By Jordan Houston Christina McDonald says her mother was the first American to marry into her father’s Sicilian family. The Cave Creek resident jokingly recalls her father’s family, the Cefalus, asking her mother to sign off on two terms before wedding — to practice Catholicism and to master Italian cooking.  “She had to agree to sign a contract to raise us as Catholics and also to learn how to cook Italian ...

By Judge Gerald A. Williams Every January, the Education Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court sponsors a new judge orientation. Each year, I teach a contract law session. I call one of my examples “Everyone’s Antiques Roadshow Fantasy.” The case is now over 20 years old, but it remains good law. It happened at an estate sale in Tucson. The co-personal representatives of an estate (sometimes called ...

By Jordan Houston Barrett-Jackson in the last five decades has made a name for itself as a barometer of the car collector industry, attracting enthusiasts from across the globe to its World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions and automotive lifestyle events. Dubbed America’s No. 1 Attraction for Car Lovers in the 2019 USA Today Readers’ Choice Contest, the Scottsdale Airpark-based auction company is revving u ...

By David M. Brown Give the heralded Silverleaf lifestyle to your family with this 10,660-square-foot North Scottsdale estate, featuring meticulous architecture by Dale Gardon Design and construction by Salcito Custom Homes. “The attention to details in this home is all by design, not by luck,” says Frank Aazami, RLSIR Brand Ambassador, principal of the Private Client Group, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International ...

By Allison Brown With 6 million Christmas lights, hot cocoa, ice skating rinks, a real-life Polar Express and a sneak peek of Santa in his workshop, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has truly turned the resort into a winter wonderland. All 65 acres of the Princess are decked out, and it feels like the property popped right out of a Hallmark movie. This year’s theme is “believe in the magic,” and it’s imposs ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Old Town Scottsdale’s Puzzle Rides is putting a holiday spin on its mobile escape room-style scavenger hunt in “Scottsdazzle.” Teamwork, combined with elements of the route, is used to solve a series of puzzles via golf cart before time runs out. From ages 5 to 85, there is something for everyone. “Whether you’re new to Puzzle Rides or have tried us before, our holiday excursio ...

By Bridgette M. Redman After decades of teaching and conducting sacred chorale music, Scott Youngs is eager to be part of the Arizona Masterworks Chorale. There, he can explore the options available for a large community chorale. Youngs has taken the helm of the 42-year-old Arizona Masterworks Chorale as artistic director. This comes on the heels of a long career with All-Saint’s Episcopal Cathedral in Phoe ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Kathy Colace Laurinaitis, with one side of her face drooping, struggles to relax and let her bright, natural smile shine through during a photo shoot in her luxurious condo. Interviews and photo shoots are important to Laurinaitis, as, for the last year, she had surgery for a blueberry-sized benign tumor on her brainstem and now deals with its aftereffects. She documented part ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Nic Roldan has played polo around the world, but every year he’s drawn to the energy of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Talking Stick Resort. “I’ve played all over the world,” says Roldan, who is also a model. “You get to see some of the most incredible places, meet some incredible people and see some of the most beautiful fields and backdrops — Scottsda ...

By Alex Gallagher Chef Scott Conant has been delighting diners with his award-winning cuisine for 35 years and has captivated audiences with his tenure as a judge on the Food Network shows “Chopped” and “Chopped Sweets.”  More recently, he has inspired readers with his latest cookbook, “Peace, Love and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef’s Home Kitchen.” As the fourth cookbook to be penned by Cona ...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Arizona Musicfest unveiled its starry lineup of exceptional artists to celebrate the return of live indoor concerts in North Scottsdale. Following the challenges and disappointments of last season, Musicfest has regrouped and renewed its commitment to bringing the joy of music. In its largest season, Musicfest will produce 30 concerts between November and April. “As our communi ...

By North Valley Symphony Orchestra North Valley Symphony Orchestra will present its 10th anniversary season, bringing an affordable concert experience to the North Valley after a season of virtual, smaller performances. The 2021-22 season includes four musical performances throughout the year, beginning with “Re-Opening Overtures,” 7 p.m. Saturday, October 16, at North Canyon High School Auditorium, 1700 E. ...

By Bridgette M. Redman The dream of two Valley jazz supporters will open its doors this October. Bob and Gretchen Ravenscroft have built the new 30,000-square-foot performing arts venue bearing their name at 8445 E. Hartford Drive in the Scottsdale Perimeter Complex. The first resident company to perform there will be Lakeshore Music, which is moving from the Tempe Center for the Arts. The opening show, the ...

By North Valley Magazine Staff Maestro Hector Olivera will perform during the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church’s second dedication concert for the state-of-the-art Rodgers Infinity 361 digital and pipe combination organ. Part of the Arts at the Rocks series, the concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 7, is expected to be filled to capacity, creating an experience of a lifetime for those who can attend the free ...

By Laura Latzko Tucson gallery owner and painter Diana Madaras has had a 45-year love affair with the city’s landscape and wildlife. Each fall, she takes that relationship and parlays it into her annual show. This year, she dubbed it “Love Affair,” and it runs from Saturday, October 23, to Sunday, November 7, at her gallery. For “Love Affair,” Madaras painted desert landscapes and floral scenes as well as p ...