2010 Year on a Dream Board

On Dec 30th , Guest speaker Dr. Matt Mannino - Personal Growth Trainer and Business Mentor spoke about the “Law of Attraction” and how it applies to the “Dream Board”. He was very interesting, especially in regard to how doubts and fear hinder our progress in accomplishing our goals.


The idea was to make your intentions- goals - dreams very clear for the 2010 year on a Dream Board. A Dream Board is a tool that allows you to place images and text about your dreams on a piece of cardboard. Then you place that board somewhere in your home or office so that you can constantly be reminded of those dreams. The Secret talks about the Law of Attraction and that is basically what the Dream Board is all about. That which we think about will manifest itself into our lives. So, what better way to think about our dreams than to put the images on a board so we can think about them more frequently.

Knowing I was planning to attend the meeting, I got a head start on my Dream Board. I started by printing images to symbolize the various projects I wants to achieve. Then I started examining what I really wanted in my life, where I wanted to live, who I wanted to be with, how I wanted to feel, what it would take to accomplish my dreams.

Ben Stein said, “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”

It sounds simple but when you really sit down and start writing it out, it is quite a process to set goals and determine how to get there. I have done this before, just about every new year’s eve of my life. But this year I have really approached it with much greater definition and structure. Perhaps it will lead me to greater success in realizing my dreams.

Thank you to Michael Gallegos for hosting the Dream Board meeting at Marie Calendar’s. I always meet the nicest people at his meetings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


A friend sent me this message, "One noble intention can move the earth. One sincere effort can change the world. One step towards peace and prosperity can usher a positive change and make the world an amazing place to live. A great welcome to the year 2010 and a big hello to you." I thought it was so wonderful I wanted to share it with all of you ladies in the AZ Business Women's Network.

I believe we can all work toward positive change in 2010 by supporting each other in any way we can, to grow in our business and personal lives. We are women and we are strong!

So join us in our first meeting of 2010 at a new location : Shish Kebab House, 5158 W Olive Ave, in the Fry's Shopping Center NW Corner of 51st Ave & Olive. Glendale, AZ 85302 (623) 937-8757.

We meet every 1st & 3rd Wednesday at 11:30am to share lunch and our business stories, leads, ideas and learn from each other. There are no dues and we invite all business women too join us! Bring your friends!

We will be working toward a fund raising luncheon in March to benefit the Crisis Nursery. Bring your ideas!

Best wishes for a joyous and prosperous 2010

LeeAnn Sharpe

602-565-5785

lasharpe@cox.net

Book Review The Civility Solution

Book Review The Civility Solution
By LeeAnn Sharpe

The Civility Solution by P.M. Forni, published 2008 from St. Martin’s Press

ISBN 0-312-36849-6, has 166 pages.

This book answers many questions with an extremely civil attitude that common sense dictates to most people, but frequently seems to be lost in today’s world.

P. M. Forni, the award winning professor of Italian literature at Johns Hopkins University, has founded a Civility Institute. His 2002 book Choosing Civility has sold over a hundred thousand copies proving that what was once taught from childhood, has been lost for generations, and now must be learned by adults unaware that civility is what drives peaceful co-existence.

It’s no wonder we live in times where road rage and sideline parents at sporting events results in violence. Keeping one's cool in tense situations seems to be deemed as weak.

Forni’s book offers Eight Rules for a Civil Life that I find so simply elegant as to be words to live by.

1. Slow down and be present in your life. It sounds so easy but who among us isn’t guilty of rushing to get everything done. And isn’t that generally when civility flies out the window?

2. Listen to the voice of empathy. I know it can be hard when the creep you are trying to empathize with has just stolen your parking place, but it will do you more good to let it go.

3. Keep a positive attitude. No one likes a downer. Positive breeds happy and happy breeds joy and joy breeds… well you know.

4. Respect others and offer them plenty of validation. This goes exceptionally well for a child or spouse. But it applies to the rest of the world as well.

5. Disagree graciously and refrain from arguing. This is pretty much the most important chapter in this book in learning how to be civil. The book is worth it just for this one chapter!

6. Get to know the people around you. How many people don’t know their neighbors these days? There you are.

7. Pay attention to the small things. My Dad goes crazy when he works so hard to maintain his clean yard and the wind blows his neighbors unkempt leaves over. It may be a small thing but it leads to a loss of civility.

8. Ask, don’t tell. Wouldn’t we all enjoy a bit more civility in the world?

Retails for $19.95 at all fine booksellers today.
About the author: LeeAnn Sharpe is a freelance writer residing in Glendale, Arizona. Her love of the southwest and the western lifestyle have inspired her to a project called Keeping the Spirit of the Old West Alive. She also writes reviews on books and dining as well as several biographies of influential people.

Mark Everett Guardians of the Grain CD Review

Mark Everett "Guardians of the Grain"
 CD Review
by LeeAnn Sharpe
“Guardians of the Grain” by Mark Everett hit the market this month with 12 of the most delicious new tracks you could ever hear. Everett’s beautifully deep resonating voice brings life to articulately crafted lyrics telling stories in these ballads. Those with a love for history and bygone years will enjoy his nostalgic lines. Danceable and catchy, you will find yourself singing along in no time. He engages a theme of longing for the kinder gentler world of the past and offering hope for the future.
 Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Everett was raised all over Canada, with his guitar, a Christmas gift from his father in 1983, his constant companion. “I have always felt that old guitar has been there as my one truest friend...and music the truest form of my personal expression. I live for that!” he says.
 Beginning with melodic chords, “Guardians of the Grain” – (by Clyde Jorgensen, J. Watts, and Mark Everett) tells the story of grain silos on farms across Canada guarding the harvest in a time when farmers stood proud. The lyrics proclaim “Now the world has changed and those giants don’t rule.”  This number will really grow on you more each time you hear it.
 “Don’t Take it So Hard” – (by C.D. Lenard) has a crisp full life of it’s own. Try not to tap your foot to this song and you will not succeed. Your girl leaves “It’s not the end of the world” lyrics can be taken to heart in a number of ways; the lesson we all learn when a heart is broke.
“The Drive” – (by Mark Everett) is a slower paced heartfelt sorrowful ballad that came from personal experience of heartache and loss of his Dad. “Time will heal the pain I feel, they say. But I feel it will never be the same…” echo the same sense of loss that “Guardians of the Grain” and “Where the Mustangs Run Free” do. Each lyric speaks of a time when the promised land was ours and the recent changes in life aren’t always for the best.
 Everett grew up drawing influence from many different artists like Hank Thompson, George Jones and later Radney Foster and Randy Travis. “As I get older, I realize that only time brings life experiences that make for real personal artistic influence. For me, blessings and trials such as becoming a father, losing loved ones, and just plain old laughs and struggles down life’s sometimes hard and dusty road are ultimately the greatest sources of my music”, Everett commented.
 “Where the Mustangs Run Free”. (by R. Lane, Clyde Jorgensen, J. Watts, and C. Dunnagan) is, in my opinion, a musical masterpiece. With the longing for a past life, “Where the Mustangs Run Free” begins with crisp clear melodic finger picking guitar and strong bass that continues like a playful mustang running through at a good pace. A depth and dimension to the orchestration of this piece brings to mind the majestic themes of western movies and story telling that makes it an experience to be enjoyed time and again. You will see those mustangs and feel their hoof beats. And you too will long for a time and place where the mustangs run free.
 “Kiss My Ex” – (by Bill Turner) is sassy, humorous and upbeat, if I were to describe this ditty. Everett adds a little twang and character to his voice to a number that pretty much is explained in it’s title.  Everett met Clyde Jorgensen in 2001. He says. “He (Jorgensen) was the one who turned my idea of recording a CD into a reality. We took some material he had written, some I had written, and co-wrote a couple of tracks, putting them together to create the “Guardians of the Grain” album.”
 “When the Diesel Winds Down” – (by Mark Everett and Clyde Jorgensen) displays the collaborative power of this duo taking advantage of Everett’s voice and Jorgensen’s knack with lyrics. “Daddy drove rigs back as far as ’69…” Flashing back on memories again and how “When I feel sad I think about my dear old Dad”.
 “Welcome Home to Alberta” – (by Mark Everett) is a love song to the “true north strong and free, “It’s a place of wealth and beauty. It’s a place for you and me.” Everett’s love for Alberta rings true. “The beauty of this land is something everyone should see.”  Alberta’s Chamber should adopt this number real fast!  
“Truckin” – (by Clyde Jorgensen and C.D. Lenard) picks up the pace for an upbeat great dancing number.
 Work and family kept Everett travelling the highway between the northern Alberta family farm near High Level and his southern home near Lethbridge. He spent time in Phoenix working with Jorgensen, which as he says, “Made me feel like I have a third home there as well.”
  “Catherine’s Song (The Way You Love Me)” – (by Clyde Jorgensen) is a simple beautiful love song that showcases Jorgensen’s skill with words and feelings. He sings the harmony as well. He has one lucky lady. Although he would say it’s the other way around, that he’s the lucky one.
 “Would You Like to Dance” – (by Clyde Jorgensen and C.D. Lenard, B. Bailey) is upbeat and lively almost a Cajun beat. It makes a great dancing tune. “Would you like to dance or are you still mad at your Ex?” Can’t you just imagine hearing that at the bar?
 “Better Watch Out” – (by Clyde Jorgensen) Jorgensen makes this one a true duet with Everett. And the juxtaposition of Jorgensen’s rough gravel voice against Everett’s silky smooth voice is an interestingly successful contrast.
 “Once Again Your Love Surrounds Me” – (by Clyde Jorgensen) proves Jorgensen a true romantic with an ability to put words to music in a classic style. Yet each is fresh and new. Everett delivers the message with the feeling it deserves.
 “The success of this CD was made possible by Clyde and Billy William’s awesome talent and patience. These two veterans of the business made me laugh every time we were in the studio. So even though we put our all into it, it never felt like work,” says Everett.
 Also performing on this project were Billy Williams (guitar and piano), Mike Smith (steel guitar), Jerica Nicolaides (fiddle), Mike Brouchette (harmonica), Lycia Ware, Steve Parrish, & Clyde Jorgensen (background vocals).
Everett says, “I really hope my music connects with the folks who hear it. This first project has really opened up an exciting chapter in my life. I am already working on new material for another project. But first I’m very anxious to see the response to the “Guardians of the Grain”. I am really hoping everyone comes to enjoy these songs like I do.”
 You can learn more about Mark Everett at www.markeverettmusic.com “Guardians of the Grain” 2009 Daffy Dane Music, 10476 N Balboa Dr, Sun City, AZ 85351. Recorded and mastered at Billy Williams Studio in cooperation with Trails End Productions .

The Spirit of the Old West Alive Bob Boze Bell Interview

The Spirit of the Old West Alive Bob Boze Bell Interview

Featured November 19th at Bison Western Museum

The 3000 Club Food Rescue benefits from auction

(SCOTTSDALE) – The Spirit of the Old West Alive lecture series continued November 19th, the second in the series to honor people who have “kept the spirit of the old west alive”. Bob Boze Bell Executive Editor of True West Magazine was center stage and offered some candid insight to events never before discussed as he was interviewed about his life and times in Arizona.

“I don’t know if I can say this if there are kids in the audience,” Bell sheepishly confided. His story continued about how the “P” word got one of his books pulled from a bookstore for indecency when a customer complained. The audience laughed at the absurdity of the situation and at the endless quips Bell let loose in the 2 hours on stage.

The Spirit of the Old West Alive (SOWA) was founded by LeeAnn Sharpe with the purpose of collecting oral histories. “Too often we see the passing of significant people in our history without their stories being recorded. It means so much more to hear their stories directly from the individual. To hear their voice, to see their body language and pick up on their personality,” Sharpe comments. These video taped interviews will be available as DVD’s and online for research.

Why Bell? “We have to honor those people who have impacted our western experience. Bob Boze Bell has written a number of books on old west characters, created western art, and brought a publication, True West, back to life and introduced the history of the west to a whole new generation.”

Bison Western Museum is an excellent partner in the SOWA program as their goal is also related to gathering history of the southwest. The lectures are presented in their theatre seating 125 people. With the gorgeous museum upstairs for guests to explore while enjoying a buffet of hor d’ouveres and a cocktail, the location is about as enjoyable as possible. (www.bisonhomes.com )

Also sponsoring the event is the Wild West Gazette dedicated to promoting Arizona history, education and tourism. Sharpe as Editor of the publication had little trouble convincing Publisher Sid Hagel to jump onboard. The current November issue of Wild West Gazette boldly depicts the first two lectures in the series. ( www.wildwestgazette.com )

The 3000 Club Food Rescue (www.the3000club.org) was a beneficiary of a third of the evenings receipts. The 3000 Club Food Rescue, with founder Lon Taylor and Ethel Luzario, do incredible work transporting produce that can not make it to market to food banks that would be otherwise sent to landfills. Their program makes a major impact feeding the hungry with high quality nutritious produce. A portion of the proceeds from the SOWA lecture will support their efforts. Taylor took the stage to describe the work they do in these much needed times. He told how they had lost a major sponsor and needed to raise $30,000 to replace that income to keep the project going. “We need 3000 members to donate as little as $100 to make this happen,” Taylor commented. The audience responded with questions of how to join. The website above has an application online. Or call 602-549-1011.

The next lecture will be January 7th and honor Wyatt Earp Grandnephew of the famous lawman. as one of the people who keep the “Spirit of the Old West Alive.” Earp has preserved the family history and performs a one man show. He has traveled the world with his show and certainly is deserving of this honor.

Bison Western Museum is located at 16641 N. 91st St., Scottsdale, AZ (just north of Bell Road) Parking is free and admission is a $15 donation to benefit our selected charities. Doors open at 5PM, Cocktail hour begins at 6pm and the program will begin at 7pm and last until 9pm. (www.spiritoftheoldwestalive.com )

Review by Sarver Marshall Trimble Interview

Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s Official State Historian Honored by “Spirit of the Old West Alive”
By Karen Michelle Sarver

Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s Official State Historian, was honored with a “Spirit of the Old West Alive” award Nov. 5 at the Bison Western Museum in Scottsdale.
LeeAnn Sharpe, director of the program, presented the award following her videotaped interview of Marshall. The video is the first in the lecture series, “People Who Keep the Spirit of the Old West Alive,” created to promote the history of the West both online and in museums nationwide.
The interview, accompanied by a slide show, focused on Marshall’s life as a teacher, historian, and musician. While Marshall is certainly all of those—and more--the presentation proved he is also a man with a lot of friends.
The late Senator Barry Goldwater was one of them.
Marshall met Barry Goldwater in 1972 when the senator spoke at Scottsdale’s Coronado High School where Marshall was teaching Southwest history.
Marshall said he and the senator became friends that day, “and we were friends until the day he died.”
Following his introduction of Goldwater at the high school, Marshall said he went on to introduce the senator “on the Barry Goldwater Lecture Series for more than twenty-odd years.”
“We never talked politics,” Marshall said. “Barry had this whole other side; he liked to talk about Arizona history…we always talked history. That suited him and it suited me too.”
Another of Marshall’s friends was Henry Cordes, grandson of German immigrant John Henry Cordes who established the town that bears his name in 1883, and became its first postmaster.
Marshall’s family met Henry when their 1936 Ford broke down in Cordes.
“Not Cordes Junction, Henry Cordes’ town,” Marshall clarified. “We lived there for two, three, four days. We were the guests of Henry Cordes.”
He added, “I think the population of Cordes was one.”
Besides a politician and a town founder, Marshall’s list of friends included an Academy Award winner: Ben Johnson.
Marshall called Johnson, who acted in “The Wild Bunch,” “Shane,” “ Junior Bonner” and other westerns “one of the best storytellers.”
The two men camped together in Monument Valley for a week for an “Arizona Highways” piece that Marshall was writing about the actor.
“Other than his loud snoring, we had a very wonderful time,” Marshall said. “You met him and it felt like you knew him all your life.”
Marshall said that when he heard the news of Johnson’s death in 1996 he had to pull his car off to the side of the road to gather his thoughts.
“He was just that kind of guy. I’ll never forget him.”
But one of the Official State Historians dearest friends is Arizona Official State Balladeer Dolan Ellis. Marshall and Dolan have performed together since about 1978.
“He’s a great guy, like Ben Johnson,” Marshall said, “to know him is to love him.”
Marshall recalled that when he “went down with a heart issue” and couldn’t make his performances, Dolan called him, asking if Marshall had any shows he needed covered.
“I said, ‘Yeah, all of ‘em.”
Marshall said Dolan drove “all over the place to cover my shows. And when the checks came in and I tried to give ‘em to him he wouldn’t take ‘em. We’re that kind of friends.”
Marshall concluded the interview with a reflection on his book signing for “Ash Fork,” his book about the history of his childhood hometown.
“The day… that the book came out and we went up there for the book signing, there was a blizzard,” Marshall said. “I started signing books at…noon and it snowed up at Flag. and Prescott—everywhere. And people came from as far away as Kingman and Flagstaff, through the storm to come to the book signing. And, those,” he said, “are friends.”
To learn more about Marshall Trimble, visit his website at www.marshalltrimble.com

Bob Boze Bell Featured November19th

The Spirit of the Old West Alive Announces
First Interview in Lecture Series

Bob Boze Bell Featured November19th at Bison Western Museum

Cowgirl Designs displays art and The 3000 Club Food Rescue benefits from auction

(SCOTTSDALE) – The Spirit of the Old West Alive lecture series continues November 19th, the second in a series to honor people who have “kept the spirit of the old west alive”. Bob Boze Bell Executive Editor of True West Magazine will be center stage interviewed about his life and times in Arizona.

