Exploring your authentic Arizona lifestyle
Long before cowboys and pioneers, Native Americans were the epitome of the spirit of the West. They first learned to cultivate crops from the dry, brittle desert floor, and it was their ways that allowed pioneers, miners and cowboys to survive in the rugged Southwest.
Every artist undergoes a conjuring of sorts: a nearly magical moment in which ideas are created from a palette of experiences, interpretation and inspiration. The artist chooses a medium then expresses that idea in a combination of color, texture and scale. For the lucky few, others connect through their creations, forming a bond through shared thoughts and emotions, and enjoyment of the work.
The only thing better than Arizona sunshine and moonrises are the delicious foods of the Southwest. In the North Valley, it’s not only the smoky bite of anchos, the kick of serranos, or the fun in experimenting with prickly pear, saguaro seeds and other desert bounty that makes for a good meal; it’s the brilliant infusion of local ingredients with other national and international flavors to create something wonderful.
If you live anywhere in Arizona, you know that Larry Fitzgerald is more than kind of a big deal, on and off the field. He’s dedicated his entire professional career to the Arizona Cardinals and his personal time to charitable causes. He’s breaking records and earning a reputation both as a football great and an all-around good guy.
You’ve probably seen the fleet of white vans with blue Foothills Caring Corps emblems painted on the side. You may even know one or more of the many people who make up the army of Foothills Caring Corps volunteers. What you may not be aware of is just how important they are to hundreds of people.
If you live in Anthem and experience perpetually sunny days and the beauty of our perfectly manicured community park on a daily basis, it’s easy to forget what a gift it is to call this place home. Each year, Anthem Days provides a chance to spend two days celebrating with thousands of friends and neighbors.
In Mexico City, when the sun begins to set and the work of the day is done, the streets fill with music and delicious smells fill the air. Neighbors and friends share drinks, smiles and laughter, and everyone enjoys fresh and delicious tacos and tamales made to order by chirpy street vendors.
There’s a sense of romance about the rodeo—not in the starry-eyed storybook kind of way, but in the idea of taming the wild in bulls, broncs and cowboys.
When ceramist Christopher Heede sits at his potter’s wheel the weekend of March 9 through 11, he’ll be surrounded by a large crowd of people as he throws his clay. But rather than demonstrating in his popular studio, Heede’s creative process will be on display at the Sonoran Festival of Art Extravaganza at Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek.
With all the beauty of mountain vistas and starry skies in Carefree, it’s sometimes easy to forget that what we don’t see also makes it special.
