Exploring two destinations in the Caribbean Story and photos by Eric Twohey The Caribbean paradise island destinations of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have much to offer. Those who choose to come relax, explore and embrace the wealth of natural wonders, exclusive cultures and luxurious accommodations are rewarded with lifelong memories. Negril, Jamaica If you’re into warm, tropical water with stunning ...

Carolyn Jackson leads Barrett-Jackson’s Driven Hearts campaign By Niki D’Andrea Philanthropy is as deeply ingrained in the annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions as a passion for one-of-a-kind wheels. Since the world-renowned car show began, co-founder Russ Jackson, his wife Nellie, and sons Craig and Brian focused on giving back to their communities and raising awareness and funds for a variety of c ...

Illumination: Symphony of Light returns bigger and brighter By Lauren Wise To date, 96 Guinness World Records have been set in Arizona. They include some odd but awesome accolades: largest cornhole shot (110 feet, set in Cottonwood in 2015); fastest speed barefoot water skiing (135.74 mph, set in Chandler in 1989); most Caesar salads made in one hour (108, set at Yuma Territorial Prison in 2010); and longes ...

Black Bottom Lighters pair with Pepper for new single By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski When Black Bottom Lighters singer Ryan Stilwell arrived at a studio collective in Redondo Beach, California, to work on the band’s latest single, he was nearly in tears. He sat in the same chair as late Sublime singer Bradley Nowell, members of Guns ‘N Roses and “any punk band you can imagine.” “Literally, you could feel the ...

76th Street performs at Phoenix Festival of the arts, plans EP By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Haley Gold and Spencer Bryant of pop band 76th Street have kept their shows intimate and personable since they began singing together in a Scottsdale elementary school. That all changed this year. Their personalities are shining through even more, and the venues are growing. Earlier this year, the duo released its s ...

Musical Theatre of Anthem carries tunes through June By Kenneth LaFave For most of the year, Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) is exactly what its name indicates: a company devoted to producing shows such as Cats and Les Misérables. The MTA opened its 2018-2019 season in July with Footloose, and will close it in June 2019 with Freckleface Strawberry. But for a sliver of days between November 29 and December 2 ...

Beth Hyatt unveils new work at Arizona Fine Art EXPO   By Sue Kern-Fleischer   In some ways, Beth Hyatt has come full circle. She loved to draw as a child and even moved to Chicago to pursue an art career at the Art Institute of Chicago, but she was swept into the world of fashion, where she worked as a model. Several years later, she and a friend started Model Image Center, Inc. to help new models lea ...

Anthem original retires from football announcing By Garrison Murphy For Anthem original resident Eric Kilstrom, community involvement is a way of life.  One of his favorite methods of involvement has been announcing football games at Boulder Creek High School. He has been doing this for 12 years, and this is his final season.  “I love it, I love the kids,” Kilstrom says. “But my son is a senior and he’s don ...

Anthem residents “plarn” mats for homeless veterans By Eric Newman   A group of residents at The Enclave at Anthem senior living community has made it a mission to support homeless veterans. The Arizona Department of Economic Security’s 2017 “Homelessness in Arizona Annual Report” identified 204 veterans as “unsheltered.” To help mitigate the problem, a group of residents meets weekly to make homemade ...

Copper Blues brings elements of community to Desert Ridge venue   By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski   Joel Bachkoff knew he had a jewel in Copper Blues and Stand Up Live when he opened the venues in CityScape nearly eight years ago. Hoping for the same success, he is unveiling Copper Blues Live in Phoenix’s Desert Ridge Marketplace in early December. “I’m really excited to be up north,” Bachkoff says. ...

Outlets at Anthem erects Arizona’s tallest Christmas tree   By Garrison Murphy   The Outlets at Anthem has set up Arizona’s largest Christmas tree for the 17th year in a row. The tree is a white fir and stands 80 feet tall, 22 feet wide and weighs close to four tons completely decorated.   “For many Arizona residents, the Outlets at Anthem tree arrival is truly the start of the holiday season ...

Ancient spice has modern benefits By Angela Shelf Medearis   Turmeric has spiced up the news over the past few years. It’s a unique ingredient with an ancient history. Turmeric is thought to have originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It’s also a common ingredient in Chinese medicine and the centerpiece of Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicine. The spice is present in nearly every Indian curry dis ...

In part 3 of “Fundamentals for a Better Game,” golf pro Scott Sackett explains how to strike the ball for the best spin This is the continuation of my series titled “Fundamentals for a Better Game.”  The aim of this is to provide ball flight and impact fundamentals any player can use to become better, regardless of skill level. In part 1 of this series, we discussed “Maximizing Distance.” Part 2 was “Smash ...

Flower Child opens fourth Arizona location at Desert Ridge By Madison Rutherford   Flower Child proves it’s the little things in life that mean anything. For the fast-casual health food chain, it’s things like serving seasonal lemonade out of mason jars and ensuring each table is adorned with fresh flowers or succulents. The restaurant is the newest addition to a fast-growing family of approachable, ch ...

The North Valley’s newest sushi spot challenges the status quo By Madison Rutherford   If you’re operating on the assumption that all sushi spots are the same, Echo Sushi will seriously challenge your belief system when it comes to rice and raw fish. It is surprisingly rare to find an establishment that seems to focus just as much on the feeling of the space as much as its food, but Echo has struck a b ...