The Spirit of the Old West Alive (SOWA) was founded by LeeAnn Sharpe with the purpose of collecting oral histories. “Too often we see the passing of significant people in our history without their stories being recorded. It means so much more to hear their stories directly from the source,” Sharpe comments.

Bison Western Museum is an excellent partner in the SOWA program as their goal is also related to gathering history of the southwest. The lectures will be presented in their theatre seating 125 people.

Also sponsoring the event is the Wild West Gazette dedicated to promoting Arizona history, education and tourism. Sharpe as Editor of the publication had little trouble convincing Publisher Sid Hagel to jump onboard.

Sponsors also include photographer Karin Johnson of Cowgirl Designs who will auction some of her horse photography art work to benefit the designated charity for the evening, The 3000 Club Food Rescue (www.the3000club.org).

The 3000 Club Food Rescue, with founder Lon Taylor and Ethel Luzario, do incredible work transporting produce that can not make it to market to food banks that would be otherwise sent to landfills. Their program makes a major impact feeding the hungry with high quality nutritious produce. A portion of the proceeds from the SOWA lecture will support their efforts.

Sharpe says, “I hope to build an archive of stories that combine to tell the history of Arizona. The lectures will be entertaining evenings for anyone interested in cowboy western art, music, history and lifestyle. It’s also a great opportunity for business and social networking! We had 88 people attend our event for Marshall Trimble on Nov 5th and expect a similar crowd for this event.”

Bob Boze Bell is a historian, a humorist, a storyteller, and as True West editor has brought the history of the old west to people all over the world. It seems only fitting that he should be the among the first to be honored as one of the people who keep the “Spirit of the Old West Alive.”

Bison Western Museum is located at 16641 N. 91st St., Scottsdale, AZ (just north of Bell Road) Parking is free and admission is a $15 donation to benefit our selected charities. Cocktail hour begins at 6pm and the program will begin at 7pm and last until 9pm.

1883 Cordes Ranch

Sept 19
Bob and I met at his home in Black Canyon City and went up to Cordes Junction to interview a very interesting fella name Bob Rains. Bob had been with SDOT for 18 years and was about to retire. He is also an accomplished leatherworker.
We had breakfast at the CJ Diner hidden back behind the gas station. What a nice clean and economical place this is hidden back where most people might not find it or even know it is there.
Later we went to interview Cathy Cordes at the 1883 Cordes Ranch 3 miles west of I-17 off Bloody Basin Road which quickly becomes the Crown King Road. What a treat that adventure turned out to be! She manages the original stage stop/general store built in 1883 but burned down in 1910 and rebuilt on the same spot at the junction of the Crown King Road and Antelope Creek Road – the original Black Canyon Highway – the old stage route between Black Canyon City and Mayer. Her great granddad ran the saloon, store and stage stop from 1883. He acquired it after the former owner was stabbed to death by a drunk customer.
Cathy is opening the store on weekends and has an incredible collection of artifacts and antiques. Every vehicle her grandfather owned is in that back yard! And the views and beauty of the landscape is overwhelmingly beautiful. It rained while we were there and the frequent rain this summer has left the hills green and filled with wild flowers. The cattle roam free and have their head to the ground all the time enjoying great grazing.
Cathy’s mom still runs the cattle ranch on the same 160 acres her granddad bought back in 1883.
It’s about 17 miles up the Old Black Canyon Highway from Black Canyon City and I’m told it is good road all the way – graded but dirt. We took the road from Cordes Ranch (called Antelope Creek Road on maps now) to Mayer about 8 miles and it was smooth sailing. It dumps out about where the Dollar Store is on the Highway 69.
In Prescott Valley I had the opportunity to interview Dixie Northcutt author of Trekking Home and a rancher from the Arizona Strip in some of the loneliest land in the northern most part of the state along the north side of the Grand Canyon. It’s almost more a part of Utah than Arizona being separated by that huge canyon. The nearest large town was Kanab Utah. She had interesting stories of ranch life in tough country. Her stories will make a series of articles in the Wild West Gazette.

Arizona SideCar Adventures

Sept 18
Mom’s birthday and she had a doctor’s appointment first thing in the morning. Everything looked good from all of her tests. That is good news to get on your 78th birthday!
TJ and artist Roger Merritt met me in Cave Creek Recreational Area to shoot video of the Arizona SideCar Adventures sidecars driving through desert. He had to pay a fee to shoot up there and later we went to Pinnacle Peak where I think we got even better video in the Pinnacle Peak Patio Parking lot! I know I ended up with a sunburn even with sunblock on.
It was Thursday so that meant Thursday with Bog Marv and once again we documented Pinnacle Peak Patio history by scanning documents of history. Marv’s brother Herman showed up and we were able to get many questions answered by Herman. He is also the world’s leading authority on the artist Lon Megargee and A1 Brewing. Herman and his wife had just returned from a raft trip down the Colorado and both say never again! It was much more strenuous and intense than they had been led to believe. Once begun there is no turning back or early exit from the ride.

I showed Herman an old issue of the Valley National Bank Eagle employee newspaper for which I had been the staff photographer from 1976-1982. One issue had an article about the Lon Megarge art the bank had purchased under the direction of former bank president Walter Bimson. About 17 pieces were in the bank’s collection and most hung at 56th Street and Camelback Road. Of course, the bank has changed hands a couple of times since and Herman had heard they had auctions all of the art off at extraordinarily low prices because no one knew about the auction.

Cave Creek After Dark

Sept 17
I met with the folks from Rim Country Gazette about consulting for their publication. The success of Wild West Gazette has become legendary!

Cave Creek After Dark had about 100 people show up for the Cave Creek Visitor Center ribbon cutting. The Mayor and the Peaglers cut the ribbon of the newly decorated Marshall’s Office. It looks great! TJ Wooten gave people rides in his Arizona SideCar Adventure Sidecars around the block. What great fun! Sue Kern-Fletcher was there and we shared introductions to many people we know.

Carefree Corridor Business Group

Sept 16
The usual Carefree Corridor Business Group meeting at Pioneer Restaurant. Jim Tuemler made a nice presentation of his real estate business and the photography for the virtual tours he has online for his properties. He has a very nice website at www.desertlifestyles.info

Glendale Photography Club

Sept 15
The Mighty Cup & Spoon Coffee Shop hosts the Out of Box Photography Club to about a dozen very interesting photographers. Mike Moore conducted the meeting and has much of his photography hanging in the coffee shop. He had recently returned form a shoot in Jerome and found the Gold King Mine and Don Robertson as photogenic and filled with opportunities as Bob and I had a few weeks ago. It is definitely worth the trip and time to explore. Mike especially liked the old cars. I was amazed at the condition of some in garages there. Between the buildings, tools, animals and views it’s a photographer’s dream location.

The Apache Trail in Arizona

The Apache Trail in Arizona was originally a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Apache Indians who had used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains for thousands of years.
The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix area with Theodore Roosevelt Lake, through the Superstition Mountains and the Tonto National Forest.

Today, much of the Apache Trail is paved, and the section east of Apache Junction is known officially as State Route 88. It is also the main traffic corridor through Apache Junction, turning into Main Street as the road passes into Mesa, and regains the Apache name by becoming Apache Boulevard in Tempe, ending at Mill Avenue. Prior to the completion of the Superstition Freeway in 1992, the Apache Junction portion of the Apache Trail was part of US Highway 60, which was rerouted to the Superstition once it was completed.

The Trail winds steeply through 47 miles of rugged desert mountains, past deep reservoir lakes like Canyon Lake and Apache Lake. The narrow, winding road is unpaved from just east of the town of Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt Dam; there are steep cliff drops. The trail requires caution when driving and it is not recommended for large RVs, or SUVs. Some RV rental companies in the US do not allow their vehicles to be taken on this route.

We begin in Apache Junction. The Apache Trail follows the course of the Salt River which ancient peoples known as the Hohokam would travel along the shoreline through the Mazatzal Mountains for thousands of years.

In the late 1800's settlers found the are attractive for farming but the Salt River was unpredictable and prone to flooding. In 1902 President Roosevelt signed the National Reclamation Act and Roosevelt Dam was begun, completing construction in 1911. To bring supplies to the dam site a road was built following the ancient trail.

A stretch of the road through the Goldfield Mountains was referred to as the "Little Alps". President Roosevelt was quoted as saying, "The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies and the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, then adds an indefinable something that none of the others has. To me it is the most awe-inspiring and most sublimely beautiful panorama nature has ever created."

The drive from Tortilla Flats to Roosevelt Dam takes about 2.5 hours with an average speed of about 25mph.

The entire adventure ride features spectacular scenery to rival any in the state. The twenty mile graded dirt section of the trail provides magnificent views of twisted igneous mountains with dense forests of saguaro and cactus with several deep blue lakes along the way. Fish Creek Canyon is perhaps the most awe-inspiring section. The road hangs on the side of this high-walled canyon and winds its way along tremendous precipices that sink sheer for hundreds of feet below.

Sites along the way: Goldfield Ghost Town a rich gold strike that led to the establishment of Goldfield Mining District in 1892, and old buildings still line the dirt road. The famous Mammoth Saloon, Goldfield Livery, Lost Dutchman Museum, Coffee Cantina and Bakery, Rock Shop, Live Rattlesnake Exhibit, and Gold Mine Tours.

Superstition Mountains, 160,000-acre mountain range has a history of legends, mystery and lost gold mines. The most famous story associated with the area is the Legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Lost Dutchman State Park, is where numerous hiking trails led into the mysterious Superstitions.

Tonto National Forest

Canyon Lake was formed in 1925 when the Mormon Flat Dam was completed. The beautiful lake provides a refreshing retreat from the desert sun, has a marina, restaurant and the well-known "Dolly," which provides steamboat cruises on the lake.


Tortilla Flat, an old stage stop which was built in 1904 as a rest area on the way to the construction site of the Roosevelt Dam. During its boom era, the tiny town had 125 residents, a school, church, post office, hotel, livery, general store, saloon and a restaurant. In 1942, a devastating flood swept through Tortilla Flat, destroying many of the homes and most of the town. Today, when you drive into Tortilla Flat, you enter another era -- a remnant of the past. Since the big 1942 flood, a small portion of the settlement has been rebuilt or refurbished, and six residents live there year-round to greet tourist who venture down the Apache Trail.

This is a trip of a lifetime and not to be missed!
Take an Arizona SideCar Adventure trip to many areas of Arizona viewed a a slower pace and up close. It's an "E" ticket ride! Call 602-565-5785 for more information.

Barrett

Sept 11
My daughter’s best friend Karrie had a healthy baby boy Barrett at well over 8 pounds.

Grants

Sept 10-12
University of Phoenix hosted a Grant Institute class with about a dozen students from all over the state and one Californian. Our instructor was from Houston TX by way of Washington DC. We had 3 days of intensive writing and drills for grant writing and ended up earning our certification certificates. It was a good educational experience hearing how others will use their skills to fund projects. I was surprised how many small and large government entities are forced into finding funding through grants for things that are of major safety concern for the general public good.

Sept 12
Bob and I met for dinner at Bill Johnson’s and once again found the Wild West Gazette box empty! The manager Karen says they go really fast and everyone really enjoys our publication. We usually have dinner there every Friday night so we try to keep it full. We doubled up the number this time to see if they last.

Spirit of the West Alive Marshall Trimble Nov 5

Sept 9
Meeting with Mike Savarino at Bison Western Museum regarding the schedule for “Spirit of the West Alive” lecture series. The time slot open all through there calendar is Wednesday nights. He suggested “Hump Day at the Bison” as a slogan.
He will have Gary Martinson call on Marshall Trimble for the first night November 5th.

Spirit of the Old West Alive

Introduction
As much as we love the
"American Old West"
the very things we love about it are disappearing every day.
That's why capturing the stories of the old west,
straight from the
"People Who Have Kept
the Spirit of the Old West Alive"
is an important project.

“Spirit of the Old West Alive” is a project
co-sponsored by the Bison Museum in Scottsdale.


We will be moderating a series of lectures on “People Who Keep the Spirit of the West Alive” to be audience viewed and video taped oral histories. The edited videos will be played online and around the country in museums promoting the history of the west. They will go into archives for future historians. This all starts in October 2008 and the series of lectures should run through at least 2012, Arizona’s Centennial.

As I think of the people who keep the “Spirit of the Old West Alive” I thought of you. You know someone whose efforts keep the time honored spirit of the west. Or you know a company that would want to sponsor these lectures. Or you know a charitable organization that would like to share these evenings to spread their message and raise funds. If you are interested please contact me so we can begin planning and scheduling a time for your participation in any of the three opportunities mentioned above.

Join us as we interview and record oral histories before they fade away...

I would also appreciate your spreading the word to your friends about
“People Who Keep the Spirit of the Old West Alive!”


Thank you for your kind consideration of participation in this worthy project.
LeeAnn Sharpe, Spirit of the Old West Alive
602-565-5785 cell
PO Box 6536
Glendale, AZ 85312-6536

Castle Hot Springs - Hieroglyphic Mountains & Bradshaw Mountains

Castle Hot Springs - Hieroglyphic Mountains & Bradshaw Mountains
Travel the winding dirt mountain roads leading up to one of the richest mined mountain ranges in world history. Dozens of mining towns filled these mountains, all long gone. Their wealth is said to have build the splendor of San Francisco. All that is left in the Bradshaws are mysterious roads leading you through beautiful hidden valleys and unique little oasis of green tucked into a desert.

Castle Hot Springs was a famous luxurious resort that saw the likes of John Kennedy, Clark Gable and Teddy Roosevelt.

You come out on Hwy 74 next to Lake Pleasant which is a beautiful desert lake with a marina and visitor center well worth the cost of admission.

Arizona SideCar Adventures will be your host to a customized trip to meet your time and travel requirements. Call us today to book your tour.

602-639-6303

HISTORY: In 1865 Yavapai County Arizona Territory, Col. Charles Craig, commander of troops at Prescott's Fort Whipple, pursued a group of Indians who had just raided nearby mining camps. This pursuit ended when the troops defeated the Indians and stopped to rest at what is now known as Salvation Peak. The surrounding peaks resembled castles and a creek at the bottom prompted the men to name the area Castle Creek. After finding the elusive "magic waters", or hot springs, of the Apaches, they named the area Castle Hot Springs. Apaches attributed healing powers to the hot, clear water that poured out from the canyon rock.
Frank Murphy obtained the land in the1880's with plans of building a secluded resort hotel. Frank Murphy's brother, Nathan Oakes Murphy, became the general manager of the development and hired other professionals to aid in the project. Civil Engineer, Andrew Barry, surveyed the roads and the site while a landscape gardener named Smith laid out the grounds. Toohey and Webster were also hired as contractors. In 1896 the first "hot springs resort" opened with additions between 1900 and 1905. In 1895, the construction of the north-south railroad, also commissioned by Murphy, allowed the Santa Fe Railway to take guests from all over the country to Morristown, formerly called Hot Springs Junction along what is now Hwy 60, near the junction with Hwy 74 . Guests would take a four-hour stagecoach ride almost 24 miles to the resort. The resort employing a full-time resident physician, masseur, and a masseuse.

