Lifestyle

What could be better than strolling through Tempe Beach Park in the perfect Arizona winter sun and tasting your favorite (and plenty of new) craft beers? Not much, according to the 7,000 to 10,000 beer connoisseurs who travel from all ends of the Valley and beyond each year to attend the Great Arizona Beer Festival. This year is no exception.   The 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival will be held on March 5th from 2:00 to 6:00PM. It will feature a staggering, thirst-quenching, two hundred craft, specialty, and micro-brewed beers available for sampling. The Festival holds the distinction of being the longest-running beer festival in Arizona, and now includes a nationally-sanctioned beer competition. This year’s event promises to be better than ever with three pre-festival events that are open to the public, including two rounds of beer judging in the annual “Best of the West” craft beer competition, which takes place on February 18th and 25th, in which attendees may observe... More

Discovering Ayurveda with Ayurvedic Experts Avani Sukhadia, Alisa Gray, Dr Meghana Thanki, Anita Rangaswami & Sarah McLean   At the Tohono Center at El Pedregal at the Boulders Resort in North Scottsdale.   Ayurveda translates as "the science of life and longevity" and is one of the oldest traditions in natural health care, originating over 5,000 years ago in ancient India. Ayurveda suggests that health is not just the absence of disease; it’s feeling vibrant, balanced and integrated physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. You can feel that way too!   Learn from the Arizona’s leading ayurvedic experts how to:   • Identify your mind/body type – called your dosha – and imbalances present.   • Recreate balance using specific aromas, herbs, tastes, sounds, color, and touch therapies.   • Choose foods as medicine to restore even more balance.   • Maximize nourishment and digestion.   • Explore the benefits of an Ayurvedic self-massage.   •... More

Ride with the Ranger February 17 and February 24 @ 3:00PM Join the Ranger and Cave Creek Trail Rides* as they introduce you to the amazing wonders of Cave Creek Park and the Sonoran Desert on horseback! This will be a one-hour ride where you will experience the nature and landscape as you have never seen it before. Registration is required for this fee-based program. ***Please call Cave Creek Trail Rides at 623.742.6700 to sign up.**** What to bring: Please wear sturdy shoes (closed-toe), dress appropriately for the weather, and bring more water than you think you will need. Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Carefree Highway, 7 miles east of I-17 and 2 miles north on 32nd Street. Park admission is $6 per vehicle or $75 for a yearly, vehicle pass. Visit their website at: www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek for more information.... More

February 12 Cave Creek Coffee Company Concert Thomas Ian Nicholas, known from his popular character, Kevin in “American Pie,” “American Pie 2,” and “American Wedding,” performs a special pre-Valentine’s Day concert with his band on Saturday, February 12th at Cave Creek Coffee Company, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek AZ 85331. Actor-turned musician, Nicholas has been playing and writing music for half of his life. He says, “music is my passion, and I’m putting a lot of hard work into making that a reality.” Nicholas’s debut album, “Without Warning” is an upbeat, “O.C.”-worthy album of pop-rock filled with more hooks than a bait shop. It features collaborations with rock legends like Bruce Kulick (KISS), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and John Corabi (Mötley Crüe).   Tickets are $15 in advance online or $18 at the door. Doors open at 7:00PM with the concert set to begin at 7:30PM.   480.488.0603 www.cavecreekcoffee.com... More

“Music and Comedy with Debbie Reynolds” set for Feb. 26 & 27 at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino   “America’s Sweetheart” is best known for her role in Singin’ in the Rain and her Oscar-nominated portrayal as The Unsinkable Molly Brown   Legendary Film & TV Star Mitzi Gaynor Returns March 26  Back by popular demand, “America’s Sweetheart” and Oscar and Tony-nominated mega star, Debbie Reynolds, will perform her renowned “Music and Comedy with Debbie Reynolds” at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, February 26 & 27 at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., in Chandler. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale via www.WinGilaRiver.com or by calling 1 (800) WIN-GILA. Guests can also take advantage of free bus rides, free slot play, and a special Prime Rib "Broadway Brunch,” which begins at 11 a.m. on show days and costs $13.50 plus tax.   Reynolds’ show is the first of several Husmann Entertainment “Legendary Ladies”... More

