Event Close-ups

By Annika Tomlin The COVID-19 pandemic nearly decimated the food and beverage industry. The biannual event held to celebrate local eateries, Arizona Restaurant Week, was replaced in the spring by Arizona Take Out Week. Following CDC...

By Sherry Jackson A love of art and a vision to bring an immersive experience to patrons in Scottdale led show founders Tom and Ann Morrow to create the Celebration of Fine Art, now celebrating its...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski The Italian Festival of America is bringing its celebration of food, culture and entertainment to Downtown Phoenix after several years in Scottsdale. Italophiliacs can experience la dolce vita with two stages of entertainment,...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley doesn’t like this assumed barrier between fans and celebrities. “The Beard,” as he’s called, would rather mingle. To give fans the chance to meet him, teammates and other athletes...

By Kristine Cannon Every spring in Scottsdale, the flowers bloom, the Spring Training games are in full swing, and the Scottsdale Arts Festival opens to the public for three days with local art, family-friendly activities...

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Rodeo is in Dave Alford’s blood. He rode in the late ’60s and early ’70s, until he fell into rodeo production. Four decades later, he’s producing the Rodeo Scottsdale, which has bucked its...

By Annika Tomlin The Arizona Animal Welfare League is carrying on the legacy and message of actress Amanda Blake by hosting An Evening to Paws: Mutt Gala on Sunday, March 7, at the Omni Montelucia...

By Octavio Serrano Lawdan Shojaee grew up in Los Angeles, where her Persian culture is vibrant and present. She misses it, so she’s bringing it to the Valley, where she lives now, with the second...

By Laura Latzko Music festivals have become more than just spaces to listen to music. They have turned into full-out events with different genres of music and immersive activities, as well as chances to give...

By Annika Tomlin Horses are Bob Avila’s life. His parents, Don and Pat, owned and showed horses during his childhood in Northern California, and he followed their career path. In Temecula, California, he founded Avila Training...