll need eleven feet to fit this monster in. Now, that really is home theater. Know, however, that bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to the thickness of TVs. Many manufacturers were featuring new OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Technology. Sony demonstrated their XEL-1 11-inch version as well as a prototype of a 20-inch OLED screen. These babies are ultra-thin—about the thickness of three stacked credit cards. Pioneer also had a wow factor with their “Project Kuro” 50-inch plasma, which was all of 9mm thick—that’s just over a third of an inch! Not only that, but they boast an infinite contrast ratio, meaning absolutely black blacks.

If a huge screen and 360-degree soundstages are not enough for your home theater experience, then you should check out the Motion Code system from D-BOX Technologies. By adding motion actuators to your existing furniture and utilizing equipment that can decode an extra motion track on your DVD, you can feel every bump and roll along with your favorite action stars. In a demonstration featuring the latest Die Hard movie, we experienced what D-BOX claim is the ultimate in sensory emersion. All we need now is the heat from all those explosions and the smell and feel of Bruce Willis’s perspiration, and we’ll be in sensory overload.

There were some very stylish new products, and the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin certainly qualifies—it won a CES Innovations award. The Zeppelin is an iPod dock-and-speaker system. It has a total output of 100w with two midrange/tweeters at 25w plus 50w of bass. Netgear was also awarded in the home networking Innovations category for their Powerline HD Plus. This device allows you to create a home network using your existing home electric circuits. You simply plug in an adaptor, connect your device’s network cable, and off you go.

Staying with the home-networking theme, D-Link had a slew of new products on display at CES. As well as additions to their wireless router range, they added four new media players. My favorite was the MediaLounge PC-on-TV (DPG-1200), which allows you to stream Internet media content from your PC to your television. It copies your PC’s desktop onto your TV screen; with a functional trackball remote, you can control your PC from your armchair, even if it’s elsewhere in your house.

To see absolutely everything that’s featured at CES, you need to walk the aisles for the whole week. If you are looking for that very indispensable something, then Interactive Toy Concepts has just the thing for you. Their RC Cooler, one of my favorite items at the show, will find a place in my backyard. Yes, it’s a cooler and it keeps your beer cool. Nothing new there. But this cooler is on wheels and has remote control. With just a flick of a switch, RC will deliver a cold one right to your chair—now, that’s cool!

By Cassaundra Brooks

This year, more than flowers will bloom in the Arizona desert. For the North Valley, April gives birth to a new place to shop, dine, and play as the Shops at Norterra holds its grand opening on April 18–19. It comes as no surprise, considering the rapid growth across the North Valley, and it also comes not a moment too soon as the warm weather and sunshine draw residents out of their homes to have some fun.

At 350,000 square feet, the new open-air lifestyle center has some space to fill, and some big names have jumped at the opportunity to fill it. A fourteen-screen Harkins Theatre, Best Buy, and Dick’s Sporting Goods fill up three large sections of the place, and smaller specialty shops such as Bath & Body Works, Coldwater Creek, Kay Jewelers, New York & Company, Victoria’s Secret, Fans & Fashionistas, Sweet & Sassy, Claire’s, Sunglass Hut, Christopher & Banks, and Urban Sanctuary have all found their own spots. And, perfect for snacking on a spring or summer day, Paradise Bakery, Sauce, Dippin’ Dots, and Paciugo Gelato (mmmmm!) will open their doors and offer delectable delights to the public.

Additional stores, services, and restaurants plan to pop up over the next several months. These include Apricot Lane, Trendy Tag Boutique, Beverages & More, Massage Envy, Men’s Wearhouse, Norterra Nails, Sunglass Station, Ah-So Sushi, Berry Good Yogurt, Chipotle, Chop Chop, Dickey’s BBQ Pit, Johnny Rockets, Mellow Mushroom, and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.

In celebration of this new center, the grand opening will feature a tailgate party, mascot games, a Student Art Show Fund-raiser, live concerts, kids’ activities, and some great giveaways—including an entertainment package from Best Buy and a $500 Shops at Norterra gift card—making the event a fun outing for the entire family.

The event will also showcase winners from the Deer Valley Unified School District Student Art Show and Contest. The six grand prize-winning pieces will be available for purchase in order to benefit the DVUSD’s Visual Arts Program and to begin a partnership between The Shops at Norterra and the DVUSD. “The future is the children,” says Jenny Burbach, CMD, marketing director for The Shops at Norterra, “and as part of the community, we want to help provide a nurturing environment for them.”

Whether you’re on the hunt for the latest in spring fashion trends, a new gadget, or some refreshing gelato to help beat the rising heat, The Shops at Norterra will provide a much-needed shopping and dining oasis for North Phoenix residents, not to mention a much shorter drive for many who brave traffic to get their food and shopping fixes.

For more information on the Shops at Norterra and schedule of events for the grand opening, visit norterrashopping.com.