Advertising pamphlets were sent eastward to potential clients boasting the “Oasis in the Mountains” as a beautiful and luxurious resort. The pamphlets also described the healing springs as a curative for rheumatism, blood disorders, insomnia, kidney disease, anemia, and other ills. Murphy believed the hot springs to have the perfect combination of healing water and hot dry air of the desert.

In its early years, Castle Hot Springs functioned as the first territorial winter capital of Arizona, as well as the local jail. Hangings were said to have been carried out on the administration building's balcony.

During this time the resort installed the first telephone in Arizona and its number was "1". In 1901, the resort became the first in Arizona to be electrified with the construction of an “electric light” plant and an ice plant.

On June 23, 1917, Frank Murphy died and left the Castle Hot Springs Hotel Company to his attorney, T. G. Norris. Norris maintained the resort and improved the integrity of the structures, replacing the wooden steps, platforms, and stone retaining walls with concrete. The property was sold on March 14, 1925 to Walter H. Rounsevel with the financial support of Thomas Fortune Ryan. The resort continued to blossom until the Great Depression following the market crash in 1929. On August 8, 1930, Natt Head Group bought the property but it was soon returned to the Castle Hot Springs Hotel Company due to a foreclosure agreement

In the 1920's and 30's the Wrigleys, Vanderbilts, Weinberg's, Rockefellers and even Zane Grey stayed in bungalows at the Castle Hot Springs resort.

Closed during World War II because of rationing and food shortages, the site was leased by the military for the recuperation of pilots. In 1945, a young naval officer named John F. Kennedy spent three months at the property recovering from combat injuries. This distinction earned Castle Hot Springs a special dispensation, allowing the American flag to be flown 24 hours a day on nearby Salvation Peak. Today the flag is maintained by the Boy Scouts of America.

The resort was then sold to Oasis Hotel Corporation.

Over the next 30 years the resort continued to operate until the famous "Palm House" burned down in a devastating fire in 1976. After the fire destroyed the main building, the property and its remaining cottages were donated to Arizona State University, by Mrs. Mae Talley, the owner of the resort, which used it as a conference center. ASU sold it in 1987 for $3 million to the Trainer brothers, who visited the property when they were children in the 1950s. Charles and Steve Trainer, two heirs to the Schlitz Brewing Co. fortune, and their partner, Scottsdale developer Fred Unger sold the property to Garrett Hotel Group of Burlington, Vt., whose owner David Garrett envisions a 50-room luxury hotel and spa . When Garrett bought the property, it had 167 acres. He later bought another 40 acres to the west.

The 207-acre property with year-round natural hot springs is about seven miles northwest of Lake Pleasant and 55 miles from downtown Phoenix. Due to the historical significance of the surrounding 405 acres, 16 buildings, and 8 structures, Castle Hot Springs was added to the National Historic Register in 1991.

Now only a caretaker remains and the resort has changed hands many times. Much remains including the main house, the employee house, the movie theatre, swimming pool (supposedly the largest free form pool in the world), golf course and more.

The hot springs are fed by an enormous cistern created by the displacement of tertiary volcanic rock, tens of thousands of years ago. Each day, this underground reservoir produces 400,000 gallons of water at 122 degrees Fahrenheit—the hottest temperature known for a spring which is not volcanically active. The waterfall emerges from a crack in the rock wall, supplying Castle Creek and its three deep pools with water that is quite pure, odorless, and crystal clear. Its superb quality indicates a source depth of 7,000 to 10,000 feet.
Notes on Castle Hot Springs: Castle Hot Springs Road off Hwy 60 on to Hwy 74 east near Wickenburg will take you through the Bradshaw Mountains to Lake Pleasant Road off of Hwy 74

The first two miles off Hwy 60 is asphalt through a neighborhood of luxury homes. As the neighborhood ends, the blacktop becomes a graded, red dirt road in various states depending on recent weather conditions. Some areas are barely wide enough to handle a hummer. Often the road and river bed are one in the same with a small stream at road edge for miles.

The road goes through the White Picacho mining district overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the valley of the Buckhorn and Hieroglyphic Mountain foothills (which actually have no hieroglyphics but do abound with Indian petroglyphs) with the Bradshaw Mountains ahead.

The road goes just north of the rugged Hells Canyon Wilderness. California fan palm trees 45- to 60-foot-tall trees line the property of JL Bar, a retired cattle ranch built in the late 1800s.

Flanked by bougainvillea and emerald lawns, Castle Hot Springs Resort is now closed, a “private” sign and caretaker protecting it's secrets. Perhaps one day the sprawling estate will be reopened to societies elite once again.

Take an Arizona SideCar Adventure trip to many areas of Arizona viewed a a slower pace and up close. It's an "E" ticket ride! Call 602-565-5785 for more information.

Pinnacle Peak Patio Thursdays with Big Marv

Sept 4
Pinnacle Peak Patio Thursdays with Big Marv. Once again (Week 6) we spent the evening with Big Marv and scanned in history and photos from the last 50 years. The databases are getting huge and we find we have to stop after about 6 hours as the computers get over heated from scanning and printing. Bob (Arizona Duuude) designed some really great little wooden blocks to set under the computers to raise them off the vinyl tablecloth so they stay a little cooler longer. We have gone through about 3 ink cartridges so far printing documents. The little Neat Receipts scanner does a great job on anything flat and smaller than 8.5”x11” that can run through it’s feed mechanism. But I also brought an HP All in One Scanner, Copier and Printer for things we need to lay onto a flat bed for scanning. Many large items need to be scanned in sections I will piece together later. Of special interest tonight was Marv’s brand book. He has so many brands and ranch documentation 3 inches thick. He also has a general cowboy collections book of interesting art and books he has seen.

Mental Health

Sept 3

It was a new experience for me today as I was called to court to testify as to the mental state of an acquaintance. The state will take control of an individual for a period of time if he is considered a threat to himself or others as this person was at the time.

The level of pressure such a situation was unknown to me until tossed into the middle of the circumstances I had no desire to be a part of, yet had no control once so involved. You question rights of an individual to control their own life and how much you relinquish when mental illness comes into play. Of course the compassionate thing to do is to be there to help the person with professional support, therapy and medication. So if that person has gone through all society has to offer and still wants to end his life, do we have the right to intercede. As Christians we are taught to protect and preserve life. This opens so many questions about quality of life and responsibility. It makes my head and heart hurt. One thing I do know now is society needs to find more compassion for the mentally ill.

All Roads to Lead to Yuma

Sept 2, 2008

Today we had another wonderful meeting with Patricia A. Etter, M.L.S., Emeritus College, Arizona State University at the University Club. Ms. Etter has been keeping us updated on the historic trails symposium being planned by the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) for January of 2009.

Billed as “All Roads to Lead to Yuma,” the symposium will feature speakers and tours covering several of the pioneer and early routes that converged on the historic crossing point of the Colorado River, from the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition in the 1770s to the Gold Rush era of the 1840s and 1850s to the stage routes of the late 19th Century. The dates set for the Yuma event are January 16 – 18.

Ms. Etter is on the steering committee along with John Krizek. Registration information through OCTA will be available in the summer at OCTA’s Web site www.octa-trails.org

Yuma’s unique history as the crossroads of the Southwest was recognized by the United States Congress in 2000 with the official designation of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area — the first entity west of the Mississippi River to be so recognized, according to city historian Tina Clark. Ms. Clark is assisting the committee with suggestions for tours and site visit locations. The Yuma Visitors Bureau also is helping
to facilitate arrangements for the Yuma symposium. “For 250 years, all roads in the southwestern U.S. have led to Yuma,” reports Krizek. “What better time of year than January to explore this historic corner of the country.”

Wild West Gazette is planning to attend the conference and report our findings in the March 2009 issue. We strongly encourage those interested in southwest history to consider attending and supporting this worthwhile endeavor.

After getting more familiar with Ms. Etter’s knowledge and experience of southwest history I have added her name to my list of “People Who Keep the Spirit of the West Alive”.

La Piazza Al Forno Gourmet Brick Oven Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen

Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

La Piazza Al Forno Gourmet Brick Oven Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen, 5803 W. Glendale Ave., in Historic Downtown Glendale. 623-847-3301 Hours Mon-Thur Lunch 11am-3pm Dinner 5pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm Select Sundays. Website: www.lapiazzaalforno.blogspot.com

Their menu states, “Our passion is crafting delicious Italian meals using simple time honored recipes… Just like the original Pizzerias and Trattorias of Italy, La Piazza is a place for friends and family to gather for good food.”

It was just by chance that my friends and I ended up at La Piazza. But what a fortuitous chance that was. Just south of Murphy Park at 58th Ave & Glendale, it’s tucked away in an almost hidden store front. The food was excellent and the people very friendly. And the prices were very moderate with generous portions.

We all started off with a side salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cheese and cucumbers with a nice Italian dressing, $3. A basket of Italian Bread was $1.50. They offer a short beer and wine list. We had a nice house red wine $5.25 glass. They also offer Calamari $7, Shrimp $7, and Bruschette $3 for Appetizers and a good variety of salads as well.

My favorite has always been Chicken Marsala and its one dish I always compare at any new Italian restaurant. The Chicken Marsala is a grilled chicken breast topped with mushrooms in a Marsala Wine Sauce with a side of pasta $10. It was delicious and large enough serving to make two meals. It made a great lunch the next day!

Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce $7 or with Meatballs or Italian Sausage $9, both were tasty and filling. My friend is sensitive to too spicy foods, but enjoyed the meatballs saying they were just right. Just like Momma used to make! Another had the Italian Sausage and was very pleased with the taste and texture. Some places are too greasy, but these were perfect and flavorful.

The menu offers Ravioli $8, Parmigiano $8, Scampi $12, Linguine $10, Rigatoni $10, Lasagna $9, and Fettuccine Alfredo $8, as you would expect from any respectable Italian restaurant. They offer a selection of sandwiches including Meatball $6, Sausage & Peppers $6 and The Godfather $6.

But saving the best for last, you have to try their pizza! The wood fueled brick oven pizza brings you back to the classic pizza of years past. The crust has texture, volume and flavor to it and is crispy and tasty. Fresh ingredients like mozzarella, ricotta, basil and garlic generously top a pie you can pick up in your hand and feel some weight. They offer a nice menu of “Specialty Pizzas” with a wide selection of traditional (not designer) toppings for only $11 for the 14” to $17 for the 16”. If you want a pizza with real taste, check this one out. It’s a real treat after too many plastic and cardboard tasting pizzas the chains serve up. Now that I’m spoiled for good pizza, it will have to be La Piazza’a!

A family operation, La Piazza Al Forno owned by the Piazzas, (Justin, Rachel, Dennis, Anita and the kids), will make you enjoy family dinners out without breaking the bank and in an atmosphere you will feel comfortable. And the food will make you smile as much as the company!
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"Mamma Mia!" Movie Review

"Mamma Mia!"

By LeeAnn Sharpe

"Mamma Mia!" is great fun! The audience sang along, clapped, giggled and ahhhed as the songs ran the gamut of emotions. Mamma Mia flies on the wings of the golden oldies of ABBA and the crazy musical romps where the entire cast joins in wonderfully joyful choreographed dance routines. Every minute of this flick will refresh your spirit with beautiful views of the Greek island and blues of the ocean, along with classic music.

Meryl Streep is so well loved that even though this musical part of this role may have been a stretch for her, she made it work. Her voice actually sounded good. But Pierce Brosnan, who played her old flame Sam, should stick to acting. His voice was like the guy at the office singing karaoke and everyone tries to ignore the pain of it all. Still he is well cast as the great love of her life. Colin Firth who actually learned to play guitar for this role and took some singing lessons sounded pretty decent. Not that he will have a new music career, but he can carry a tune. Julie Walters and Christine Baranski took their comedic acting skills to a new level with their over the top musical performances. Stellan Skarsgård as Bill, one of three possible fathers of Donna’s daughter, had the audience rooting for him all the way.

ABBA, the Swedish pop act who has sold more than 400 million records to date and continues to sell well, has created timeless universally popular music. There is a strong camp appeal to the music that’s reminiscent of a kinder, gentler place in time. So it’s no surprise when the audience sings along and actually knows all of the words. Those who don’t sing along are looking superior, above all that, but they are still smiling behind the sneers. A magic in the music places a spell on all who hear it, a fan or not.

The story goes twenty-year-old Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), raised in Greece, invites three men to her wedding, one of whom she is sure must be her father. As the wedding guests arrive the bride-to-be with her two best girlfriends and her Mom and her two girlfriends vamp down memory lane with various musical numbers. Then the three would-be dads meet and bond and sing and try to figure out why they've been summoned to sunny Greece, where each enjoyed a lovely tryst with Donna years ago .

"Mamma Mia" will be your "Waterloo," as you enjoy a musical film like no other. "Super Trouper", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Thank You for the Music", "Money, Money, Money", "The Winner Takes It All", "Voulez Vous", "I Have a Dream" and "SOS". It’s pure feel good fun from beginning to end. So let yourself go and enjoy! Warning you will have ABBA in your head for weeks to come!

MAMMA MIA! is a Universal Pictures release directed by Phyllida Lloyd from a script by Catherine Johnson. Running time: 108 minutes. Rated PG-13 for some sex-related comments.
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“Pistol Packin’ Paula” Benefit

“Pistol Packin’ Paula” Benefit
Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek was recently (Jun 29th ) the site of a very special benefit for Phoenix Arizona’s own World Champion Lady Six Gun Spinner, Bull Whip Artist and All-Around Wild West Performer, Paula Saletnik, who, for over 12 years entertained Tens of Thousands of Guests at the World Famous Rawhide Theme Park in Scottsdale, performed for Hundreds of Corporate Events and Fund Raisers, and performed at the World Famous Ponderosa Ranch {Home of TV’s Bonanza}.

Paula Saletnik, aka “Pistol Packin’ Paula”, was recently involved in an automobile accident, from which she sustained very serious bodily injury. During the evening of Thursday, January 10, Paula struck a deer while driving on a county highway near her home in Boerne, Texas. As she swerved to miss the animal, her truck rolled countless times and was thrown from the vehicle through the driver side window. When she regained consciousness, she was lying in the nearby grass, with the wheels upturned on her vehicle. As she realized she needed to call for help, her cellular phone was missing from it’s holder. Unable to move, she was encouraged when Pepper, her beloved dog, ran nearly a mile to a nearby farmhouse to get help. It was at this exact time that Paula’s landlord called her. Fortunately, she was able to reach the cell phone located near her knee, truly a Godsend. An ambulance arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and she was transported to a nearby “Flight for Life” location. She was then airlifted by helicopter to the University Hospital in San Antonio, TX.

Paula’s diagnosed injuries included a broken sternum and pelvis {both sides, front & back}, cracked ribs and fractures to three vertebrae. A surgical procedure was performed on Tuesday, January 15, with several permanent pins implanted. Her doctors expect a full recovery, however, this will take several months or years of therapy and determination. Paula’s tough Cowgirl Spirit is intact and she WILL twirl her guns and ride her horse again! After her hospital stay, Paula has left the hospital and is staying with friends for the next several months, who will assist her in her therapy and recovery.

Dr Buck Montgomery, of Dr Buck Productions {Producer of the Annual Wild Western Festival in Phoenix AZ Sept 26-28 at CJS Film Studios www.wildwesternfestivals.com}, a personal friend of over 15 years and a fellow entertainer has contributed to and created a Trust Fund for Paula, {Donations can be made at Any “Bank of America” Branch, to the “ THE PAULA SALETNIK MEDICAL FUND”}

The Paula Benefit on Sunday, June 29th, 2008, from 2pm to 6pm, was hosted by Barbara & Larry Wendt at their Historic Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse, located at: 6811 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, Arizona 85331. Despite the 110 degree heat a good number of people attended keeping close to shade and misters and sipping cool beverages. The event featured World Class “Best of the West” Entertainers, Live Music, Games, Activities, Raffles, a great Silent & Live Auction. TC Thorstenson also a long time friend of Paula’s, previously working together in his Champions of the West Wild West Shows, performed for the audience with his World Famous Buffalo Harvey Wallbanger. Although Harvey didn’t want to lie down in the hot sand, he pulled through like the great performer he is and even jumped through a ring of fire with TC on his back. Gary West Magician entertained the group with his old west style magic show. Casino tables from Arizona Nights kept guest cool inside with blackjack and roulette. Chris Putman did his strolling magic, Tumbleweed Junction played their cowboy music, Justus Harrison entertained the crowds, Arizona Duuude shook hands and welcomed guests and Gary Kotula artist drew caricatures all to benefit their friend Paula.
For further information on how you can help Paula, contact Tammy Youngs at {480} 703-6702 or email:TLYoungs@cox.net or Dr Buck at {623} 521-3856 Fax: {623} 882-9428 or email:DRBuc@cox.net DR BUCK PRODUCTIONS, PO Box 7123, Goodyear, AZ 85338.


