By C.A. Haire Audi offered to send us an A3 sport sedan to try for a week, so why say no? The base price is reasonable, with a tab of $35,000. But loaded up with all the optional goodies, it soars to a hefty $45,000. Either way, there is a drive control button that allows for comfort, dynamic, auto or individual modes of operation. The A3 has other controls that are a bit unusual. First is the transmission ...

By Summer Aguirre Veronique Munro aims to end dog homelessness one spray tan at a time. Munro — the founder and CEO of the sunless tanning company Infinity Sun — combined her business and passion for dogs and created her charity organization, Sprays for Strays. Having recently relocated to Scottsdale from Los Angeles, the nonprofit fundraises through the sunless tanning industry to benefit dog rescue progra ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, hosts its annual flagship auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale each January, serving as the gateway to the Valley's event season. This year — like years past — Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Craig Jackson expects another incredible event with an enviable No Reserve collector car docket and a host of activities fo ...

By Summer Aguirre With the holiday season comes many festive, colorful lights, and the Valley isn’t lacking any shine this year. From Waddell to Gilbert, families all over Maricopa County can enjoy millions of lights glimmering on displays of snowmen, candy canes, reindeer and Christmas trees. Be sure to put on warm scarves and gloves for these wintery adventures. Arizona Lights in the Night To kick off the ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Jennifer Paige Boonlorn and her family were traveling home from Tucson when her mother turned around and said, “Where do you want to go?” She didn’t finish her question because, moments later, her father’s tire blew and the SUV rolled, killing her parents. The crash near Chandler was May 21, 2000, right before Boonlorn’s senior year at ASU. “At the time, I thought law school wo ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Nearly 150 women gathered at a private home in Paradise Valley on October 26 for the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix’s (CJP) Power of the Purse, an initiative of the organization’s Women IN Philanthropy. Chaired by Leah Bold Mondlick, this was the committee’s first in-person event post-pandemic and was a chance to highlight the CJP’s mission to energize and su ...

By Kamala Kirk Prior to moving to Arizona, Jennifer Keely would fly in from Chicago every year to attend the Waste Management Phoenix Open for her birthday. While staying at a hotel in 2020, a commercial came on that caught her attention — and ultimately changed her life. “At the time I was living in Chicago, and we would come out to Arizona to get some sunshine,” Keely says. “I was watching this ad featuri ...

By C.A. Haire With a starting price of $43,000, the C-300 sedan allows consumers to enter the world of Mercedes ownership without breaking the bank. Naturally, there are always options to bump the tab. Our vehicle added illuminated door panels, SiriusXM radio, upgraded cabin lights, navigation, phone charger, upgraded stereo and wide-view camera unit. This brought the total to an even $49,000. For this mone ...

By Marshall Trimble From 1821 until the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the Mexican government sold and awarded granted land under Mexico’s 1824 Law of Colonization. It called for a three-year abandonment clause and the new owners were expected to mark the boundaries with monuments. The abandonment clause meant if the grantee abandoned the land for three years, he could lose it. Dona Eulalia Elias de Gonzales and ...

By Laura Latzko With the weather getting cooler, it is a perfect time to start getting out to enjoy outdoor festivities and make special memories with friends and family members. Here are some fall festivals, Halloween events and haunted houses happening in the area. Howl-o-ween Fall Festival Exceptional Pets Cave Creek, a veterinary, day camp, boarding and dog training facility, is partnering with the 98KU ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Carlotta Montanari was a successful actress and TV host in the United States and Italy when, in 2019, she had an epiphany during a commercial shoot. She wanted to work with horses. That year, in Los Angeles, she founded Four Legs on Set, a company that rents high-quality steeds for film productions, private photo shoots, portfolio building, print ads, commercials, music videos ...

By Sue Kern-Fleischer Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, is returning to the North Valley Fridays November 18 and November 26, Saturdays November 19 and November 26, and Sundays November 20 and November 27. Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s free, self-guided tour features 174 artists at 47 private studios throughout the scenic Desert Fo ...

By Doyoon Kim The Arizona Law Enforcement K9 Association will continue its work educating the public with the Desert Dog Police K9 Trials and Public Safety Expo. It is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 23, at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. Visitors will witness K9s and their handlers running through on-field obstacles that rep ...

By Allison Brown Nestled under the majestic ponderosa pines surrounded by Flagstaff’s natural beauty sits Little America Flagstaff — a welcome sight for weary Route 66 travelers, a home away from home for returning families or a romantic getaway for couples. No matter the reason for the stay, the Little America Flagstaff hotel can provide the rest, relaxation, hospitality and luxury guests are looking for. ...

By Scianna Garcia Home to the most renowned tourist attractions and the biggest major league sports teams, is Downtown Los Angeles. DTLA has diverse neighborhoods, each with its own personality and community, featuring a number of local businesses and attractions. From its historic theaters on Broadway to the famed murals, there are an endless number of attractions and places to discover when visiting DTLA. ...