By Lea Friese-Haben

Hi Lea,

I just moved here from Michigan and am struggling to fit in. I was considered pretty stylish and attractive by Michigan standards but have apparently completely missed the mark by Scottsdale’s. I am an executive and wear tailored suits and updated corporate attire; but the women in my office are baring all, and leaving nothing to imagination. You cannot help but see cleavage spilling over, thongs protruding from low-waist pants and jeans, and more painted faces than the clowns of Ringling Brothers. The sad part is that I am not exaggerating! I am not comfortable around these women and even more uncomfortable with the men who ogle them. How on Earth is a small-town girl ever going to meet anyone here?

P.S. I never even heard of a dating coach until I moved here. Can you please explain to me exactly what you do?

Dear Small-Town,

Welcome to the Valley! Your story unfortunately is not unique. I know countless men who are sick of the plastic Barbie dolls and are actively looking for the classic girl next door. Stay true to yourself and to your values. Men may take these women out, bed them, and buy them drinks, but the men who marry them are certainly not the ones you want to spend your life with. Wear your Chanel suits to the office and a dress that makes you feel like a princess when you go out. Smile and get your flirt on! The men will come.

P.S. A dating coach simply assists clients in dating mechanics, image, and marketing! We are cheerleaders, sounding boards, and dating strategists!

Dear Coach Lea,

I am extremely frustrated with my dating activity. I have been dating for the last three years and have yet to meet a woman who even comes close to my ideal. I have noticed a recent surge in matchmaking television shows. I joined a well-known dating service two years ago and was horribly disappointed despite my costly investment. I have been pretty skeptical about matchmaking services, but with all the hype and current TV shows, I am left wondering if perhaps I am wrong!

Sincerely,

Frustrated Single

Dear Frustrated,

Your question is a valid one, as I have spoken with hundreds of singles and have yet to meet one who has had a positive experience with a dating service. I have researched the subject extensively and was shocked at what I had found. A number of these so-called matchmaking agencies have been sued or are in litigation.

I have found that matchmaking is typically strictly a moneymaking business. Matchmaking shows are meant for entertainment, ratings, and to advertise the matchmaker. A number of international matching businesses have been linked to domestic violence, immigration fraud and, sadly, human trafficking. The bottom line here is “buyer beware.” If you decide to go to a matchmaker, ask for a guarantee in writing, check the Better Business Bureau for complaints, and ask for referrals (then check those references!).

Remember, too, that these companies are in business and prey on people who are lonely. True love does exist, but it isn’t something you can buy. Professionals can help you with mechanics, image, technique, and marketing, but ultimately it is up to you to find your soul mate.

Send questions to Coach Lea at lea@northvalleymagazine.com, and you may get the coaching you need in the next issue.

By Kevin Madness
Photography courtesy of Phoenix Film Festival

The silver screen will shine bright in the Valley as filmmakers, actors, and movie buffs take their seats to watch the best of independent cinema at the Phoenix Film Festival. When the movies end, the credits will roll out the names of the hardworking and largely undiscovered filmmakers and their casts and crew. For a time, Hollywood, California will shrink and the Valley will swell with fresh talent gaining recognition. This is their moment.

But it wasn’t always this gratifying to be a filmmaker in Phoenix. Eight years ago, there wasn’t a decent venue to showcase independent flicks. That’s when local filmmakers like Chris Lamont began organizing the festival, which has since grown tremendously.

“The first year of the festival was three days long, and we prayed for 500 people, and got 3,000,” Lamont says. “Now, eight years later, we run for eight days, and last year had 22,000 attendees. We keep growing because everyone loves the movies.”

Lamont, who is now the festival’s executive director, contends that the festival is about more than watching movies; it’s more of a focus on creating a community of film. Unlike Sundance and other festivals, all of the screenings are held in one location instead of several scattered sites. Outside the elegant Scottsdale 101 Cine Capri, where the festival is located, organizers will erect a massive party tent where industry and audience converge.

“It’s magical,” Lamont says of the tent’s atmosphere. “Everyone is talking about the films, and the filmmakers appreciate meeting all the other filmmakers at the festival. It’s earned us a national reputation for everyone having a great time.”

Reputed nationally or not, the festival’s organizers have not forgotten about their comrades in the Valley, reserving slots in the festival for local filmmakers. One such director, Tempe resident Bruce Dellis, finds local festivals to be a vital part of a filmmaker’s success.

“The Phoenix Film Festival is critical for local filmmakers because it provides an opportunity that might ordinarily be closed to us—namely getting our films up on a big screen in front of a receptive audience,” Dellis says. “It also gives us a chance to meet other filmmakers, which is always encouraging and eye-opening.”

Dellis will be showing his short film, titled Michael’s Hearing Problem, about a man who only hears what he wants to hear—a method Dellis won’t employ when getting criticism from fellow directors at the festival. Everyone there, he says, is more than willing to share their opinions and give immediate feedback that is more “visceral” than You Tube comments. Dellis also says that the number of filmmakers in attendance makes quite a bit of the feedback extremely helpful.

To Dellis and other Arizonans who work in the movie industry, the Phoenix Film Festival signifies the strength of their film community. “For years, the assumption was that local filmmaking folk needed to head to L.A. to find a creative environment for film,” Dellis says. “So it’s gratifying to discover that there is a pool of talented filmmakers, actors, and technical folks right here in Arizona who are capable of creating top-notch independent films.”

