In 1987, right before my parents and I moved to Scottsdale, we visited the Valley to tour its neighborhoods. On one of those outings we searched for ice cream, but could only find a closed Dairy Queen.
Beautiful and breathtaking. Dynamic and dangerous. That is the natural world around us. Here in America, we experience the glorious diversity of nature firsthand. The North boasts of freezing temperatures and high snowfall during long winter months. The Southeast features impressive and terrifying hurricanes. The Midwest succumbs to tornadoes that can stretch a mile wide. And the West finds itself rattled by frequent earthquakes of all magnitudes.
Back in January, Boulder Creek High School senior Paityn Lauzon was a finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix Phoenix Division, the world’s largest ballet competition. Yet she can’t remember the moment her dance career began — understandable, considering she was only 3 years old at the time.
No one could have predicted it 133 years ago, but Payson Pro Rodeo has since become the world’s oldest continuous rodeo. Not that it would have made any difference to its earliest contestants. The cowboys and ranch hands took pride in their skills and horses, and saw the rodeo as their chance to strut their stuff in the town square. It was how they had fun in the gap between spring and fall roundups at the ranch, and the entire town joined them.
A bouquet of paper roses may not be fragrant, but for Diamond Canyon School choral teacher Caroline Kaupa, they smell as sweet as the real thing. A few eighth-grade choir students handmade them to symbolize the journey of Caroline and her 60 seventh and eighth grade choir members, some of whom have worked with her since the fourth grade.
It was the second hour of a two-hour softball practice. Ten players had their head in the game until infielder and team captain Tori Krayeski threw a dead tarantula at shortstop Sydney Barnes. That’s what best friends do — especially when you and your bestie are on a fast-pitch softball team that’s been together since you were 9 years old, and that team is named Anarchy AZ.
Fire-grilled chili lime shrimp are cradled in a bed of tangy red cabbage slaw and wrapped in a warm tortilla for a light, yet super satisfying dinner. Make extra, because these mouthwatering shrimp tacos go quickly.
William Shakespeare reigns as one of the most famous names in all of literature — a reign, it seems, without an end in sight. Since his death, Shakespeare’s timeless works have inspired countless theater productions, movie adaptations, literary interpretations, critical analyses and historical documentaries. His influence even appears unconsciously through well-known phrases, like “jealousy is a green-eyed monster” or “as luck would have it.” Additionally, the themes that weave throughout the plays are as relevant today as they were during the Elizabethan era. It’s no wonder then why his popularity continues from generation to generation.
Just in time for summer, Sonata’s Restaurant has added a bevy of light new cocktails with bright, fresh ingredients. Located at 10050 N. Scottsdale Rd., the modern European restaurant named for its owner, Sonata Molocajeviene Tuft, was designed to turn down the heat.