Johnny Ringo of Carefree Adventures bought the “One for Each of You” Buck Taylor print of Doc Holliday at the OK Corral (Val Kilmer in the movie Tombstone) beautifully framed by local artist Gary Graham Double G Frames.

Sharlot Herself: Selected Writings of Sharlot Hall

Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

Sharlot Herself: Selected Writings of Sharlot Hall Edited by Nancy Kirkpatrick Wright with an introduction by Margaret F. Maxwell Illustrations by Carlos Parra Copyright 1992 by Sharlot Hall Museum 415 W. Gurley Street Prescott, AZ 86301
ISBN 0-927579-04-9 Sharlot Hall books can be ordered at phone: 928.445.3122.


Recently my friend Bob Roloff, the Arizona Duuude, introduced me to the writings of Sharlot Hall. First I read her biography by Margaret F. Maxwell, “A Passion For Freedom: The Life of Sharlot Hall”, “Cactus and Pine” and then the Arizona Strip book. Finally I have completed the series with the “Sharlot Herself: Selected Writings of Sharlot Hall”, Edited by Nancy Kirkpatrick Wright.

With each book I have come to love Sharlot Hall more. Her dedication to the state of Arizona and love of early history runs parallel to the course I have set for my own life. Sharlot’s way of turning a phrase using the jargon of the western cowboy and Arizona pioneer makes her stories especially interesting.

It is almost beyond belief that a woman of her era was able to travel so extensively and participate in so many daring and adventurous activities generally associated with men. As a young girl she rode her pony with her pioneering family from Kansas to Lonesome Valley Arizona outside Prescott. That in itself led to many adventures and strengthened her spirit.

Her chauvinistic, self-centered, brute of a father probably did her a favor in setting her mind against marriage at an early age. Seeing how her mother was merely his property and slave, worked to death without the affection due as reward for her commitment, Sharlot vowed never to be yoked by any man.

Perhaps once or twice she felt genuine affection for men in her life, but they didn’t see her as wifely material, not that she was interested. Rather she was almost an intellectual equal or student to sit at their feet and learn, take advice and fawn over their ideas.

Samuel Putnam, a proponent of the Free Thought Movement who lectured in Prescott in 1895 caught her eye and she became an ardent follower until his death just a year later. Her poems reflected her deep love for him and regret that he was gone from her life forever. At the same time she seemed almost angry with him that he was gone or maybe more that she had fallen for him so deeply. It must have hurt her knowing he was traveling with a young woman much like herself. But then the woman has died in the same gas accident as Putnam.

Her life was filled with exciting men of history including the renowned publisher Charles F. Lummis, the last Arizona territorial governor Richard E. Sloan, first state governor George W.P. Hunt, President Calvin Coolidge and artist Maynard Dixon.

Sharlot Herself: Selected Writings of Sharlot Hall presents many of Sharlot’s previously unpublished bits and pieces of prose and letters into the context of her life at that time. It helps to flesh out the character of this rugged individualist with a unique talent for throwing a lariat to lasso up just the right words to express her feelings and experiences. When she went north to the Arizona Strip she went through territory few people had traveled. Her descriptions of nature; flora, fauna and geology aroused the interests of many businessmen looking at the area for mining and lumbering potential.

Each of the books mentioned above would be of interest to anyone with a love for early Arizona history. Reading about a brave adventurous woman like Sharlot Hall is inspirational.

SHARLOT HALL ON THE ARIZONA STRIP

Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

SHARLOT HALL ON THE ARIZONA STRIP: A Diary of a Journey Through Northern Arizona in 1911 by Sharlot M. Hall, edited by C. Gregory Crampton, foreword by Valeen Tippetts Avery published by Sharlot Hall Museum 415 W. Gurley Street Prescott, AZ 86301. Revised edition, © 1999 112 pp., photograph, map ISBN: 0-927579-08-1
$14.95, paperback. This book has just gone out of print. Other Sharlot Hall books can be ordered at phone: 928.445.3122.

You think you know everything about your home state until you read the words of a traveler who walked the state step-by-step discovering intimate details known no other way. Some of the way was in a buckboard, but she enjoyed walking ahead, even running on occasion to enjoy the freedom of being one with nature alone in the wilderness.

Sharlot Hall and Al Doyle walked every inch of the trails in the Arizona Strip, the area north of the Grand Canyon. It was in a time, 1910, when trails were few, rugged and treacherous at best. It was in a time when women seldom left the comforts of home, unless absolutely necessary. But Sharlot Hall of her own free will and desire took on the role of historian and adventurer to document the area before Arizona was even a state.

When my friend Bob Roloff, the Arizona Duuude, wrote of his love for the writing of Sharlot Hall it made me curious. First I read her biography by Margaret F. Maxwell, “A Passion For Freedom: The Life of Sharlot Hall”, and her book of poems “Cactus and Pine”. Then I had to read “Sharlot Hall: the Arizona Strip” by Sharlot Hall.

I’d always thought of myself as a fairly brave and adventurous spirit, raised as tom boy, the son my father never had. I’ve hiked, hunted, fished and camped all of my life. Arizona has been a wonderful playground in which to explore and learn about nature and history, especially back in the 1950’s and 1960’s when much of the state was still barely inhabited.

But what it must have been for Sharlot Hall and Al Doyle to travel from Prescott to Kingman, Flagstaff, to Tuba City and up to Lee’s Ferry. They went across the Colorado River to the Arizona Strip and the Painted Desert, the Kaibab Plateau, Fredonia and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Her descriptions of the flowers and trees, the mountains and trails and every living creature they encountered were fascinating. Thrilling were her descriptions of wagons swallowed whole in raging rivers and strong oxen teams washed downstream never to be seen again. The incredible muscle and will it took to move equipment and supplies to remote mines and construction projects at a snails pace make it hard to imagine getting anything accomplished. But they did and we reap the benefits today.

Sharlot may not have known at the time, but while she traveled the state as the official Arizona Territorial Historian, appointed by Governor Richard Sloan, the October 1910 Constitutional Convention was meeting in Phoenix to plan the preliminary document that would lead to Arizona’s statehood. As a direct result of Hall’s appointment which had generated criticism at the time, a provision to deny suffrage to women, and another stating only qualified voters could hold public office were insert into the state constitution. Thus when Sharlot returned her position was in question and her termination came when Governor George W.P. Hunt was sworn in as the first Arizona state governor. Still she remains the only woman to serve public office in the Arizona Territory.

She may have been born a woman but she was not going to let the dictates of a male dominated society tell her what she could and could not do with her own life. She continued to take risks, write about all she saw, run a ranch until her father’s death, and took a dilapidated territorial governors mansion and restored it into what is now one of the foremost historical museums in the state today.

Sharlot Hall once said, "There is something better than making a living--making a life." And so she lived her life.

Satisfied Frog Restaurant Dining Review

Dining Review Satisfied Frog Restaurant

by Cowgirl Connoisseur

Satisfied Frog at Frontier Town
6245 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331
http://www.satisfiedfrog.biz/ (480) 488-3317

I’ve been going to the Satisfied Frog in Cave Creek for years. And yes, I heard all about the change in ownership when the previous owner didn’t pay his bills. Sad that it happens, but when he didn’t have the bucks to pay the staff or maintain the property, its best he left and let someone who can take care of it take over. I would hate to lose the Satisfied Frog because it is such a landmark in Cave Creek. So hurray and good luck to the new management!

Some people say it’s the atmosphere. Others say it was the waitresses legs. I always liked the popcorn machine at the door. But more than anything it has always been the food. When you sit down to eat you want a good quality delicious meal and that’s what has impressed me the most at the Satisfied Frog. It’s always good food.

Lunch time I enjoy the Taco Salad $8.99, the Chicken Quesadilla $8.99, the Pulled Pork $9.99, a Burger $8.99 or Brisket Sandwiches $9.99. And there is soup that is to die for! The Southwestern Corn Chowder is world famous! The Soup/Salad Bar ($9.99 or $2.99 added to any entrée) is great with the best Vegetable Beef Soup you can find anywhere!

For dinner the Steaks and Prime Rib (market price) are great but my favorite is the ribs! Of course they come with all the extras of your choice of potato, vegetables and salad. They also have this Ultimate Chow Wagon, sort of a sampler platter if you can’t make up your mind. It’s Beef Ribs, Brisket and Smoked Chicken ($15.99) all on one plate with Coleslaw, Beans and Bread. You can upgrade to Pork Ribs for $3 additional. They have a special smoker bbq out back that makes the best bbq around.

My daughter and her friends make the Satisfied Frog their destination for every special occasion. They get the giant margarita to share and always have a great time. You can’t beat the atmosphere for a fun gathering.

Frontier Town, where Satisfied Frog is located, has two bars, a bunch of novelty stores, a wedding chapel and the restaurant. The entire complex is built around a Western theme with rugged pine interiors and splashes of modern-day neon and quirky art and signs. It keeps the dining experience interesting as diners catch a humorous quote on one of the signs and their entire table gets a light hearted giggle. A blend of road-tripping families, tourists, locals who know where to get a good meal and newlyweds make up the clientele. Special events bring in big crowds and the crew at the Satisfied Frog are always up to the challenge.
4th of July Fireworks, NASCAR Sundays, "Chicago Cubs" Headquarters for the ball games on TV, the Annual Fiesta Days Rodeo & Parade in April and the Annual Wild West Days in November are a few of the annual events you can find the place hopping.
After lunch or dinner take a stroll through all of the little shops like Glory Bee for great southwest apparel at fabulous prices. And Suzanne’s Hot Stuff for some spicy treats to take home. Jewelry, leather, souvenirs and more are available in the many shops. There’s even a barber shop and beauty salon. So next time you are looking for an adventure and a good meal, check out the Satisfied Frog at Frontier Town. The do weddings and banquets there too!

Vogue Bistro and Bar

By LeeAnn Sharpe

A new slice of gastronomic heaven has opened in the northwest valley. Vogue Bistro and Bar, located in Marley Park at 15411 W. Waddell Rd. in Surprise is pleased to bring Cordon Bleu Culinary School trained Chef Aurore de Beauduy, most recently the former Chef at the Silverleaf Country Club located in DC Ranch in Scottsdale, to create contemporary American cuisine with a French bistro influence. Now you can fulfill those gourmet desires Tuesday through Saturday,11:00 AM – Midnight or at Sunday Brunch from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. They are closed Mondays.


The ambiance is contemporary upscale with a crisp clean black and white décor. Located in the Bashas Shopping center on the far west end of the center, it's not at all what you would expect for a neighborhood bistro in Surprise. They have brought class to the area, with style and service you would expect in the finest cities of the world. But then many of the residents in Surprise and Sun City are world travelers who will return frequently for the more sophisticated dining experience near home.

Our server, a delightful young lady, recommended a bottle of wine, Barro Rose Pinot Grigio from Italy (www.bacchannalwines.com) glass $9/ bottle $32 from the extensive wine list. Most of their wines are imported. We were pleased with her suggestion and the opportunity to taste two of her recommendations.

Vogue owner Roman Yasinsky suggested Frito Misto $4 the tempura-fried calamari, seasonal vegetables, ginger bits, with a light aioli dip. He brought us an extra spicy dip to try as well. The presentation is delightful with swirled crisps piled high. Both dips and the calamari were very nice.

Additional "Starters" on the menu include Bruschetta $3 with Chef Aurore's daily topping selection; Escargot $7 a delicate escargot sauteed in herb infused garlic butter and baked in a puff pastry; Smoked Salmon $9 luxurious house-smoked salmon, crème fraîche, pickled caperberries, red onion, artisan toast points. The smoked salmon is also available whole, for take out orders; Olives $7 house-marinated premium Mediterranean olives; Artisan Cuts $9 country-style pâte, assorted artisan sausages, salami and cured meats, olives, toasted almonds, Dijon mustard and warm handcrafted bread; Skewer $7 a daily selection of skewer grilled savory meats or seafood served with local seasonal greens and shaved Parmesan; Cheese $7 fine artisan cheeses from the world's best producers.

Next chef sent us a delicious Burotta Cheese Caprese $8. The creamy cheese from Italy is a special appetizer/salad not on the menu, and a unique twist on the traditional Caprese. Fresh basil and tomato accented with an Italian balsamic and this heavenly cheese that melts in your mouth instantly, lighter and sweeter than a traditional mozzarella. It was very much a pleasant surprise to experience something new and so delicious.

The Vogue Salad $8 with frisee, arugula, gorgonzola blue cheese, dried cranberries, pecans, pumpkin seeds and bits of applewood-smoked bacon tossed in warm sherry vinaigrette can be a meal in itself when topped with steak $4, chicken $4 or fish $4. The flavors of each unique ingredient combine to a flavor explosion so wonderful and satisfying.


In addition to the wonderful list of basics on the menu everyday, Chef Aurore prepares specials and I was luck enough to experience her Duck seared breast confit paired with red cabbage in a fig emulsion $28. Tender and flavorful, the duck had a fig emulsion sauce that complemented the red cabbage perfectly. It was accompanied by a butternut squash soufflé that was more like a dessert with its naturally sweet light as air texture.

My dining companion enjoyed a Chilean Sea Bass $17 with endive and burotta cheese, basil and vinaigrette. Extremely light with a mild flavor, the bass is a good choice for warm summer dinners.


Other entrees on the menu include Steak Frites $15, all natural, prime grade Black Angus onglet steak prepared "medium rare" with brandied peppercorn sauce and served with Vogue Fries; Roasted Chicken $15, half chicken slowly roasted to perfection in herb-garlic jus, and served with Yukon Gold potatoes and roasted carrots; Fish $15, daily seasonal fish served with roasted sweet potatoes, local greens and warm citrus. She'll also be doing daily specials like osso buco, daurade, foie gras, cassoulet and duck confit.

Under the category of "Accessories" you will find some unusual but exciting offerings. Vogue Fries $3 are incredible according to several sources. Crisp and delicious, they are a perfect accompaniment to any sandwich or entrees and are served with a savory dipping sauce. I can't wait to return to try the Sweet Potato Fries $3 described as luscious and healthy on the menu, but "orgasmic" by a fellow diner. Vanilla Butternut Squash $3 is local organic butternut squash with vanilla beans, and Georgia pecans caramelized in maple syrup. Spelt Risotto $3 a healthy spelt grain seasoned with savory herbs is not likely to be found on many a menu in the valley. Garlic Mash $3 is hand mashed Golden Yukon potato with roasted garlic and herbs. And when was the last time you had Mashrooms $5 wild mushrooms sauteed with aromatic herbs. You must also try the Vogue Mac & Cheese $3 which is Chef Aurore's creative take on a timeless classic. It's made with truffles and juicy bits of pancetta. The next table ordered the delicious creamy spinach $3 and commented yummy. I have never seen Plantains $3 on a valley menu before. The Caribbean treasure is delicate, sweet and scrumptious.


Dessert was Crème Bruelle with strawberries as good as I've ever experienced anywhere. Other desserts include chocolate pot de crème $5, pineapple tatin $5 and a cheese plate $7. Cappuccino and coffee topped off this incredible meal.

Vogue's daily menu offers a wide assortment of paninis, gourmet burgers, salads and fresh fish, chicken and steak dishes. Sandwiches include the popular (customers drive miles out of their way for this burger!) Vogue Burger $8 all natural, fresh ground Black Angus, Gorgonzola Blue cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, caramelized onion chutney, arugula, organic mixed greens, our special brioche bun; Blue Jeans Burger $8 all natural, fresh ground Black Angus, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onions, pickles, on a special brioche bun; Chicken Panini $8 grilled breast of chicken, Asiago cheese, roasted red peppers, grilled zucchini, arugula, fresh basil aioli, press-toasted artisan baguette; Garden Panini $8 zucchini, Japanese eggplant, roasted red pepper, oven-dried tomatoes, Manchego cheese, fresh basil aioli, on press-toasted artisan bread; Cheese Panini $7 Manchego and Cheddar blend, on press-toasted artisan bread; Fish Panini $9 seared White Fish, organic mixed greens, oven roasted tomatoes, herb infused caper-lemon sauce, on press-toasted artisan bread.

