JUNE 2016 Events   2–5 Phoenix Comicon, the signature pop culture event in the southwest, focuses on comic books, anime, sci-fi and film, and comic book creators. Enjoy panels, workshops, an art auction, zombie beauty pageant, Japanese fashion show, live music, and more. Television actors will also be in attendance to meet with fans. $15 to $25. Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. phoenixcom ...

The Living Room Wine Cafe & Lounge announces plans for two new locations this year. The locally owned group is set to bring their innovative wine concept to Ahwatukee and to Scottsdale's Gainey Ranch. The Living Room in Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center – next to the AMC 24 - is scheduled to open the end of May. The Living Room in the Shops at Gainey Village will follow and open mid-October. The Living R ...

Scents of the Season Seven fragrances to usher in spring. By Sondra Barr Clean Air, $69 @ sephora.com Prada Candy Florale, $74 @ macys.com Jo Malone Sakura Cherry Blossom, $125 @ nordstrom.com Tom Ford Costa Azzura, $135 @ sephora.com Kenzo Flower in the Air, $52.49 @ perfumania.com Daisy by Marc Jacobs, $78 @ulta.com Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, $78 @ dior.com   ...

Suit Season Retro-inspired swimwear brings sexy back.   Photos: Michael Franco, iammichaelfranco.com Fashion Editor: Shannon Campbell, shannoncampbellstylist.com Hair/Makeup: Pearl Espinoza, pearlsbeauty.net Model: Megan Udero with The Agency Arizona, theagencyaz.com Location: Papago Park ...

California Dreaming  Escape the desert heat and head to Orange County. By Nadine Bubeck It doesn’t take much to persuade an Arizonan to surrender the sweaty summer heat for a refreshing escape, but before you hop a plane somewhere far-far away, consider a getaway to paradise: the OC. We’ve all heard of Orange County—the place even had a TV show dedicated to the area. However, there’s more to the hot spot th ...

Ask Dirk A guy’s perspective on matters of the heart and home.   Dirk, I have been having trouble with a guy I work with. He is always harassing me with terrible puns and repeating the same jokes over and over again, week after week. It’s incessant. It's driving me nuts. He thinks it’s funny but it really just gets on my nerves and disrupts the office. This particular gent walks into the office and tel ...

Lettuce Celebrate Mama G. whips up a tasty stir fry dish. Stir frying is a Chinese cooking technique in which ingredients are quickly fried in very hot oil sealing in the most delicious flavor as well as preserving texture. Home cooks as well as chefs love to stir-fry because it is so simple and completely awe-inspiring. It’s speculated that stir fry began as early as the Han dynasty, while others believe i ...

Certifiably Fit Personal trainer Sherry Rodriguez is devoted to her clients’ health. By Alison Stanton Sherry Rodriguez first became involved with fitness and strength training 31 years ago. Since then, she has run numerous road races, competed in a 2.5-mile rough water swim, and is a national level Physique competitor. She wanted others to share those feelings of success, so she opened a personal training ...

11 Spring Styles  Update your family's wardrobe with these stylish looks.   By Nadine Bubeck Spring: a favorite season for clothing. It’s time to bid farewell to winter blacks and invite color back into your wardrobe. Here are 11 trending brands and items for the whole family.   Isabelle Grace Sugar Pearls This jewelry line has an all-new, spring-infused necklace for those who love elegant pastels ...

P.E.T. Pantry Local organizations rally together to feed dogs and cats in need. By Julie Carlson If you’re a pet lover, you know a pet becomes part of the family. They’re usually our best buds. They provide laughter, joy, tears, and comfort to soothe our pain. They love us unconditionally. But what happens to a pet when someone falls on hard times? It’s difficult enough to put food on the table for an indiv ...

Workout Wear Writer M.D. Thalmann debates the trend of wearing yoga clothes outside the gym. It has been brought to my attention (not that I hadn't noticed anyway) that there are certain little niches of our Valley that have thrown fashion norms to the wind and have adopted an athletic wear (all the time) aesthetic. From restaurants to grocery stores, from malls to concerts, and every place in between, gals ...

A Day in the Life… Mom Kristin Caliendo finds out firsthand what makes up a teacher’s day. With an eye towards Teacher Appreciation Day, Tues., May 3, I recently spent the day with Mrs. Sipp, a fifth-grade teacher at Christ Lutheran School in Phoenix to learn more about what typically occurs. She was kind enough to share with me what her life is like in and out of the classroom. Turns out, there’s more to b ...

OTC vs. Pharmaceutical Grade The lowdown on what to look for when shopping for skincare products. By Jacqueline Starr-Hubert No matter where you are in the aging process, skincare is very important. Having youth on your side can make any product seem effective. After the age of 40, one’s needs change considerably. We stop producing collagen, thus experiencing a loss in volume, and gravity starts its ugly da ...

Marilyn Szabo Photographic artist explores diverse subjects with a trained eye. By Nicole Royse Marilyn Szabo is a talented and seasoned photographer who’s spent 25 years fueled by her love of history and photography traveling the world to capture striking imagery. Her exquisite photography is approachable, yet intimate, and explores a variety of diverse subjects including architecture, landscapes, and peop ...

Bad Lies Golf pro Scott Sackett with suggestions on how to play out of an imperfect lie. When playing golf there are a lot of times when you won’t have a perfect lie. You might be in thick rough, mulch, pine straw, wet dirt, firm bare, or one of 100 different types of lies. This tip will focus on what adjustments to make in your golf swing to ensure solid contact from one of the most unfortunate lies there ...