January 31 through February 27 Arizona Musicfest The Arizona Musicfest 20th Anniversary Celebration (January 31 through February 27, 2011) has it all! Classical, Broadway and Jazz packed into one magical, glittering month of virtuoso performances in concert programs that speak to the heart, mind, soul, and even the funny-bone. It’s an experience you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Guest artists bring you the very best of iconic band tributes; gorgeous chamber music from a piano phenom and a string quartet with a sound so rich your cholesterol will zoom off the charts; a romantic Broadway-infused cabaret; and sentimental reunions of the hottest jazz and orchestral stars in the world. It’s the quality you deserve with the music you enjoy.   It wouldn’t be Arizona Musicfest without the Festival Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Robert Moody. Highlights include the much-anticipated World Premiere of “Desert Transport,” an important all-acoustic new work by Composer-in-Residence... More

At some point we come to the realization that Mom or Dad cannot safely live on their own, but then the rationalization comes in “I think they’re ok”’ you say to yourself, when deep down you know they are not. The taunting mental games of one day that they are happy and satisfied, and the next they are scared and hungry, not remembering who was by in the last day or so is something that many of us can relate to.   ElderMom, an Anthem AZ-based senior placement service knows this story all too well, as they are a free service that assists families like these every day. Cheryl Ables and Sam Ile, have been in the senior care business for several years, owning an Assisted Living Home in Anthem AZ, (Anthem Senior Living), but as importantly, they have a passion to help you with the process of finding the perfect solution for the next step in life for your loved one. If you haven’t been in this situation yet, it’s just a matter of time; or you probably know of someone who has.... More

January 20 – April 3 The Arizona Fine Art EXPO The Arizona Fine Art EXPO, produced by the award-winning Thunderbird Artists, showcases more than 100 nationally-acclaimed artists applying their artistic talents. This event gives patrons unprecedented access to watch the world’s most gifted artists.   Enhancing the Arizona Fine Art EXPO is the charming Café de EXPO, where patrons can choose to sit indoors surrounded by working artists, or outdoors where The Sonoran Desert provides the perfect setting for a two-acre sculpture garden with contemporary, abstract, and traditional bronze, copper, clay, mixed media, and natural stone African sculptures nestled amongst native cacti, shrubs and desert plants.   Arizona Fine Art EXPO, held at 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona (85255), is located at the southwest corner of Jomax and Scottsdale Roads.  The EXPO is open daily from 10:00AM until 6:00PM   A one-time fee for a season pass is $8, $7 for seniors/military, and... More

There is nothing more exciting to me than playing a golf course for the first time. It gives me an opportunity to test my skills, my current playing form, my ability to execute a strategy, and my nerves under pressure against the mind of a great golf course architect. Some days the battle is won, more often it is lost, but it is the contest itself that creates all the enjoyment.   In its purest form, the game of golf is a contest of man versus the land (environmental conditions could also be included). My mind drifts to the links of Scotland and Ireland as examples of land that just looks like it was meant to be a golf course. Certain parts of the United States also have this fortunate quality, but here in the Arizona desert, a lot of dirt needs to be moved and hazards formed to build a golf course that provides the challenges required to create an enjoyable experience for all who play. It this case, the role of the course designer is particularly important, and this first course... More

January 16 Take it to the Limit Take It To The Limit, an Eagles tribute band, will perform at the Catholic Community of St. Rose in Anthem. It is the first in a series of concerts that will take place at the St. Rose Spirituality Center in 2011, and is the result of a new partnership formed between the Parish and TAD Management. St. Rose will provide the venue for upcoming productions and TAD will provide the performers. “We are excited to be able to bring these family-friendly concerts to the North Valley,” said Deacon Bill Clower of St. Rose.   Take It To The Limit is a reverent tribute to The Eagles and has faithfully and accurately recreated every detail of this famous band’s hits. The group has painstakingly reproduced The Eagles’ famous harmonies, as well as the intricate, powerful guitar work that made the original band instantly recognizable the world over. Take It To The Limit has been wowing audiences with their amazing recreation of hits such as “Desperado,”... More