I had the Chicken Panini at a Vogue catered affaire, which is how I came to find this hidden treasure. They do catering and special parties in style! The Panini was a delicious blend of flavors and was accompanied by a selection of salads, both green and pasta.

Chef Aurore de Beauduy's (pictured at right with husband and co-owner Roman Yasinsky) daily signature dishes are certain to wake up the northwest valley to the finest French bistro experience you can find anywhere. Vogue is reasonably priced, contemporary cuisine presented in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Add "designer" martinis, bourbon bar, and a craft beer selection to please the true beer connoisseur and you are certain to return time and again. Vogue Bistro offers dinner and bar service until midnight except Mondays. Be sure to make this your destination for lunch or dinner soon. We found it a great choice for before or after Sundome theatre. Or the new UltraStar Cinema is only a mile east.

For more information or reservations, call 623-544-9109 or visit www.voguebistro.com.
All photos by LeeAnn Sharpe

The Black Bear Diner Dining Review

The Black Bear Diner
By Cowgirl Connoisseur Dining Review

There once was a time when you went to a diner for a meal and found good solid nutritious food in hearty portions and as delicious as Mom’s cooking. Not many of those places survive in the modern fast paced world.

If you yearn for a diner of yesteryear, mosey into The Black Bear Diner. They have two locations in north Glendale at 6039 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306, (602) 843-1921 and in Phoenix, at 2410 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 298-2671. The franchise, out of Mt. Shasta, California, says they have 35 Diners and are still growing! Other Arizona locations include Bullhead City, Goodyear, and Lake Havasu City.
Their menu is an old-time newspaper with stories about local events in the past. On my last visit I enjoyed the California Scramble $7.69 for breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, and jack cheese. It came with potatoes (your choice of hash browns or diced) and bread (your choice of toast or biscuit). The waitress asked about how you liked everything cooked – regular or crispy. The biscuit was the biggest fluffiest most delicious I’ve ever eaten. And the eggs were fabulous!
Others in my party had the Ham and Eggs $7.69 with pancakes, Hungry Man Steak and Eggs $9.99 and another had the Pancakes Mama Bear stack $4.69. Everyone had too much to eat and couldn’t finish their plates. Servings are extra generous and delicious.
The menus for lunch and dinner are both so extensive and economically priced, you are sure to find what you like. Lunch menu sandwiches are generally about $7.99 and dinner averages about $11.99. A large Senior Menu is mostly about $7.99 for dinners.
Their menu notes they have been trans fat free at all locations fo the last 3 years. Their menu says good old fashioned comfort food. And everything on the menu looks very comforting to me!
The décor includes extra large deep booths and tables where you won’t feel cramped even if your hubby is a double X. And there are stuffed bears everywhere to compliment the pine and rough wood trim. Two giant sleeping bears in the reception area are said to wake up and hug patrons on occasion. It’s a family friendly very comfortable place. Jason and his staff did a good job to make us all feel welcome and happy to return.
They have a website at www.blackbeardiner.com with a gift shop.

Longhorn Saloon and Grill

What were you doing on Friday night May 30th? If you were not at the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, then whatever you were doing you were doing it in the wrong place. The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is the new "In" place in the West Valley. It is family owned and operated withfive star roots that reach into some of the best New York restaurants. Maybe even one or two highlighted in the long running television series and just released movie.

Chef Charles Steppe and his brother Chris opened their restaurant the first part of this year but on the 30th they held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their becoming members of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce one of the fasts growing chambers in the West Valley. Chris and Charles and their mother Nancy Tuatagaloa welcomed David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber along with a large number of Chamber members, and Youngtown Mayor Michael LeVault and Councilmember Dorena Mello and several other Councilmembers to the Longhorn. Three generations of the family Chris, Nancy and Shay (the chef's daughter) took part in the ribbon cutting. Charles was busy in the kitchen preparing the feast for their guests. Included in this were hamburger and pulled pork sliders, fried mushrooms, chicken croquettes, pigs-in-a-blank, stuffed pasta and fruit, all in large quantities, no one left hungry. If you missed the events of the 30th including Emil Flaim the pianist/singer who entertained everyone throughout the evening, you can enjoy the Longhorn for lunch and dinner throughout the week in their sports bar, lounge or dinning room.

The Longhorn Saloon and Grill is located at 13232 N. 111th Ave., just South of Grand in Youngtown. For all who have no idea of where Youngtown is, the town of just over 6,000 is located on the Agua Fria River in the West Valley, South of Grand Ave., and just West of Sun City. Nearby attractions include the Bradshaw Mountains, Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the University of Phoenix Stadium. Youngtown still enjoys the tranquil, small town feel while providing residents with five parks, its own police force, a library, clubhouse, a lake, beautiful sunsets and wildlife. The town is a vibrant mix of young singles, families, professionals, blue collar and retirees, and is close to all the great shopping, entertainment, art and work locations in the West Valley. The next time your looking for a great meal in a relaxed atmosphere just head over to the Longhorn Saloon and Grill, it's worth the gas. If you would like information on their live entertainment, specials or just need directions call 623-933-6023.

Photo:
On the left in the cowboy hat is the well known Arizona Dude who partook in the celebration at the invitation of Panorama Hills Monthly. On the right in the suite is David Lewis President/CEO of the Surprise Chamber. And in the center cutting the ribbon is Nancy with her son Chris and her granddaughter Shay.

Women Against MS Luncheon

By LeeAnn Sharpe
An invitation to attend the Women Against MS luncheon at the Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, filled an otherwise dull day with an opportunity to learn about Multiple Sclerosis and what progress has been made toward a cure or treatment. Even though I have a sister-in-law in California with this disease, I really knew very little about MS.

The brochure said, “An afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment as we move towards a world free of MS.” Can the world be free of MS?

The first thing I learned about MS is that two thirds of it’s victims are women. And most look like the picture of health. Very few used canes or walkers or wheelchairs. But the terrible affects of the disease are still there and often make life very difficult.

Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Featured keynote speaker Kristie Salerno Kent spoke of her experiences and how it’s hard for people to understand she has MS because she looks outwardly unaffected. She often hears, “You have MS? But you look so good.” Yet, it’s difficult to walk, she suffers pain, vision problems, and physical exhaustion is a constant problem.

A few years after Kristie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She woke up one day unable to move her legs. It was a terrifying experience and with medication and therapy she can now walk. She decided that she was not going to give up her dreams of performing just because of her MS diagnosis. Kristie took on the role of an MS Lifelines Ambassador and travels the country speaking and singing for others who are affected by the disease. Now her performances are for a purpose and not just entertainment.

As a songwriter, Kristie writes from her own experiences and many of her songs were created from pages of her personal journal. Kristie's debut solo CD, "Believe" is a heartfelt testimony of her determination to succeed despite adversity. Her powerful and richly textured voice combined with her honest lyrics and memorable melodies make you BELIEVE that anything is possible.

You can watch "The Show Must Go On", a short video created by Kristie about her experience with MS. This video was one of six nationwide to be featured in the National MS Society Moving Forward Film Festival. It is available on You Tube.

At my luncheon table, Sandra Behlkea, a nurse, has a son-in-law with MS. She wrote a cookbook to help non-profits raise funds though its sale. Her son-in-law is now symptom free, the result of medication, diet and exercise. This is a common thread I hear over and over again. Still there is no cure for MS.

Dr. Dean Wingerchuk, MD an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine spoke to the group of several hundred women gathered this beautiful day. He made the point almost everyone knows someone with MS, even though they may not realize it. In the research of MS, two key areas of focus are the genetic aspect, which has identified two key genes linked to the disease. This is a big step forward toward learning why people get MS. Another is the environmental factors that contribute to MS. He felt the next ten years of research will lead to greater understanding. Right now the medications for treatment of MS have progressed tremendously in the last fifteen years. Research in MS is progressing at a remarkable rate, with more potential therapies in the pipeline than at any other time in history. This is all the result of research funded by the National MS Society.

Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

Last year the Women Against MS luncheon raised nearly $70,000 to provide programs for people living with MS and fund research towards the cure and treatment of this chronic disease of the central nervous system. This year they certainly surpassed that figure… reports yet to come. There is no cure. Maybe someday.

Women Against MS Luncheon
An afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment as we move towards a world free of MS Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Event Chair: Terry Ashoff Johnson
About the Luncheon
The National MS Society, Arizona Chapter and other outstanding women for an afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment move towards a world free of MS. They share the joys of a fine lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock of "Good Morning Arizona" and with featured keynote speaker Kristie Salerno Kent. Guests also bought tickets for a live raffle held during the program for a wide variety of exciting prizes.


Clip of Kristie singing You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V9H3Oj7gG0

Get Involved Your involvement can make all the difference. Please join us for an upcoming event.

MS 2008: Maximizing Care Strategies A multidisciplinary continuing medical education conference Saturday, May 3, 2008 Hyatt Regency Phoenix http://nationalMSsociety.org/MS2008

Corks and Chords 2008 An evening of wine and music to end MS Saturday, September 13, 2008 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale http://nationalMSsociety.org/corks2008

WalkMS: Prescott Walk on the Wild Side Saturday, October 18, 2008 7 :00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m Heritage Park Zoo in Prescott
http://walkaza.nationalMSsociety.org

WalkMS: Phoenix Walk on the Wild Side Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.SRP's Headquarters in Phoenix http://walkaza.nationalMSsociety.org

Bike MS: Round Up Ride 2009 March 28 & 29, 2009 Heritage Park in Florence, Arizona http://bikeaza.nationalMSsociety.org

For more information about the National MS Society, Arizona Chapter, please vIsit www.aza.nationalMSsociety.org or call us at 1-800-344-4867


See http://www.azphm.com/wams.htm for photos of the event

Lori Piestewa Honored in Tree Dedication in PA

Lori Piestewa, the first female American-Indian soldier to be killed as a result of injuries suffered during combat in Iraq will be honored in the naming of a very special oak tree in Solebury, Pennsylvania.

The white oak sapling was sprouted from the acorn of an ancient, 516 year old legendary oak tree that had succumbed to disease and a lightening strike in May 1999.The much loved tree with it’s broad near perfect shape and huge size had been a gathering place for schoolchildren who would form a circle around the trunk and couples who would marry in its shade.

While colonial settlers felled thousands of acres of trees in Bucks County to clear land for farms, this particular oak survived. According to legend, the Lenni Lenape Indians held gatherings beneath its boughs. By the end of the 20th century, the Columbus Oak, as it was known, stood like a solitary sentinel in a field off Aquetong Road. It had grown to 68 feet in height, 29 feet in circumference and more than 140 feet from side to side.

Only a rotting stump now remains a silent sentinel marking the location of so much history. Now, an acorn from the fallen tree that was nurtured into a young oak that will be planted in the roots of the mother. The Solebury Township Historical Society will also dedicate a plaque at the site of the Columbus Oak below Bowman's Tower and across the street from the Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Piestewa, a Hopi from Arizona, was chosen to represent the tree because of the ideals she represented as an American Indian, says Crooks, as well as the significance of what the tree meant to the early Indian tribes. The Native American Society also will participate in the celebration.

Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops Dining Review

Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops,
8172 W. Bell Road, Glendale, 623-412-0787
www.paragonsteak.com
By LA Sharpe

When the occasion calls for an extra special dinner, such as Mother’s or Father’s Day, I would suggest Glendale Carvers Steak & Chops, 8172 W. Bell Road, (in front of Best Buy) Glendale, 623-412-0787. Prime rib is the house specialty but they have an extensive and impressive menu. Prices range from $20-$30.

Carvers is opening an hour early at 11 a.m. for Mother's Day. You can order off the menu or from the chef's Mother's Day menu that will offer a fish, steak or combo special. Reservations are encouraged.

The ambiance is relaxed upscale with plenty of private rooms for those special intimate parties.

To start we nibbled on the Calamari Fritti, lightly fried with sweet red peppers and onion drizzled with ancho chili mayonnaise $9.95. Yummy. Just the right taste to set the appetite on fire. A companion had the French Onion Soup au Gratin $5.00 which I sampled and enjoyed the deep rich flavor without being salty as many onion soups can be.

I especially enjoyed the Filet Mignon Carver’s Cut $26, their most tender cut, with Sherried Mushrooms $5.00. The Filet is served with salad and potato. From the wide range of choices I selected the spinach salad with honey mustard dressing that was to die for delicious. You have your choice of garlic, au gratin, baked or French fries for the potato. I took the backed loaded and it was perfection. They also offer rice pilaf or vegetables.

My friend had the Prime Rib Carver’s Cut $29. They say it is award winning finest Midwestern beef with a herb crusted slow roasted overnight to ensure the most tender prime rib available. It is wonderful, tender and juicy as it should be.

Dessert was the Chocolate Oblivion $6.00 which I hope left me oblivious to the calories. It was enough to share with my dining partner leaving us both satisfied. Coffee to keep me awake after this delicious meal.

I should mention we finished off three bottles of wine between the four of us. A nice list to choose from and our waiter was very good at making recommendations. Their list allows by the glass or bottle and plenty of general wine information. You can view the list online prior to your visit to expedite selections.

They also offer chicken and seafood which I may try on another visit… haw.. the steaks are too good! I would highly recommend Carver’s in Glendale to anyone looking for a fine dining experience. The service was exceptional and the food perfection.

Carvers is part of the Paragon chain. From its modest beginning with the Jolly Ox Restaurant in San Diego in 1967, Paragon Steakhouse Restaurants, Inc., has grown into one of the country's leading steakhouse operators. Paragon prides itself in a commitment to hospitality, quality, service, and of course, steaks and prime rib. While Paragon's brands range from the upscale, classic American steakhouse to the more accessible sit-down dinner house, the company is best known for serving quality, award-winning choice steaks and prime ribs. The group also included the Hungry Hunter, The Whaling Company and Mountain Jack restaurants.

Wonderful Tonight George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me by Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor Published by Harmony Books 2007

Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

Wonderful Tonight George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me by Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor Published by Harmony Books 2007

Pattie Boyd has had an incredible life. Even before marrying a Beatle and the guitar God of the 60’s, she had been raised in Kenya and had a modeling career in mod London. Her face epitomized the swinging London scene. How terrific can one life get! And it seems like she has had several very exciting experiences at all stages of her life. It’s easy to see how she became a muse to two of the most addictive and promiscuous musical geniuses in the history of rock and roll.

Born in England on St. Patrick’s Day, thus the name, she was moved to Kenya at the age of four to be with her maternal grandparents. Her mother’s remarrying kept them separated for a time, so she was raised by the grands in this strange and exciting world. Once Mum and the new hubby were settled she was back in England attending convent schools from the age of 10. By 17 she was working at Elizabeth Arden on Bond Street and eventually professional modeling.

In the early 1960’s there was nothing making more news than the Beatles. Pattie seemed somewhat oblivious of them until she was sent on an acting job at Paddington Station to play a schoolgirl in a film they were making called “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964. She caught the eye of George Harrison, he proposed ten days later and her life changed again into the world of rock and roll.

The girlfriend and then wife of a Beatle was about as center of the universe for most young girls as you could get. She traveled the world of rock and roll legends in the making, becoming acquainted with every major star of the era. Mick Jagger & Marianne Faithfull, Mick Fleetwood, Donovan, Dylan and anyone else in the scene were part of her life. All of the major Beatle events we heard about in the news were personal experiences for her and she tells the intimate behind the scenes details that flesh out the stories in from the inside.

Even day to day life was filled with history. She talks about George sitting at the kitchen table writing “My Sweet Lord”. He also wrote “Something” which was his most successful songwriting experience and Pattie had been his inspiration.

Their lives were filled with travel. Travel to exotic places like India to see the Maharishi opened her eyes to a whole new world. Although exciting and fun, it was often difficult and uncomfortable as it was happening. She talks about the experiences of sea sickness, unbearable hot humid weather, rushing to make trains or planes and the strange foods they were served.

In the public eye she even got her own fan mail. She was pursued by one man in particular for over a decade. Eric Clapton wrote her passionate love letters and even songs including “Layla” about his terrible love for her, the wife of one of his best friends. Years later when George and Pattie split, Clapton came in a swooped her up. But once he had her in his life, he lost interest and never found it necessary to be true to his “true love”. Part of the problem is his obsession had always been through a drug and alcohol haze. Once he went through rehad their relationship changed. And rehad didn’t stick.

