Three-Card Monte Beware of jewelry deals that are too good to be true. By Scott Bohall For those who don't know three-card Monte, it’s the game you see on the streets of New York where the object is to watch a dealer arrange three playing cards back and forth until you are confused enough to select the wrong card. The problem is that the queen you are supposed to find is actually not any of the three cards. ...

Practice Time Golf pro Scott Sackett on how to make the most effective use of your time hitting balls. Most of my students don’t live the life of a touring professional. They work full time, have families, and shuttle the kids to and from sports games, leaving them with limited time to practice. I teach on a public range and am privileged to have a large sample size of data surrounding how the general golfi ...

The Mother of Bling  Savvy businesswoman Myranda Molina aims for a sparkling empire. By Nadine Bubeck Photos by Chadwick Fowler Myranda Molina has always dreamt in silver and gold. You’ll rarely find the 36-year-old blond-haired bombshell without her signature string of pearls. She says they are her prized possession––pearls, not diamonds, are this woman’s best friend. When I phoned Myranda to conduct an in ...

Denise Yaghmourian Multimedia artist creates riveting works of art incorporating patterns and texture.   By Nicole Royse Denise Yaghmourian is a talented multimedia artist who creates dazzling mixed media works, riveting art installations, and unforgettable performance art pieces. Her artwork utilizes bold colors and textures that incorporate fiber and found objects. Yaghmourian says she prefers to wor ...

Fresh book selections  By Julie Carlson   THE GOOD NEIGHBOR  By A.J. Banner The Good Neighbor is a page turner. The main character, Sarah Phoenix, is likable but extremely naive. She lives in Washington’s quaint and lush Shadow Cove with her husband, Johnny McDonald, a successful dermatologist. They have a happy and loving marriage, or so Sarah thinks. But when a tragic incident occurs one evening, Sar ...

Community orchestra group ProMusica Arizona makes harmonious music in the North Valley and beyond. By Julie Carlson The melodic tones of a flute mixed with the solemn strings on a violin and powerful percussion, float dreamlike through the air toward your seat. The sounds of an orchestra, along with the harmonious voices of a choir, carry a range of emotions to the listener. One such orchestra and choral gr ...

Ask Dirk An Arizona guy’s perspective Dear Dirk, I am taking a shot in the dark that a misogynist like you would surely have some advice when it comes to family gatherings and grilling in particular. My brother-in-law is a condescending and rude individual. He’s constantly over my shoulder criticizing not just my grilling techniques, but also my clothing, mannerisms, and general air of speaking. He tells me ...

The Perfect Fade  Learn how to hit the shot every Scottsdale golfer wants to consistently hit By Scott Sackett   A perfect fade is a shot every player wants to consistently be able to hit. With the following knowledge and help from Trackman, you will now have an understanding of how to pull it off. First, you’ll need to grasp the importance and relationship of clubface and path. In the image, the numbe ...

Content and Connections Local entrepreneurs connect companies and creators By Michelle Talsma Everson When you’re a freelance writer, it can be hard to find a steady source of work with clients who pay decently and on time. On the flip side, if you’re a business, large or small, in need of content creators for your website, ad campaign, marketing materials, etc., it can be hard to connect with decent writer ...

Subaru XV Crosstrek Safe and reliable, the Subaru XV Crosstrek delivers terrific value for an all-weather-capable little runabout, says auto writer Greg Rubenstein.   No car manufacturer today is experiencing success like Subaru. This relatively small Japanese company is on a run, far outpacing the sales growth of every other automaker on the planet. While this news is no surprise to the loyal buyers o ...

Body After Baby By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty   Sculpting a fit, toned, and healthy body after the birth of a child is definitely achievable. New moms often want results quickly; however, it’s important to be patient with your changing body and realistic about your goals. If you are easing back into a workout routine, allow yourself time to adjust. Doing small bursts of activity daily, even if it ...

Hot or Chilly M.D. Thalmann bemoans the various temperatures and other topics of the season. I’m supposed to write a cheery, upbeat little blurb about civilian life in the suburbs. Meanwhile, other folks are going to outer space, finding water on Mars, developing driver-less cars, and such––you know, important stuff. Me? Well, the best topic I could come up with is Arizona weather. Newsflash––it’s not hot! ...

Holiday Escape Celebrate the season at The Resort at Pelican Hill. By Adam Toren Photos courtesy of The Resort at Pelican Hill   The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif., is the type of luxurious destination that you can visit over and over again without ever having the same experience twice. All of your stays will have one thing in common, though: They’ll all be amazing. The resort, which i ...

Wild at Heart Arizona-based raptor rescue focuses on all species of birds of prey. By Lauren Bukoskey   Getting a call in the middle of the night about an injured hawk that needs immediate attention could be considered a little bizarre. But for Sam and Bob Fox, who run Wild at Heart, an Arizona-based raptor rescue, it comes with the territory. Their organization is ready to rescue and rehabilitate all ...

Mad for Plaid  Party stylista Jamila Watson celebrates the season with a traditional pattern. Photos by Kourtney Marie Photography It’s time to celebrate! The weather is beautiful and it’s the perfect time to rejoice in the season with family and friends. Plaid is so hot right now and is the perfect accessory for the holidays. This season, I decided to go plaid and decorate for Christmas, using different ta ...