A New Chapter  Desert Foothills Library continues to expand in the North Valley with innovative programing and building upgrades. By Michelle Talsma Everson David Court, executive director of Desert Foothills Library—alongside the library’s staff, board and volunteers—have some impressive visions and goals for the library. “Desert Foothills Library is a public library so we have all of the assets that you w ...

Well Set  Elegant Hanukkah tablescapes that glimmer and gleam. By Joyce Laszloffy Photos by Stephanie Heymann Photography If you’re like me, you’re tired of seeing the same old Hanukkah decorations year after year on the end caps in the big box stores. Since décor options are so limited, I decided to think outside the box for inspiration, even stealing a thing or two from the Christmas aisles. This gave me ...

Top Strength  Build a toned and defined upper body with these exercises. By Kim Miller, Shannon Dougherty, and Scott Keppel Photos taken at Scott’s Training Systems (STS), scottkeppel.com Photos by Brock Elliot, brockelliott.com Everyone enjoys having a strong, fit upper body and this can be achieved by incorporating a variety of weight lifting exercises into your fitness routine. Lifting weights builds str ...

Floral Fascination Scottsdale’s Gallery Andrea showcases the work of mother-daughter duo. Owned and operated by international artist Andrea de Kerpely-Zak and her daughter Andrea Zakrzewski, Gallery Andrea has been a staple of the local art scene in Old Town Scottsdale since 2004. Andrea de Kerpely-Zak has been creating and exhibiting her mesmerizing artworks for over 35 years and her pieces are internation ...

Livin’ the Lake Life  Ranked sixth in the world, wakesurfing pro Connor Burns shares his passion for the sport. By Michelle Talsma Everson Photos by Chadwick Fowler Like many teens, Connor Burns, 16, a junior at Northwest Christian School, balances school and sports. What’s unique about Burns though is the sport he dedicates most of his free time to—wakesurfing. It isn’t just something Burns does for fun, h ...

Compassionate Legal Guidance  Suzuki Law Offices, L.L.C. celebrates 10 years of service. By Michelle Talsma Everson Richard J. Suzuki, the founding attorney at Suzuki Law Offices, L.L.C., considers the point that his firm is celebrating its 10th anniversary this October a blessing and landmark achievement. Approachable, talkative, and down to earth, the fact that clients usually feel instantly at home with ...

Farm Fresh  The MIM’s Café Allegro hits high notes with local ingredients. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Chris Lenza is a firm believer in “shop local.” As the executive chef of the Musical Instrument Museum’s Café Allegro, Lenza and his staff serve creative dishes they’ve made from farm-fresh, Arizona ingredients. “I start with what’s in season,” Lenza says. “That’s our priority: what are we getting that’s ...

Genesis G90  [caption id="attachment_2911" align="alignright" width="300"] 2017 Genesis G90[/caption] The flagship Genesis comfortably wears its crown, says auto writer Greg Rubenstein. A premium auto manufacturer’s flagship vehicle must set the company’s tone and serve up its corporate promise, be that technological innovation, performance, style, comfort, prestige, or any combination thereof. The challeng ...

Cookie Craving   Mama G’s Pumpkin and Orange cookies are the perfect way to welcome fall. Pumpkin and Orange Cookies Yield: 20 cookies Prep Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 10 min   1/2       cup honey 1          cup packed canned real pumpkin 1          tsp. pure vanilla 2/3       cup brown sugar 1 1/2    sticks cold butter, cubed small 1 1/2    tsp. cinnamon 2          large room temperature eggs 2         ...

12-Minute Cardio Blast  Try these explosive moves to jumpstart your fitness. By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty Photos by Stephanie Heymann Moves like jumping and lunging help improve your cardiovascular abilities and build strong muscles. They can be done inside or outside and require no gym equipment. You can even get children involved and do these moves as a family. Try the following four exercises. Rep ...

Get ready for the holidays––and beyond––with these rejuvenation trends. By Dr. Jennifer Geoghegan   The holiday season is almost upon us, which means everyone’s asking, “What’s new in beauty treatments?” and “How can I get my body ready for 2018?” Here’s a rundown of the latest beauty technology and hottest trends that we’re seeing at Oasis Plastic Surgery. Breast augmentation and liposuction top the m ...

What’s Your Number? Local releases book that shares the stories behind retired Arizona high school jersey numbers. By Alison Bailin Batz Do you know anyone who’s had their high school number retired? Does your high school have retired numbers? Do you ever wonder why? If so, What’s Your Number? has all the answers. The book, the second from Arizona native and 30-year high school football and baseball officia ...

Pomp & Party The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower returns to the Valley for double the action. By Sondra Barr Expect even more horsepower and entertainment at the seventh annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses & Horsepower. Complete with riveting polo action, pageantry, and high revelry, the yearly Valley event has turned the rarefied “sport of kings” into ...

Electric Mix  DJ Jen Jones expands her reach. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Jen Jones visualized living outside of Australia as a child Down Under. She wasn’t quite sure where or what she would do, but she just felt she didn’t belong. Now living in North Phoenix, Jones has worked her way up to one of the top open-format DJs. Her occupation makes sense. Her father is in a band with his 10 brothers and sister ...

From Humble Beginnings Desert Foothills Theater promotes innovation, integrity, and diversity By Laura Stoddard At the intersection of Cave Creek and Scottsdale roads 43 years ago, there was one thing: dirt. Cave Creek was just a small, close-knit community, slowly unfurling its petals at the far-north reaches of Scottsdale. Who knew that decades later it would be home to Desert Foothills Theater (DFT), one ...