Pattie always seemed to maintain a fairly level head through all of the highs and lows dealing with drugs and alcohol, infidelity, abuse and neglect. She regrets that her marriage to George ended. “Marriage is forever”, she wrote. And she loved him till the day he died and mourned his death alone on top of a mountain in Peru.

Her marriage to Eric was so passionate she felt incapable of resisting. Eventually the alcohol and drugs made the situation intolerable. Her leaving sent Eric into rehab again and he finally cleaned up. She thinks if she had stayed he would have drunk himself to death. And she would have never found her own identity. Having always been the wife of a famous man she was overshadowed and never seen for herself. Now as a writer and photographer, her own work is recognized.

Inspiration for George Harrison’s song “Something” and Eric Clapton’s “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” and who knows how many other songs, the world is a better place for the muse Pattie Boyd. And she shares her exciting life openly in her book “Wonderful Tonight”. It’s a very enjoyable read to anyone who lived through the early years of rock and roll, a wonderful trip down memory lane. She shares lots of great pictures from her personal collection too.
###

The Satisfied Frog

New Owners of The Satisfied Frog are Committed to Providing Exceptional Food and Service to Patrons Ownership change on February 15th prompts re-birth of a new era for The Satisfied Frog

Long-time patrons of The Satisfied Frog at Frontier Town in Cave Creek can rest assured that it is "business as usual" at the western-themed restaurant and the recent change of ownership is already bringing about positive response from employees and customers. On Friday, February 15, The Satisfied Frog Restaurant operations were temporarily suspended for some 30 minutes during a transition to new operators, and despite rumors, the restaurant did not close its doors.

"Not only were we open this past weekend, we had a wedding on Saturday and an incredible turnout for our Nascar Party on Sunday," said Marc Peagler, who is operating the restaurant. Marc added that "we're not going anywhere," noting that The Satisfied Frog has been one of Arizona's most popular dining and entertainment destinations for more than 25 years and locals and tourists have been visiting Frontier Town for more than 38 years.

A New Era and Special Events
Juli Forsyth, The Satisfied Frog's Operations and General Manager, said she views this transition as a re-birth of a new era for the restaurant. "The history of The Frog will carry on. Our menu will remain mostly the same, though we may look at how to make it even better," Forsyth said. "We're also excited to announce that The Satisfied Frog is the official Spring Training headquarters for the Chicago Cubs. In addition, we are teaming up with Nascar to host big screen TV parties in our Beer Garden on race days. We're in the midst of planning these promotions, so check back with us soon for more details." Juli also credits her staff of 65 for their dedication and hard work. "Our staff has been incredible. We are very grateful to them and to our loyal customers for their support," she said.

Constance Wood, The Satisfied Frog's Director of Special Events, has been employed by the restaurant for 14 years and in her current position for four years. She said she is confident the new change will bring about positive results. "I am 100 percent behind this and want to reassure our customers, especially our brides and grooms who are planning a wedding here, that we will continue to provide exceptional food and service," Constance stated.

The Satisfied Frog Restaurant is located at 6245 E. Cave Creek Road in Frontier Town in Cave Creek. The western-themed restaurant offers a wide selection of delicious appetizers, entrées and deserts, including a full bar. Frontier Town is a western-themed, family-friendly town that pays tribute to the miners, ranchers and cattlemen who settled in Cave Creek in the late 1800s. Located in the heart of Cave Creek, Frontier Town is just minutes from North Scottsdale. Patrons visiting Frontier Town not only can dine at The Satisfied Frog, they can stroll through a myriad of gift shops and view authentic artifacts from the Old West, including covered wagons, and a 13 step hanging gallows. Patrons can relax in the outdoor beer garden and even have their hair cut in the old western barber/beauty shop. Parking and admission is free.

For information or to make dining reservations at The Satisfied Frog, call (480) 488-3317 or visit www.satisfiedfrog.biz . For banquets and weddings, call (602) 359-3300 or visit www.icanaffordthiswedding.biz .

“Clapton - The Autobiography of Eric Clapton”

Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

“Clapton - The Autobiography of Eric Clapton” (Broadway Books 2007), takes you along for an incredible journey through the history of rock and roll and the blues from the early 1960’s to present day.

Early childhood trauma of being raised by his grandparents, who he thought were actually his parents, only to learn who he thought was his sister was his mother, left him with some deep and obviously painful wounds. Clapton's experiences with alcohol, drugs and women all attest to his emotional fragility that was only addressed well into his 50’s.

That’s all very interesting background, but what is more is how he managed to survive it all (drugs including heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and groupies) and still create incredible music. The fact that he is alive after all the abuse he put himself through is mind boggling.

Clapton goes into great detail about the music, expounding on who he liked and admired and how he felt he had to play true to his heart. The pop rock world kept pulling at him with commercial success, but his heart wanted to be a blues purist. Clapton modeled himself after blues players Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson. Clapton’s first success was with the 1965 single “For Your Love” by The Yardbirds. He felt that it was too pop and before it peaked at #6 in the US, Clapton had left the band. He wrote, "I felt it was a dreadful waste of what had potentially been a good rock blues band."

Already his fame as a rock guitarist was known. “Clapton is God” was painted on a tube station wall just outside London and spread to walls throughout the city.

Covering such a long career, it seems he jumped from band to band. Just as they reached some level of success Clapton would bail on to a new adventure. It was often because he felt he was selling out on his goal of playing the blues. Or the opportunity to play with other musicians he admired was too great a lure.

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers provided the direction Clapton wanted building his reputation as a great guitar player. Then he helped form Cream, a blues trio that in 1968 broke into the US Top 10 with the gold single “Sunshine Of Your Love”. Over their brief three year career, Cream produced four gold albums including the post-breakup sets Goodbye and Best Of Cream, including a cover of Robert Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” which would be the first single to feature Eric Clapton on vocals.

Personalities were often the cause of Clapton moving on. The artistic directions often clashed and he moved on to new horizon’s always seeking his own voice and learning from each group as he moved on. After Cream’s demise, Clapton formed a new blues-rock band called Blind Faith that produced a gold album and a tour before parting ways. A tour and live album with Delaney & Bonnie was his next stop. Then he went solo on his self-titled album in 1970. Eric Clapton produced the hit “After Midnight” and reached #13 on the charts. Before the album had even been released, Clapton had formed yet another band, Derek & The Dominos, which featured Eric on both guitar and vocals.

It was a turbulent time in his love life and the song Layla spoke of Eric’s passion for Pattie Boyd, wife of his good friend George Harrison. Derek & The Dominos made one studio album, 1970’s Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs. Upon release, Layla was panned by critics and fans alike. However, the record got a major boost with the release of the title track, which featured the recently deceased Duane Allman on slide guitar. “Layla” became a Top 10 US hit and the album went gold. Today, Layla is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

About this time Clapton began using heroin, which appealed to him because it was steeped in the blues. It connected him to junkie musicians like Charlie Parker, Robert Johnson and Ray Charles. For more than two years, he fell firmly in the drug's grip.

Clapton experiences with Derek & The Dominos ended fairly quickly, but even in later years impacted his musical direction greatly. Learning he was better off recording solo and joining with friends without long term commitments he recorded 1974’s 461 Ocean Boulevard, producing the cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff”, as well as a minor hit in “Willie & The Hand Jive”. After a couple of less successful albums he returned in 1977 with Slowhand, which became Clapton’s first platinum album. It also yielded his second solo gold single, “Lay Down Sally”.

Pattie Boyd was the great love of his life and once he won her, (married in Tucson 1977)the thrill seemed to fade. Clapton was unfaithful on the road and sexually unresponsive at home. The alcohol and cocaine, now the drug of choice, were more important than anything. Clapton entered the Hazelden Clinic in 1983 to dry out. He wrote, "My fear of loss of identity was phenomenal. This could have been born out of the 'Clapton is God' thing, which had put so much of my self-worth onto my musical career. When the focus shifted toward my well-being . . . and to the realization that I was an alcoholic and suffering from the same disease everybody else was, I went into meltdown."

The early 80’s were not as productive for Clapton as the 70’s. Journeyman, released in late 1989 went double platinum in less than two years, making it Clapton’s career first record to move over 2 million units. In 1991 the soundtrack Rush included “Tears In Heaven”, a touching number dealing with the accidental death of his young son Conor, reached #2 on the US charts in January of 1992. Tragically he had just started bonding with Conor when the boy died. His personal life turbulent and his attempts at maintaining sobriety amid the drug and alcohol world of rock and roll were challenging. A numb, grieving Clapton was determined to stay sober. "At that moment I realized there was no better way of honoring the memory of my son." About this time he learns about another child he fathered, Ruth, and brings her into his life.

The box set Crossroads and Time Pieces both receiving accolades leading to an iconic appearance on MTV’s “Unplugged”, playing acoustic re-workings of some of his best known singles and blues classic. Unplugged, was a massive success, breathing new life into the classic “Layla”, which became a hit for the second time in its life. Clapton followed with 1994’s From The Cradle, a full album of electric blues covers that also reached #1 on the charts.1998’s Pilgrim, with “Change The World”.

With 20 years of sobriety Clapton has reached such a level of success his career is now a mix of old material and the desire to try new things. Reptile, Me & Mr. Johnson, an album of Robert Johnson covers and Back Home solo albums have done well. He’s also recorded two collaboration albums, 2000’s double platinum Riding With The King with blues legend B.B. King and 2006’s gold The Road To Escondido with famed songwriter J.J. Cale. His old stuff continues to sell well, like “Wonderful Tonight” the ode to Pattie written as he waited for her to get dressed for a party, being certified gold in 2005, nearly 30 years after its release.

With his personal life settled into the family life with four daughters and a young wife Melia, he worked on his autobiography while touring Asia. He released a double disc compilation, Complete Clapton featuring songs from his entire forty year career.

Clapton wrote, "For me, the most trustworthy vehicle for spirituality has always proven to be music."

The only thing I missed was more about his life with ex-wife Pattie Boyd. She published an autobiography that included excerpts from the unbelievably passionate letters Clapton sent her while she was still George Harrison's wife. His desperation in her book is apparent with threats of doing himself in if he can’t have her. His songs about her made getting over her difficult, as they would be played in every concert being among his top hits. He’s so open in his own book about everything else, but Pattie is absent in the index, although smattered throughout his book. Perhaps he lets the music speak of that love.

You come away after reading this easily flowing chronological tale understanding that “Clapton is God” was too much to put on the head of a 20 year old rock musician. His life struggles into the heart of rock and roll decadence and his eventual maturing into a musician at the top of his art are amazing to read. It’s as if you were having a pint and hearing the words straight from his lips. I found it very enjoyable and I highly recommend both the music and the book.
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Skeptical Chymist Dining Review

Skeptical Chymist

by the Cowgirl Connoisseur
Skeptical Chymist, is located on the east side of the Sonoran Village at Frank Lloyd Wright backing to the Pima 101 access road. It's hidden back in a corner of the shopping area and well worth the search once found! Entering you are taken to a turn of the century (early 1900's) Irish pub/apothecary. Dark woods and dim light embrace you; a welcome relief from the summer sun and heat. Cabinets filled with hundreds of little drawers,glassed shelves of antique apothecary jars and interesting artifacts that you can imagine would be found in a chymists shoppe in county Cork Ireland, as many were purchased in Ireland. In times gone by, often a pharmacy or grocery would double as a pub. Customers would tend to take a Guinness or whiskey to relieve their flagging spirits as they came to purchase their provisions. Your apothecarists or "chymists" would fix you up quick as a wink and customers left feeling fine.
The name, Skeptical Chymist, came from a book written by Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, published in 1661. Boyle was born at Lismore Castle, Munster, Ireland, the 14th child of the Earl of Cork. He was committed to the "New Philosophy", which valued observation and experiment at least as much as logical thinking in formulating accurate scientific understanding and played a key role in founding the Royal Society to nurture this new view of science. That's pretty much science as we know it today.
So much for the name. Skeptical Chymist claims to be Arizona's first Irish owned and managed, traditional Irish pub. Owners have operated Fibber Magees in Chandler (Phoenix New Times "Best Irish Pub" 2003, 2004, 2005), for years. Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's as well as an impressive list of Irish whiskeys are on hand.
As far as filling your belly. Try the "Harp Beer Battered Fish and Chips" our waitress says is their most popular item. It's a 10 oz filet of northern Pacific Cod in homemade Harp batter, served with thick cut chips and mushy peas. Tarter sauce, mild vinegar and ketchup served on the side. $12.95 at lunch or dinner. Delicious and filling. The thick cut chips add up to a whole large potato! The mushy peas had a good flavor and consistency and I was surprised to enjoy. A crisp Pear Guinness was delightful and light to wash it all down!
My companion tried the Peppercorn crusted 10 oz filet mignon served with a jameson, three peppercorn sauce or cashel blue and horse radish sauce, caramelized onions and mushrooms, served with champ or whiskey scalloped potatoes and fresh vegetables at $21.95. He says it was as good a filet as he has ever had, and I can tell you he's had a lot! All was served hot and timely. Our server was there when needed and very efficient and delightful. Colcannon Cakes are an Irish favorite. Pan fried served with savoury sour cream and tomato compote. Guinness Beef Stew of top sirloin and root vegetable braised Guinness gravy while great on a cold winter day didn't seem appealing while the temps are still triple digit. Neither did the Shephard's Pie (not the traditional lamb of a true Shephard's Pie) of lean minced beef and diced vegetables in a savoury gravy topped with champ and melted cheese. We shall to try these on return once the temps leave us needing a warming up meal.

Also on the menu Guinness mustard encrusted pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and Irish bacon rashers, drizzled in Strongbow apple cider reduction for $15.95, Curry brushed grilled Lamb chops, served with an apricot, honey and tarragon sauce $19.95, Grilled Salmon over saiteed spinach, covered with their own Guinness hollandaise sauce $14.95, and Char grilled Tuna steak accompanied by a roast spring onion and tomato relish $18.95 or Seafood pasta medley of cockles, mussels, shrimp and cod simmered in a white wine garlic broth with tomato, served over bow tie pasta $17.95. So many choices to look forward to in a return trip.
Their website http://www.skepticalchymist.com/ will keep you updated as to the live entertainment onstage and events. So you need only go as far as Scottsdale for a glimpse of old Ireland! Sample the delights of Irish cuisine and sip on many fine Irish beverages. 15688 N. Pima Road Suite #C6 , Scottsdale, AZ. 85260. (480) 609 8677. Cowgirl Connoisseur may be reached at azphm@earthlink.net , P.O. Box 11105 Phoenix AZ 85061.

Alberto's Italian Restaurant

Alberto's Italian Restaurant


by Cowgirl Connoisseur

Alberto's Italian Restaurant located at 7171 E Cave Creek Road, in Carefree. This quaint little spot is about to take off to fresh heights with a new wine bar to complement the rich traditional award winning Italian cuisine of Chef/partner Alberto Liani.

Check out the walls on the way to the immaculate restrooms and you will find a collection of wonderful reviews, that only a lifetime of great cooking can accomplish. And this review might as well join all the others because it contains only glowing words of flattery for Alberto's recipes created with only the finest of fresh ingredients. The food was excellent, the service as good as it gets, and the ambiance was warm and inviting and the people especially gracious.

Salvatore greeted us as we arrived and made recommendations from the menu and took our orders. A plate of homemade crusty bread and a dish of fresh olive oil with herbs appeared with an excellent Merlot wine.

Caprese $10.95 for an appetizer satiated our hunger as we awaited spinach ravioli and spaghetti with sausage. The mozzarella was delightfully smokey and fresh, sliced equally to the large vine ripe tomato that seems impossible to find in the produce section these days. Fresh basil must have come from somewhere other than Arizona because mine from the garden has been too bitter when in the hot sun, and this basil was just perfect. And the balsamic had a gentle bite and yummy flavor. The bread, that large holed yeast bread with a hard crust, was delicious too. The menu offers a full array of traditional Italian fare. The Pasta a Fagioli soup $6.95 at the next table looked hearty and the gentleman sipping it says it was delicious.

A special brick oven brought from Italy bakes at super hot temperatures to make a crisp crust and melt the cheeses to bubbling perfection. Over a dozen pizza combinations with an average price of $14.90 makes me wonder why we would ever order a pizza from anywhere else. Fresh hand tossed, created with the magic only a master chef with over 40 years of experience can attain, means each pizza is a masterpiece.

