By Madison Rutherford   Looking for a workout that will make you feel like Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby? We beat you to the punch. Trade the treadmill for some sparring gloves and check out these four North Valley gyms that offer boxing classes designed to sculpt muscles, test endurance, bolster self-esteem and teach self-defense.   The Pound Gym This high-intensity fitness facility feature ...

Arizona Musicfest season stages four months of performances for a good cause. By Kenneth LaFave   It was once known as “the little festival that could.” Now it’s the cultural flashpoint of the North Valley. What else would you call a performance series that has gone from 7,000 attendees in 2013 to more than 21,000 last year? Or one that grew from a few winter performances into a fall-to-spring season o ...

Ashley Busch hops on the horse again for polo championships By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Photography by Cailtyn Keesler   As one of the world’s top female polo players, Ashley Busch has toured the world, played with Prince Harry and graced the cover of a slew of magazines. But the wife of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch especially loves Scottsdale and the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, set for Saturd ...

A big deal small town Story and photos by Niki D’Andrea   Known as “The Heart of the Verde Valley,” Cottonwood packs a lot of culture into a so-called small town (pop. 12,000). Art galleries, antique shops, book stores, wine tasting rooms and restaurants line Main Street (aka the commercial historic district), and parks populate the surrounding Verde Valley, from state parks to out-of-this-world animal ...

Find paradise in the Pacific Northwest By Alison Bailin Batz   Earlier this year, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) made international news by launching Bliss, the largest ship ever to cruise through Alaska. Embarking and disembarking from Seattle — with a bevy of options to enjoy beforehand in the Emerald City and/or right after sailing — the NCL Bliss visits three must-see Alaskan cities as well as British ...

Cave Creek’s public libraries offer an oasis of events year-round By Lauren Wise   As fortresses of history, knowledge and escapes to worlds beyond imagination, libraries have been sanctuaries for both the written word and people for hundreds of years. A library is the heart of a community, often run by volunteers, frequented by people looking to enrich their lives. Or maybe they’re just looking for so ...

Ray Villafane’s pumpkin art is the centerpiece of Halloween By Lynette Carrington   Fall is the ideal time to get acquainted with Ray Villafane, a talented artist who has literally carved a niche of his own. It’s safe to say Villafane owns Halloween. The world-renowned talent will take center stage once again in the Enchanted Pumpkin Garden in Carefree from Friday, Oct. 19, to Sunday, Oct. 28. Hailing ...

Hidden in the Hills studio tour gives guests an in-depth look at local creatives By Sue Kern-Fleischer   Like a geode, the artistic gems of the North Valley are hidden inside. You have to crack the surface to see all the treasures. Luckily, art collectors and those seeking original holiday gifts can get inside the proverbial geode during the 22nd Annual Hidden in the Hills artist studio tour and sale, ...

Pitcher Danny Farquhar to discuss harrowing brain aneurysm   By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski   A year ago, Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar didn’t have to worry about his three children climbing on him, or mishaps on the diamond. But on April 20, in a game against the Houston Astros, his life changed. Farquhar, 31, suffered a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. Farquhar collapsed ...

By Eric Newman   The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce held a Legislative Town Hall on Aug. 14, featuring the Arizona State legislative candidates in District 1. Incumbent Karen Fann (R), along with Jo Craycraft (D), Noel Campbell (R), Jodi Rooney (R), Jan Manolis (D) and Dr. Ed Gogek (D) took questions from Anthem-area citizens and press concerning their viewpoints on noteworthy political issues in Ariz ...

Bigfish Creative Group coins new ‘Five Cs of AZ’ By Alison Bailin Batz   Bigfish Creative Group coins new ‘Five Cs of AZ’ Exactly 100 years ago — in 1918 — there were 1.75 million cattle in Arizona. “There were nearly two million cows and only about 300,000 people,” says Joe Pizzimenti, owner of Bigfish Creative Group in the North Valley. “Similarly, thanks to irrigation that started here in the late 1 ...

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 ...

Flo's Fetes 20 years of chinese food with new recipes By Catherine Hathaway   When a restaurant has been around for 20 years, you know there has to be a good story behind it. Flo's  is no exception. A Hong Kong native, Florence "Flo" Chan has been in the restaurant business since college. "I've always worked in a restaurant," Chan says. "I loved the restaurant business. Especially after I met Dustin an ...

Look to the sky to see some memorable sights in August and September By Steve Kates   With summer well underway, breaks in the annual monsoon will reveal a host of amazing sky events. Get set for the annual Perseid meteor shower, which may be the best meteor shower of the entire year. This year promises to offer up a near moonless sky for this big event. Meteors from this shower start to appear in the ...

In part two of fundamentals far a better game, golf pro Scott Sackett explains why inconsistent contact across the club face translates into lost yards. By Scott Sackett In part two of this 10-part series on fundamentals for a better game, I discuss smash factor. It's important for golfers to understand what smash factor is, how it contributes to distance, and what you can focus on to increase yours. First, ...