Brand Halo  The 2018 Lexus LC500h is a sumptuous sports car made to be driven, says auto writer Greg Rubenstein. What is beauty, and at what price? Loaded questions to be sure, but by one finite measure, Lexus has provided the answer: $106,605 for its new LC luxury coupe. In the LC, Lexus has created the most stunning—and affordable—piece of mass-produced automotive art to grace the road since the 2005 Jagu ...

Make it to Mendocino  Northern California’s crown jewel has a lot to offer. By Alison Bailin Batz Just two hours north of San Francisco, Mendocino County needs to be on your bucket list. The county’s 90 miles not only includes some of the most gorgeous coastline in the world, but more than 90 wineries and 24 state/national parklands. It’s the perfect marriage of wine, waves, and wilderness. Stay The Madrone ...

Uncovering History  The Desert Foothills Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society delves into Arizona’s past. By Julie Carlson Do you have an interest in learning more about archaeology? Would you like to improve your knowledge and skills in the field? The Arizona Archaeological Society was founded in 1964 as an independent, non-profit, state-wide volunteer organization to serve as a bond between profe ...

Haunting Return  David Ira Goldstein brings The Diary of Anne Frank to town.  By David M. Brown David Ira Goldstein always wanted to stage The Diary of Anne Frank. After wrapping a 26-year run as artistic director at the Arizona Theatre Company in June 2017, he opened a production of the show at the Geva Theater Center in Rochester, New York. Now he’s returning to the ATC as artistic director emeritus with ...

Book Your Flight  PNPK’s innovative concept is taking the North Valley to new heights. By Alison Bailin Batz Photos by Connor Sutcliff Ladies and gentlemen, your taste buds have been cleared for takeoff––thanks to PNPK. Named in homage to nearby Pinnacle Peak Mountain, PNPK is one of the newest hot spots in North Scottsdale. The 2,600-square-foot venue, which is located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale ...

The Battle of Picacho Pass  Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble on the westernmost battle of the Civil War. By Marshall Trimble For a brief time in early 1862, cavalry troops from the Texas Confederate Army occupied Arizona. This was part of a grand Confederate plan to occupy New Mexico and open a path to California. The so-called westernmost battle of the Civil War was fought here on April 15, 1862, w ...

No Reservations Required  How to create a five-star Mother’s Day brunch. By Joyce Laszloffy Photos by Stephanie Heymann Photography Did you know Sunday, May 13, is be the busiest day of the year for restaurants? Mother’s Day brunch is a popular tradition for families to gather and celebrate. Gratitude and love for moms will be poured out in mimosas and hot syrup over gourmet waffles. If you want to do somet ...

A Day at the Races  Arizona’s biggest Kentucky Derby Party offers live action and betting at Turf Paradise. By Julia De Simone Whether you’re wearing a one-of-a-kind hat, sipping away at mint juleps, or just taking in the scenery, Arizona’s biggest Kentucky Derby party is where the action is on Cinco de Mayo. The Stella Artois Derby DayClub at Turf Paradise is the only local event offering live action and b ...

Cultivating Art  Nicole Royse aims to showcase Valley artists in a fresh light. By Emma Suttell Nicole Royse has spent her career moving between art shows and galleries and writing about emerging artists for North Valley Magazine. Now the owner of her own gallery, Royse Contemporary, she’s extending her art network to showcase Valley artists in a new light. Raised in Orange County, California, by her grandp ...

D-backs utility player Chris Owings brings talent and humor to the ball field. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Photos Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks utility player Chris Owings had a powerful start to the 2017 season. With the game versus the San Francisco Giants tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth on Opening Day, Owings slugged a single to bring in Daniel Descalso and win the game. ...

Red Dragon Wings  Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these savory wings are delicious. By Leann Jordan   Red Dragon Wings       Yield: 10 wings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes   10        chicken wings, trimmed 4          Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1          tsp. kosher salt 1          tsp. cracked black pepper 3          Tbsp. gochujang paste 2          Tbsp. soy sauce ...

Fresh Reads    AN EXTRAORDINARY UNION By Alyssa Cole An Extraordinary Union is a vivid romance novel. Set during the early years of the Civil War, Elle is a free black woman living in the north. She is a Union spy for the Loyal League and has a photographic memory. McCall, a white man, is also a Union spy and a stealthy Pinkerton detective. Both end up working against and with each other––Elle posing a ...

A Chance of Meatballs  The forecast for the Maggiore Group’s new Sicilian Butcher looks bright. By Niki D’Andrea Photos by Debby Wolvos “This is sooo good! It’s sooo good!” The woman at the table across from us is talking to her male dining companion, pointing emphatically with her fork at the dish in front of her. I don’t know what she’s eating, but that doesn’t matter, because we are at The Sicilian Butch ...

Truck Solid  The Honda Ridgeline goes mainstream. By Greg Rubenstein Americans love buying pickup trucks—so much so that the top-three best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for 2017 were trucks (ditto for 2016). U.S. buyers have long loved trucks, too, with Ford’s F150 topping the best-selling charts for the last three-and-a-half decades. So Honda, a manufacturer that consistently scores top-10 annual sales for ...

Forging Ahead  Amy Pieh carries on a family tradition with Pieh Tool Company. By Becky Antioco Photos by Shannon Fisher Amy Pieh is living proof that there’s no such thing as an overnight success, even when you have a 40-year history in your favor. Her business, Pieh Tool Company, is an overnight success 15 years in the making, the result of circumstance, know-how, and hard work. Her two locations sell blac ...