Pasta is all fresh homemade. "Nothing frozen!" says Liani. "That's what makes it taste so good." Simple traditional recipes from Rome where he still maintains a home. "I try to get back to Rome for a little time every year." The Spinach Ravioli (pre-spinach problems) was delicate and flavorful, and only $15.95. For $19.95 the Spaghetti with sausage had a mild spicy flavor and very filling

A wine list with over 200 wines on hand was impressive. Many are imported from Italy but they also carry many fine domestic wines as well.

It would take many trips to this marvelous restaurant to try everything on their varied menu. You could tell many patrons are regular customers, which always bodes well for the quality of the food.

The new wine bar will open this month, and will add yet another dimension to enjoying the ambiance and companionship at Alberto's Italian Restaurant. The restaurant is open 4pm-9pm Tuesday - Sunday, give them a call today at 480-488-5800. Go see Alberto and Sal and say the Cowgirl Connoisseur from Panorama Hills Monthly sent you!

Caffe Boa

Caffe Boa

By Cowgirl Conniseur

We all end up in Tempe for one reason or another with so many fabulous shows and festivals in the area. So while there, schedule time for a meal at Tempe's Caffe Boa on Mill and 4th Street. The sign is tucked back behind trees, so it might be tough to find, but park near 4th and walk the west side of the street. You will find the darling little patio with a European café air. Inside the décor is modern with clean lines and earthy colors. A mix of photos and art adorn the walls and dining areas are broken up into smaller more intimate areas by ancient red brick arches, ceiling to floor drapes a mix of dark and light wood. It’s all very clean, attractive and comfortable.

At first look, the menu is very different. There are so many unique combinations of flavors, next to a few old favorites. My advice is jump in and try something new. Everything my party has tried on several visits has been delicious. Rosemary-and-twine tied white linen napkins set a mood and all that follows reminds us this is more than just food, it’s a see-touch-smell and taste experience.

The “First Bites” or Appetizers we enjoyed included a wonderful “Caprese.”$6.95 Fresh beefsteak tomatoes topped with bufala mozzarella, basil and our reduced balsamic dressing. The balsamic was so great we had our server get the name for us and it is made by the Queen Creek Olive Mill in Queen Creek, Arizona. Online at http://www.queencreekolivemill.com/ they say they are Arizona’s first working olive farm and mill, pressing the finest extra virgin olive oil from nine different varieties of olives hand picked and blended to make one of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils. They even offer tours to experience a true Tuscan tasting experience. Amazing how one great little first bite can lead to another great discovery! Caffe Boa is famous for their meatballs “Ragusa” $8.25 sliced and served with sautéed red onions, bell peppers, marinara and melted provolone. This could be almost a meal in itself if you are a light eater and love flavor over volume.

The menu boasts an extensive selection of “Insalata” blending ingredients in such a way as to make it more than just a salad. You can add Cajun or Garlic chicken, Italian sausage or shrimp to any of the salads for an additional $4 making another light eating option. My favorites are “So. Cal Love”, $9.95 a chicken breast, sliced almonds, avocado, alfalfa sprouts with oh so delicate butter-cup lettuce topped with a champagne/lemon Vinaigrette that compliments but does not overpower the ingredients. The “Istria Insalata” $9.95 with organic spring mix with fresh raspberries, candied walnuts, Belgium endive, chevre, and apple slices, tossed with a raspberry vinaigrette is very filling. I added the Cajun chicken for $4.00 extra.

As for the pasta dishes, “Voodoopenne”$14.95 is a great Cajun spiced chicken breast grilled to perfection and tossed with fresh tomatoes, tri-colored bell peppers, light cream, and penne and it was delicious with a delicate mild Italian sausage. But to die for was the “Ravioli Rakovi” $17.95 the most requested special, now on the menu. Jumbo square ravioli filled with fresh pulled crab, marscarpone, ricotta, and herbs, tossed in a light lemon cream with tarragon. Silly me I took a bite off my date’s plate and fell in love! Entrees we enjoyed included the “Filettomignon” $23.95 of 100% certified Mid-Western grown and fed, top quality, 6oz. fillet mignon, grilled to taste and served with Cabernet/Porcini Mushroom reduction and fresh seasonal vegetables. If you can eat all of this hooray for you because it is a lot of delicious rich meat! “Lucasmeatballs” $15.95 are their family perfection of a classic! Italian sausage, premium beef, veal, pork meatballs, made daily and simmered in fresh marinara and tossed with spaghetti.

Mine are all grown, but if you have little ones they also offer a “Luca's Special Kidz Menu” for the under 12-year-old crowd.

Caffe Boa has been voted Winner of the Phoenix New Times, and Get out Magazine 2006, Best Happy Hour, everyday at the Wine bar 4-7pm with 1/2 off ALL appetizers, 1/2 off ALL wines by the glass, 1/2 off Specialty martini/drink list, and $2 for our premium draft selection. Open 7 days a week Sun-Wed 11am-10pm and Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm (bar open later). 398 S. Mill Avenue in Old Town Tempe. (480) 968-9112. http://www.cafeboa.com/

Cornbread Casserole

Cornbread Casserole
By LeeAnn Sharpe
This recipe came from a friend. She made it for Thanksgiving and it was the hit of the table! It’s a warm, rich combination of corn and cornbread that taste almost like a dessert.
In a casserole dish - Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave, Add 1 can corn and 1 can creamed corn. Mix in 8 oz of sour cream and 1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix. Bake for Jiffy mix directions. 325 degree oven for 30 minutes.

I decided to get a little more festive with the basic recipe and made a version with green chilies and red peppers and it was delicious and colorful for Christmas!

Roka Akor a Dining Review

Roka Akor a Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

February 15, 2008

You will want to make a note of this new “Hip Robatayaki Cuisine” restaurant, ROKA AKOR. It is located in north Scottsdale at 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, Phone 480.306.8800. Keep that number handy as I’m sure there will be long lists for reservations. Look for the tall blue spiral sculpture out front. Food doesn’t get better than this!

Native New Zealander Chef Nicholas Watt brings his 16 years of international experience and raving success in London to his first Roka location in the U.S. The handsome Watt roamed the dining room engaging his guests with a genuine boyish charm speaking of his days in New Zealand where his mother cooked with the freshest fish. He wanted to bring that to his restaurants. Study in Toyko and his love of fresh fish make Roka a perfect fit for his talents.

My dining companion Julie and I started out with edamame (v) $3.50: steamed edamame with sea salt, hotate no miso-shiru $5.60: white miso soup with scallop and spring onion and maki rolls. We could have chosen any from about 11 different maki options including kappa maki (v) $3.60: a cucumber and sesame roll, chirashi maki $6.90: spicy sashimi fish selection with spring onion and cucumber, age watari gani $8.60: softshell crab, cucumber, kim chi, and chilli mayonnaise, kankoku fu yaki buta $6.30: korean roast pork loin, shiso and chilli cabbage, california maki $6.30: crab meat, avocado and toblko. But we chose the ebi no atama $7.60: a heavenly combination of crispy prawn, avocado, chilli chrysanthemums and dark sweet soy. We would have been happy eating these all night!

General Manager Jeffrey Berkowitz stopped by our table to welcome us and make certain everything was to our liking. He was totally attentive to each guest all evening. All of the staff was obviously trained to the highest level and the service was beyond any you can find anywhere in the world. Eli was our wonderful server, explaining dishes and making excellent suggestions, but the entire wait staff worked together to bring out dishes as they were ready. And each came wrapped in smiles and genuine concern for every desire being met. I can not see how they could have made the dining experience more enjoyable. Executive chef Bjoern Weissgerber directs the symphony of cuisine to perfection.

I love how they label vegetarian dishes with a (v). Some diners might be a little apprehensive about experimenting with unusual dishes or flavors. There’s no need to fear here. Everything is prepared in such a way as to give your palette a thrill ride to ecstasy!
Dishes are on the small side so you can graze through multiple options. Health conscious will find many very healthy low fat opportunities here. Sauces are light and grilling keeps dishes healthy.

The snacks, salads & soups included a wide variety of flavors such as baechu kim chi (v) $4.00: napa cabbage in garlic and hot chilli, butaniku to hotate no gyoza $6.50: pork and golden scallop dumplings, lobster to awabi no gyoza $14.00: lobster and abalone dumplings (I wish I had tried these! They look fantastic!) The gyu no tataki to truffle $14.00: beef tataki with pickled daikon and winter truffle and the abura bouzu no tataki shiro asparagus zoe $12.00: butterfish tataki, white asparagus with yuzu shallot dressing and the maguro no tataki $14.00: tuna tataki salad with apple mustard dressing all piqued my interest as well, but will have to wait for my next visit.

Robatayaki Cuisine relies heavily on the 25 foot long robata Japanese oak charcoal grill which is open to the dining area. Sit at the bar facing the grill so you can watch the dozen or so chefs as they work in unison under the direction of the lead chef who hollars out orders in Japanese and they all respond in a loud crisp retort as if clapping out of a huddle. The robata tradition has been handed down for centuries by Japanese fishermen who cook their daily catch over a charcoal fire and use oars as serving platters. An exceptional ventilation system pulls the little bit of smoke straight up but leaves the room with a warm gentle scent that is very pleasing. Smoke sensitive need not worry. I am the most sensitive to smoke and never had an itch or sniffle all evening. You can also sit in the large dining area with earthy aesthetic clean lines on oak tables and very comfortable cushioned chairs. There’s also an outside patio and an enchanting private event room with a long wood slab table that can be divided in half.

Roka Akor dishes look magical in their presentation. The maguro to caviar no tartar, uzura no tamago zoe $12.00: tuna tartar, sevruga caviar and quail's yolk are served in a dish with a boat like sail in a bed of crystal ice. We had the ebi no kushiyaki $32.50: wild jumbo Madagascan prawn with yuzu koshyu chilli paste with a magical taste like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It starts out with a mild tender prawn taste tinted with a touch of blue watercress and then the fire of the chilli paste presents itself in a subtle burn. Delicious! The presentation on a long dish includes the jumbo prawn head looking like a creature out of a Jacque Cousteau documentary.

My favorite was the sake teriyaki $12.00: salmon fillet teriyaki infused with the smokey grill flavor and complemented by the most delicious teriyaki sauce, not too thick or sweet, just right with a lightness and tang that made me want more!

We also enjoyed the gin tara no saikyo-yaki $24.00: black cod marinated in yuzu miso and homemade hajikami. It was a very lightly blackened cod presented wrapped in a leaf with a sweet white sauce on the side. The cod was beautifully elegant in look and taste.

My friends enjoyed the niku no asparagus teriyaki $9.60: beef and asparagus teriyaki skewer and kobuta no ribs yawaraka nikomi $18.00: baby back ribs glazed with a spiced master stock and cashew nuts. What a flavor combination! That’s what it’s all about at Roka Alor, freshness and flavors presented in delicious combinations, simple yet powerful.

I want to go back (many times) to try the kamo no muneniku hachimitsu sansho fumi $24.00: duck breast basted with honey and sansho pepper or the kankoku fu kohitsuji $26.00: lamb cutlets with korean spices. The hireniku no pirikara yakiniku $28.00: beef fillet with chilli, ginger and spring onion also looked marvelous!

Robata vegetables fill the menu out but who has room for so much! Next time I will try the ko nasu (v) $6.60: eggplant in mirin, ginger and soy and the nimono (V) $5.00:grilled sweet potato with sesame and sweet soy.

Did I mention the sashimi-nigiri zushi selections which included hon maguro- blue fin $16.00: kihada maguro - yellow fin $10.00: bigeye ocean trout $6.60: shima aji - stripped jack fish $10.00: hamachi - yellowtail $5.30: nme dai - new zealand snapper $5.60: tako - octupus $10.00: sake - salmon $6.60: hotate - scallops $12.00: suzuki - seabass $6.60: ikura - salmon roe $9.00: tai - seabream $8.00: unagi - freshwater eel $10.00: ika - squid $9.00:ama ebi - sweet shrimp $6.60: ebi - shrimp $8.00: and kaki - oyster $7.90: The
tokusen displays botan ebi sashimi $14.60: extra large sweet shrimp served with oscietra caviar uni - sea urchin sashimi $15.00: gunkan $12.00: o-toro - fatty tuna $26.00: wagyu gunkan $16.50: wagyu sushi, oscietra caviar, spring onion and fresh ginger, kinme dai - japanese red snapper $12.00.

Dozens of colorful bottles of shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit flavored with apples, pears and raspberries, hang over the bar. Two climate-controlled wine cases hold 600 bottles apiece behind 14-foot-high glass. Bartenders were trained in London and blend the most delicious concoctions not to be found anywhere else, unless you visit Roka in London. The Green Tea and Pear Bellini $12.00 is the perfect combination of the pear shochu and champagne, crisp and light and delicious!

For dessert we had the sorbet with two miniature scoops of tangy ice cream perched on top of a crystal ice mountain. Delightful! And Julie had the chocolate pudding, more of a cake with green tea filling, so rich and beautifully presented. Each piece is a work of art, a feast for the soul as well as the palette.

Designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu with the award winning Tokyo-based firm Super Potato designed the bar and lounge. The décor is so subtle in its simple uncomplicated lines, but makes bold statements. The wall on one end features a wave pattern that evokes an ocean feel. Walls are made of rammed earth, so rocks, straw and dirt are part of the visual and tactile experience. The wood slats in front of the windows and the wide wooden bar around the grilling space is made of reclaimed Irish Oak matching the tables. Heavy glass doors have wood handles. Even the restrooms have natural wood counters and fully enclosed stainless steel stalls with a round European style commode. The elegant water faucets flow freely without a touch, producing perfect temperature warm water. Even the lighting is controlled in a subdued by sufficient level in each area of the establishment. Attention to detail has been mastered on every level. Chef Watt mentioned even the freezers are of a medical lab quality enabling them to freeze to the optimal temperature to keep food perfect. A Japanese ceramic artist was commissioned to hand design the serving plates and bowls in a variety of sizes and shapes that invite touch. All are hand-made, rustic ceramic pieces with grainy textures and nature inspired earthen colors. Great thought went into the design like a slight triangular bend in the soup bowl to make them easy to drink. And simple esthetic enhancement carved into serving plates, not just painted on.

Chef Watt’s blend of contemporary Japanese cuisine and the desert of north Scottsdale is sure to be a big hit. I hope you can get a reservation and enjoy this magical delight!
ROKA AKOR is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for lunch and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily for dinner. Reservations 480.306.8800.
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Lamplight Room Dining Review

Lamplight Room Dining Review
by LA Sharpe
Bronco Bill Pakinis and his lovely wife Colleen invited us to dinner at The Lamplight Room at the Tombstone Boarding House, 108 North Fourth Street, Tombstone, Arizona 85638 (520) 457-3716, (877) 225-1319.

Liz Ingalls had been showing us around town all day and she and her friend Miguel were asked to join the evening party. We arrived to find a delightful private dining room set aside for our group of 7. Owner Sylvia Prysant welcomed us, shared a bit of family history, and left us in the capable hands of her server Andrea. Chips and vesty salsa came to the table right away as our drink orders were being filled. My margarita was delicious, made exactly to order and generous in size.

A very talented traditional Spanish Flamenco guitarist played softly in the background for a wonderful southwestern warm and romantic atmosphere. He even stopped by our table to ask if we had any requests.

The Lamplight Room has a dual sided menu with both Authentic Mexican Fare as well as a more Traditional American Lunch and Dinner Menus. Most of the group chose the Mexican Fare, although Bill’s wife selected the Fettuccine Alfredo off the American Menu.

The Authentic Mexican Menu included such classics as Albondigas soup Cup $2.95 Bowl $4.95, Guacamole, Served with corn chips $5.95, Quesadilla, Monterey Jack cheese & chili $5.95 w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95, and something called The Mother Lode (Nachos Supreme) $7.95.

A nice Taco Salad, served in a flour tortilla basket refried beans, lettuce, cheese and topped with guacamole, sour cream and salsa Mexicana was only $5 .95 w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95 looked good, both generous in size and ingredients.

I chose the 2 Chicken Enchiladas, rice & beans $6.95, taking Miguel’s recomendation since he frequents the establishment regularly. It was a good sized portion with plenty of chicken filling and had a nice flavor. It also came with lots of rice and beans. It was all more than I could eat but delicious!

