Stretching Theses simple movements offer a host of health benefits. By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty Photos by Stephanie Heymann Stretching, although often overlooked in one’s fitness routine, is an important part of staying in shape. Stretching offers a wealth of health benefits including reducing risk of injury, better posture, and improved performance in a variety of sports. Stretching increases your ...

Tuft & Needle  Two local entrepreneurs reimagine the mattress business to great success. By Matt Gottesman   It’s 3 p.m. and I’m sitting at a café in Scottsdale speaking to two commercial real estate executives tasked with supplying the city’s “who’s who” with the ultimate tech space. As we talk, one of the execs asks me, “Have you heard of Tuft & Needle?” Intrigued by the name alone, I said, “ ...

Band Notes Schizophrenia overcomes the North Valley’s Boulder Creek High School band. By Eric Olson   It’s that time of the year again. The sun has finally ceased (some) of its incessant torture; stepping outside in the evening, you can almost feel the sensation of a cool breeze. If you listen closely, off in the distance, carried by the wind, you’ll likely hear the thump, thump of the bass drum, the r ...

Stage Center  From New York to Phoenix, comic Chris Distefano brings the laughs. By Carson Mlnarik   Chris Distefano isn’t here to make you think. He isn’t here to fight, nor does he want to drone on about politics in front of you. Simple enough, Distefano goes onstage every night to make people laugh. Audiences are sure to crack up when he takes the stage at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy in Phoenix f ...

CONCERTS/   Oct. 22 Keith Urban  Talking Stick Resort Arena Four-time Grammy Award winner and American Idol judge Keith Urban will bring his ripcord World Tour 2016 to Talking Stick Resort Arena with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris. This tour takes place on the heels of his soon to be released eighth studio album release of the same name, which has already produced two singles––his Grammy ...

  North Valley events in October   6–18 Opening this fall at The Shops at Norterra, CycleBar is an innovative blend of high-intensity cycling and a lively, concert-like atmosphere. In honor of its grand opening, CycleBar Norterra will hold a 10-day CycleBlast celebration, where guests can try out one of 50 heart-pounding CycleBar workouts completely free from October 6 through 16. Space is limited ...

Back to Whole  If you’re facing breast cancer, there are treatment options available for you to live your best life during and after treatment. By Dr. Jennifer Geoghegan Warrior. Survivor. Mom. Sister. Whatever label you choose, if you’ve survived breast cancer, you’ve triumphed over one of the scariest experiences in life. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while many people are aware of breast ...

Teresa Strasser  The local actress, writer, mother, and all-around personality scores a fresh title. By Nadine Bubeck In Yiddish, the word mensch means "a person of integrity and honor; a likeable and friendly person.” It’s a word not tossed around lightly, but it’s the first that comes to mind when describing Teresa Strasser. It’s not so often that you come across a TV person that’s pretty much the same on ...

Supermoon Seasonal skies offer up the closest supermoon since 1948. Welcome to the cooler days and nights of Arizona. Get set for the many wonders of our fall night skies. October begins with a great view of Venus in the western sky. The second planet from the sun, after nearly a year of seeing Venus in the morning sky, it’s now a major player in our evening sky. An amazing event takes place on the night of ...

Desert Sea Life?  Writer M.D. Thalmann jumps into the controversy surrounding two new aquariums set to open in the Valley. “Dear lort, we just cain't learn! What a buncha idjits” That's my mom. She's eloquent. What she was responding to was the gossip about a new Arizona aquarium that plans on importing sea life to our pleasant desert burg, where 115-degree temperatures are the norm for at least three month ...

CopaBall 2016 Annual event benefits a wide array of public health programs in Metro Phoenix. By Peter Madrid Diversity is the key word when it comes to describing the annual CopaBall, the primary fundraising event for the Maricopa Health Foundation. While the Valley is rich in charitable and philanthropic events, the CopaBall, established in 2003, benefits a wide array of public health programs in Metro Pho ...

Western Heritage The rich history of the American West is on display at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. By Julie Carlson Perfectly situated amid the adobe style boutiques and galleries of Old Town Scottsdale is Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. The 43,000-square foot, two-story building opened its doors in January 2015 and has retained its goal of preserving the history of th ...

Reliable Shot The stinger fade with a driver is a versatile shot to add to your game. By Scott Sackett Having a reliable go-to shot off the tee is always a weapon worth equipping your game with. The stinger is a shot that not only can be extremely reliable but also versatile enough to be used in many scenarios you might run into during your round. Contrary to what popular belief might say, hitting the ball ...

Sensational Sonoma  Beyond basic tasting and touring, Sonoma County offers the ultimate Wine Country destination. By Alison Bailin Batz Though Napa often gets the acclaim, the true birthplace of California wine is actually its gorgeous neighbor, Sonoma, where the first winemaking grapes were planted by Russian colonists in 1812, and then developed and truly farmed by the Franciscan mission fathers in the 18 ...

On The Go  Resident’s active lifestyle continues at Maravilla Scottsdale. By Constance Sablan   After 30 years of working for the government overseas, Ann Bamberger settled in the Valley where she has enjoyed a year-round, active lifestyle. In 2009 she began an extensive search of senior living options that would allow her to continue the fulfilling lifestyle she loved. After three years and visiting 1 ...