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES January 15 @ 10:00AM (Meet at Nature Center) How have people survived off the land for thousands of years? Which desert plants are edible, and when are they edible? If you would like to know the answers to these questions, or any questions you may have about desert edibles, then this 1-mile hike is for you! Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Carefree Highway, 7 miles east of I-17 and 2 miles north on 32nd Street. Park admission is $6 per vehicle or $75 for a yearly, vehicle pass. Visit their website at: www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek for more information. What to bring: Please wear sturdy shoes (closed-toe), dress appropriately for the weather, and bring more water than you think you will need.   www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek/ for more information.... More

Writer Donna Kublin Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Arizona Musicfest is reaching new heights with thirteen spectacular concerts in five weeks - from January 31 through February 27. Held in North Scottsdale, the schedule includes superb music, with Classical, Jazz, and Broadway, superstar guest artists, and virtuoso performances that promise a Festival that is nothing short of exceptional.   Arizona Musicfest began as a handful of musicians performing for themselves and friends at homes in the desert foothills. Over the years, the concerts, the audience, and the mission have grown. It is now a major winter music festival, the only one of its kind, drawing people from across the country and hosting audiences of over 9,000 people.   To help celebrate the artistic and community accomplishments, a special evening is planned on February 19, featuring the founding artistic director, Paul Perry (1992 – 2006), and the current artistic director and orchestra conductor, Robert Moody... More

RIDE WITH THE RANGER January 13, 20 & 27 @ 3:00PM- 4:00PM The Ranger and Cave Creek Trail Rides will introduce you to the amazing wonders of Cave Creek Park and the Sonoran Desert on horseback! This 1-hour ride will help you see the nature and landscape as you have never seen it before. Registration is required for this fee-based program. ***Please call Cave Creek Trail Rides at 623.742.6700 for fees and to sign up**** Cave Creek Regional Park is located north of Carefree Highway, 7 miles east of I-17 and 2 miles north on 32nd Street. Park admission is $6 per vehicle or $75 for a yearly, vehicle pass. Visit their website at: www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek for more information. What to bring: Please wear sturdy shoes (closed-toe), dress appropriately for the weather, and bring more water than you think you will need.   www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek/ for more information.... More

DECEMBER 2-5  (Garden Members and their Guests) DECEMBER 9-12, 16-23, 26-30 (General Public) 5:30PM – 9:30PM Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Valley’s premier holiday event, returns for twenty-one nights of musical entertainment, delicious food and of course, 8,000 hand-lit luminarias. Held at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, the fun begins for Garden members and their guests on Thursday, December 2, and for the general public beginning Thursday, December 9.   For thirty-three years, Luminarias has been the perfect holiday event to share with family, friends and out-of-town guests. The Garden’s distinctive and world-renowned plant collection provides the ideal setting to enjoy exciting and diverse music and the more than 8,000 hand-lit luminarias that line its trails, buildings, and courtyards.   Desert Botanical Garden 1201 North Galvin Parkway (in Papago Park) Phoenix, AZ 85008   Adult Member $20 Child Member $10 (ages 3-12) Adult General Public $25 Child General... More

The Nutcracker 2010 Dec 10 - Dec 26, 2010 Symphony Hall   Enjoy the magic of this holiday classic through the eyes of Clara, who wakes in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy and is entertained by dances including Arabian Coffee, Chinese Tea and the Waltz of the Flowers. It’s a famous journey of magic and wonderment perfect for the entire family!   Ballet Arizona: 602-381-1096 M-F 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. or order online anytime at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/u970b9... More