This is not to say that a part of Los Angeles won’t be represented in Phoenix. April’s festival will be a first for Los Angeles based director Rodger Grossman, who will be screening his first feature-length film, What We Do Is Secret, which is the story of the infamous rise and fall of Darby Crash, vocalist for the L.A. band The Germs. To Grossman, the festival’s reputation was enticing, and although screening his film in Phoenix could help Grossman land a big distribution deal, he asserts that the festival has a greater importance in evaluating a film’s merit. If the films never are viewed, he says, he won’t have any idea of their effect, and the connection to the audience holds more honor for Grossman than any other prize the festival could award him.

“I didn’t set out to win awards—I set out to make a great film about a piece of history,” he says. “This will be a great opportunity to see if I did.”

The films are judged by members of the Phoenix Film Critics Society, a group comprised of local film critics. To David Ramsey, the society’s president, the festival has a true importance in the Valley, and he looks forward to it.

“It gives the community the opportunity to support the arts,” he says. “It’s [also] an opportunity to see some truly amazing films that are not dumbed down for a wide audience. It reminds everyone that film is art and encourages young filmmakers.”

And that is the main character in this story: the independent filmmaker, whose struggle is to create artful cinema without the A-list actors or massive marketing budgets afforded to Hollywood directors. Who needs those things when you have a festival like this?

The Phoenix Film Festival takes place April 3–10. For passes or other information on the festival, visit phoenixfilmfestival.org.

Photography by Caroline Gutierrez

March 15 >> An Evening to PAWS, Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas, 6333 North Scottsdale Road

The Arizona Animal Welfare League and the SPCA hosted the “Once Upon a Time”-themed fund-raiser, which began with a silent auction and continued with entertainment and an award presentation of the Animal Welfare award to Dr. Visser for his dental work on animals of all sizes. A House of Louis XV diamond necklace was also given away during the course of the evening. All proceeds benefit the AAWL and SPCA. aawl.org

Photos courtesy of SWEAT

January 25 >> SWEAT Client Appreciation Cocktail Party, SWEAT, 42015 N. 41st Dr. Ste D-120

After Josh and Laura Rogers had opened the new SWEAT location in Anthem, they decided to show their clients how much they appreciate their business. Off the Hook and Baci Restaurant catered the event. sweatchallenge.com

Photography courtesy of Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation

February 16 >> Scottsdale Health Foundation Honor Ball, The Phoenician Grand Ballroom, 6000 E. Camelback Rd.

The thirty-second annual Honor Ball was an elegant black-tie engagement that had people dancing to the Leonard Neil Orchestra. Proceeds benefited Scottsdale Healthcare’s Community Health Services, which is funded entirely by The Honor Ball and Scottsdale Health Care. shc.org

Photography by Caroline Gutierrez

February 14 >> Saks Fifth Avenue hosts Annual Phoenix Heart Ball Kick-Off, Saks Fifth Avenue, 2446 E. Camelback Rd.

The “Best of Saks” spring fashion show began the planning of the annual Heart Ball, which takes place in November. The Phoenix Heart Ball is one of Arizona’s largest fund-raising events, and raises funds to support the American Heart Association. phoenixheartball.org

By Kevin Downey

There are dozens of reasons people fall in love with the North Valley, but for many residents and visitors, it’s the pristine stretches of the Sonoran Desert now in full bloom that top the list.

Like other areas around town, many beautiful parts of the Valley, such as the Jewel of the Creek Preserve in Cave Creek, would have been swept away long ago by developers if not for determined residents working hard to preserve the very thing that draws many people here. On a similar note, so to speak, everyone gets a chance to help save these areas during one night when great music and gourmet food come together under the stars.

The Thirteenth Annual Sonoran Symphony takes place on Saturday, April 26. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit charitable organization Desert Foothills Land Trust, which since 1991 has preserved some 530 acres of open land. One of the newest spots for visitors, thanks to the trust, is the Richard E. Rudolph Memorial Garden at the Caroline Bartol Preserve at Saguaro Hill.

Each year, the Sonoran Symphony generates the vast majority of DFLT’s annual fund-raising. This year’s event is called “Lasso a Dream.”

“‘(I’m Gonna) Lasso a Dream’ is a classical Roy Rogers tune,” explains Melanie Williams, event chairperson. “That’s what we’re all about—dreaming about preserving these places.”

The Symphony of the Southwest will perform music from classic western movies with Cody Bryant and the Riders of the Purple Sage, an upbeat Western group that mixes a slew of styles, including Cajun, folk, bluegrass and western swing. Food will be provided by Tonto Bar & Grill, with an open bar available. Dress is casual or Western wear.

“The music over the past few years has become an interesting mix of a western group playing classical western music with a formal orchestra,” says Williams, who expects about 750 people to attend this year’s event. “So it’s kind of a mix between classical music and classical western music.”

In the hero spirit of cowboys (and girls), come help lasso a dream for the Valley. Keep the spirit up.

The 13th Annual Sonoran Symphony takes place on Saturday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Rancho Manana Golf Resort in Cave Creek. Tickets are $250 per person. Tables for 10 people and sponsorships are available for $3,000 to $15,000.