They also have 2 Cheese Enchildas for $5.95, 2 Beef Enchiladas, rice & beans. $7.95. Or 2 Beef Tamales, rice & beans $7.95, Chile Relleno, enchilada, rice & beans $7.95, 2 Tacos. Soft flour or crispy corn, rice & beans w/chicken $6.95 w/beef $7.95. Macho Burrito, Jumbo tortilla stuffed with refried beans. cheese and mild green chilies topped with enchilada sauce and melted Jack cheese $6.95 Meat & Bean Burrito $7.95. Green Chile Pork Burrito, (a little spicy) and served enchilada style with sauce & cheese $8.95
Pasta a la Petra (Mexican Spaghetti)Small $5.95 Large $8.95.

The Lamplighter featuries a Full Bar with Great Margaritas! Original Margarita $4.25 Grande Margarita (a double) $7.00. Imported Beer $3.25. Domestic Beer $2.75
Open Monday- Thursday 11:30 am until 8:30 pm Friday & Saturday 11:30 am until 9:00 pm and Sunday 11:30 am - 7:00 pm. www.TombstoneBoardingHouse.com (Prices and Menu are subject to change without notice).

I assure you the food will be wonderful and the atmosphere warm and cozy. Tell them you heard about the Lamplighter in the Wild West Gazette and they will give you an extra warm smile!

Find more restaurant reviews and recipes online
at www.wildwestgazette.com

Dillon's Restaurant Review

Dillon's Restaurant Review
By LA Sharpe

Recently two male business associates asked me choose a restaurant to have a business lunch. Dillon's Restaurant was the first place that came to mind knowing these guys would probably love bbq and with Dillon’s you can’t go wrong. And boy was I right!

The soup of the day was a hearty creamy potato and practically a meal in itself. I’ve never seen two guys dig into soup with such intensity. The conversation was at a standstill as they lapped up spoonful after spoonful of the heavenly homemade concoction. Sure it was a cold day and hot soup is nice. But this went into almost hypnotic trance of taste bud delight.

Dillon's claim to fame is their Barbeque and they do it well on everything from ribs and chicken to sausage. The main course today was the Carolina-Style Pork Sandwich, for one of my friends and he was thrilled. I’ve had it before and the sweet sticky sauce is great on the slow cooked bbq pork. Today I choose the Dillon’s Dip, a crunchy French bread roll with perfect beef and creamy cheese and grilled onions along with a full flavored beef au jus sauce for dipping. Delicious! And my other companion tried the Pulled Pork Sandwich which he enjoyed very much. They are both still talking about how much they enjoyed that lunch!

In the past I’ve taken family for dinner and enjoyed the Prime Rib, Slow-Smoked Pork Spare Rib Plate, and BBQ Beef Brisket Platter. All outstanding. Their menu has some interesting different items including Midwestern Hot Beef, Spinach Enchilada Platter, Country Fried Chicken Platter, Country Fried Steak Platter , Lemon Pepper Cod, Catfish Platter, Smoked Salmon Filet.

Event the appetizers include a number of surprises. Appetizers include Onion Rings, Crispy Chicken Wings, Mushroom Bonanza, Sweet & Spicy Wings, Flautas, Fried Pickles!!, Beef or Chicken or Spinach Quesadilla, Nachos, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Stuffed Portabello Mushroom.

The atmosphere with a nice fire burning at the entry and a community of birdfeeders outside the picture window is as friendly as the people. I felt that the servers were there when you needed them, but knew how to serve without hovering over your table. The food was excellent and each order every time I have been there, which is many, lived up to my expectations. I would not hesitate to recommend Dillon's to friends. I'll surely visit Dillon's often in the future.

Dillon’s was created by Rich Dillon and George Valverde. Since Dillon's beginning in 1999, they have expanded to three locations, as well as provide valley-wide catering.

Another friend told me to try the pulled pork with Cajun sauce. Of course, the Chicken-fried Steak was good, too. All the food has a great taste to it. The baked beans are the best I ever had. The appetizers and entrees are huge, but the price is definitely reasonable!

Every weekend there's live entertainment. Check the website at http://www.dillonsrestaurant.com . They are located at 8706 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, Arizona 85381 Just west of I-101 on the north side of Thunderbird. It’s a tough place for parking on occasion but there’s plenty of room inside! 623.979.5353
Llunch hours Mon - Friday 11:00am – 4:00pm Dinner served Mon - Fri 4:00pm – Close Sat- Sun: 11:00am – Close. Dillon's accepts Visa, American Express,
MasterCard, & Discover Card. Sorry, no personal checks.

The Oldest Profession Review Opening Night Jan 5, 2008

The Oldest Profession Review Opening Night Jan 5, 2008
By LeeAnn Sharpe

The Algonquin Theater Company presents “The Oldest Profession”, Paula Vogel’s pert and passionate play, directed by Robert Harper at Phoenix Theatre’s Little Theatre, January 4-20, 2008, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinees.

First, I must be honest and qualify myself as a lifetime fan of Ms.Gaston. So know I will be biased about anything she does. But from what I hear and see, I’m not the only one. A lifetime of acting, directing and teaching reveal a professional performance, second only to her charisma and beauty, now more pronounced than ever.

Pulitzer Prize winning Playwright Vogel describes “The Oldest Profession” as her only pattern play. She is successful in the overlay of painful experiences with humor. Five acts set in a New York City park in the early 1980’s follows the lives of five over-the-hill hookers sitting on a bench near the Broadway and 72nd Street subway station. Their enterprise not only continues to lose customers, but its own members. And so, the five "blackbirds" become four, then three, then two until only one is left, and the park bench scenes end with a song from the last departed, reminiscent of their New Orleans bordello days long past. Costumes slip back to cinched up bordello bustiers and sexy stockings, a wardrobe that took guts for these actresses to wear, especially in such and intimate theatre setting.

The award winning cast of five thoroughly professional actresses, who manage to be funny and emerge as real people who tug at our heartstrings, include Mae (Sharon Collar), Edna (Jacqueline Gaston), Ursula (Barbara McGrath), Lillian (Judy Rollings), Vera (Jo Ann Yeoman) and Piano Man (Toby Yatso). Director is Robert Kolby Harper.

Scene One: A sunny day in October, one week before the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 features "Love for Sale" by Cole Porter sung by Lillian (Judy Rollings). Scene Two: A week later, a day with a hint of winter and "I Am Built for Comfort, I Am Not Built for Speed" by Chester Burnett sung by Mae (Sharon Collar). After Intermission, Scene Three: Three months later, a chilly winter's day "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Sit on it, 'Cause I'm not Going to Give it Away" by Hill/Razaf sung by Ursula (Barbara McGrath). Scene Four: A crisp day in summer, several months later. And last Scene Five: Many months later with "Come Up and See Me Sometime" by Johnny Mercer and Robert Emmett Dolan sung by Edna (Jacqueline Gaston). And the finale is "On the Sunny Side of the Street" by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields sung by Vera (Jo Ann Yeoman).

Sharon Collar (Mae) has a long and varied career in theatre, film and television. Her professionalism served her well when opening night flubs, she confessed, resulted in “minor on the fly rewrites to the script.” This reviewer never noticed, and the mark of a great actress was it never showed in the performance and her fellow actresses never revealed the rewrites either. Mae is the Madam at the start of the show and manages the finances of all the ladies, who plied their trade above Zabar’s on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Collar portrays her as a caring madam concerned for her ladies long term safety and well being. They live pretty well under her wing, but regret their diminishing clientele, as the old gents die or move to Florida. They consider advertising in The Village Voice or getting the AARP Mailing List. In the end, Mae must cope with Alzheimer’s.

Judy Rollings (Lillian) Judy is a founding member of Actors Theatre of Phoenix and served as its Artistic Director for nine years. She is presently Director of the Lunch Time Theatre at the Herberger Theater Center. Lillian an aspiring actress, is the first to die, surprising the other ladies as they never expected her to be the first to go. She reappears in spirit as the others follow. Rollings has a great voice and kicks off the first musical number in the show "Love for Sale".

Barbara McGrath (Ursula) first acting at age nine, has been acting, teaching, and directing in the Valley for over thirty years, and has received four ariZoni awards. Her character Ursula is Mae’s antagonist, and is thrilled to take over when Mae departs. Her investment scheme has Edna and Vera irate, knowing their retirement is lost. McGrath portrays Ursula’s all business know it all ambition well.

Jacqueline Gaston (Edna) an actress since age three with over 200 shows in the Valley, a Charter Member of the Algonquin Company. She says, “I thought I was auditioning for a different part. When I learned I would be singing and dancing at my age… well I figured it's my last shot.” Gaston’s portrayal of Edna brought balance and stability to the production. Edna played off each character, especially when the cast had been whittled down to just Edna and Vera. Their interaction was truly sad and bittersweet; seeing even McDonald’s had no place for an old hooker when the manager finds her "May I help you?" too seductive.

JoAnn Yeoman (Vera) Yeoman is a Professor of Practice and Musical Theater Specialist at ASU and also works with the Arizona AGMA ensemble, the Sonoran Desert Chorale. and can be heard as co-host of KBAQ's ASU in Concert. Vera is the slower quiet one of the group, but the last to go. Her life reaches the depths of poverty and brings to light the plight of the homeless and unappreciated in society. Yeoman brings a deep and beautiful tenderness to a woman whose life had been hard and desperate in the end. She had chances for stability when she gets a proposal, but makes the mistake of inviting the man’s daughters to the ceremony. They quickly whisk him into a retirement home. Yeoman’s beautiful powerful and sensitive voice was the perfect finale.

Toby Yatso (Piano Man) recently finished graduate work in musical theatre, music theory and bassoon performance at ASU. His piano and few lines carried the production well from scene to scene.

Vogel uses the characters to send a message of elderly prostitutes as a way to talk of the economic situation of women in a male society, the need for security in old age, the fears of death and change, and the age-old notion that a woman's best, and sometimes only, bargaining chip is her body. The characters reminisce about their past in New Orleans’ famed red-light district, Storyville, when courtesy and elegant houses with piano players were the order of the day. They lived well and cared for one another. But now they needed to be responsible for themselves and the result of not doing so was the sad desperation of an elderly homeless woman.

I very much enjoyed this production of The Algonquin Theater Company’s “The Oldest Profession” and encourage all to attend. Rated for “adults” subject matter.
###

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria Review

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

With locations in NY, NJ, Arizona, Las Vegas and Dallas, Grimaldi’s is what we once expected of a pizzeria, but is nearly lost in the world today. To find a real coal brick oven is harder and harder to find and the difference in the smoky taste is immeasurable.

The menu placemat says Patsy Grimaldi is a purist when it comes to pizza. He learned his trade from Uncle Lancieri who trained the man credited with opening the first pizzeria in America in 1905. The coal oven gives a unique flavor and crisp crust not possible from gas, convection or wood stoves. His secret recipe sauce and dough have made Grimaldi’s the most award winning pizzeria in the United States.

Tasting is believing and every bite was magic! I tried a couple different pizza variations $9-$17 plus extra for toppings $2-$4. The crust was thin and crisp with just the right blend of cheese, peppers, basil, and Italian sausage.

The caprese salad $7 was heavenly. It’s obvious Grimaldi’s uses only the freshest and finest oil and cheese. The fresh mozzarella slices and basil was fresh and brilliant without any bitterness. The tomatoes were even vine ripened to perfection, so hard to find these days.

Antipasto $8-$12 had a nice Genoa Salami and fresh warm bread. The oven roasted sweet red peppers were tender and sweet. The fresh mozzarella slices were perfection. I didn’t care for the Kalamata olives, but my dining companion enjoyed them very much.

I also sampled the Calzone $10 -$17 with a delicious crust and variety of fillings. The cheese melted evenly with mushrooms and sausage for a warm filling simply delicious.

The menu also boasts several other salads. A wide selection of drinks (wine beer and cocktails all available) and desserts complete the menu.

Another plus is Thursday night dinner theatre from Darknight Productions. Dinner and theatre for about $40.

Lunch time 11am-6pm, you can get all personal pizza and calzone toppings at half price!

For more information and a list of the many famous celebrities who have eaten at Grimaldi’s go to their website at www.patsygrimaldis.com.

Andre Bocelli

Andre Bocelli
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Glendale’s Jobbing.com Arena was the venue for Andre Bocelli December 14th, 2007.

What a voice. He filled the arena with such a bold and emotional tenor that it didn’t matter if it was in Italian, and the majority of the audience were unfamiliar with most of the arias from operas he performed. The passion came through with such force as to bring tears to your eyes anyway.

Bocelli, a disciple of Luciano Pavarotti, spoke of the great loss of his friend and dedicated his performance to the memory of his mentor and sang "Nessum Dorma", Pavarotti’s signature song. He said, “Tonight he is with us.” It was so beautiful and heart felt. You could feel the love he put into that song.

And for additional motivation for a magnificent performance, Bocelli said he was performing for his personal hero and special guest in the front row. To the audience’s surprise, Muhammad Ali, former three-time World Heavyweight Champion stood up to wave. As the camera came into focus on his face on the big screens, a roar of applause filled the arena. Bocelli ended the concert donning a pair of boxing gloves autographed by the Champ.

There has been much criticism of this concert tour where most dates are booked into large arenas or venues not particularly suited to the esthetic sounds of opera. But they are the only places large enough to accommodate the massive audiences who rush to see this charismatic singer. Glendale’s Jobbing.com Arena was no exception to the criticism depending on where you were seated. On the floor near the stage sound and lighting were pretty good. The only complaint was the cold. With ice under the flooring it’s bound to be pretty chilly. On the upper levels the concourse noise was surprisingly loud and freezing air from doors open to the outside made the distractions pretty annoying.

But the voices and music were still incredibly amazing. The New West Symphony Conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio was perfection. Mercurio opened with Verdi’s “Overture from I vespri siciliani”. And for an arena, the sound system of the nearly new Glendale arena is state of the art providing the best possible sound in the cavernous area.

Bocelli opened with "La donna e mobile" from Verdi's Rigoletto, which has great popular appeal and is even familiar to non-opera aficionados. Baritone Luis Ledesma joined Bocelli onstage in the duet “In un coup” from Puccini’s La Boheme. Next Soprano Daniela Bruera took the stage with Verdi's “Ah, Fors'e Lui, Sempre Libera” from La Traviata. Bocelli joined on stage for another aria from La Traviata “Brindisi”.

Maestro Mercurio conducted “Intermezzo” from Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini.

Ledesma returned with a beautifully intense performance of Puccini’s “Te Deum” from Tosca. Bocelli followed with the famous aria from Tosca’s violent conclusion “E Lucevan le Stelle”. The first act was concluded with a rather long Madama Butterfly’s “Viene la sera” with Bocelli and Bruera. The scenes from the opera were played on a large screen behind the orchestra. It was beautifully sung, but a little long for the restless audience.

One couple I spoke to said, “We were expecting a show with more "popera" than opera.” The same was echoed by several others who knew Bocelli more from his pop performances on PBS and on Pop radio stations and television, than from his operatic career for which he is celebrated the world over.

After the Intermission they got their wish for some pop.

Mercurio opened the second act with “Overture from Russian and Ludmilla” by composer Mikhail Glinka, often called the father of Russian classical music.

Then Bocelli gave the gift of his beautiful “Ave Maria” by Schubert, followed by the sacred aria “Panis Angelicus” holding the final note in a mood of veneration for a small eternity.

Daniela Bruera brought a bit of German opera to the stage with “Meine Lippen, Sie Kussen So Heiss” from Franz Lehár's Giuditta.

“Musica Proibita”, “Aranjuez”, and “Mattinata” all by Bocelli followed.

At this point Andrea returned to the stage wearing the white jacket saying it was time for a change of pace. He played the flute at the beginning of the “Melodramma”. Then Heather Headley joined him on stage for “Canto della terre” and “The Prayer”.
The finale was “Time to Say Goodbye” with Daniela Bruera. It is considered Bocelli's signature song and what was obviously what the audience wanted to hear from the beginning. A long and appreciative standing ovation followed.

I can not say enough about Maestro Steven Mercurio and his devoted attention and obvious friendship he bestows on Andrea leading him onto stage and together delivering a most memorable performance. Ticket Prices: $81-$281

Bocelli recently issued “The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivire”, his first hits collection. It features his signature “Time to Say Goodbye”.

Review of COYOTE DREAMS: A VERY ARIZONA CHRISTMAS

Review of COYOTE DREAMS: A VERY ARIZONA CHRISTMAS
By LeeAnn Sharpe
It’s amazing how much laughter 6 actors can bring into a room. That’s just what happens when Darknight Productions “Coyote Dreams: A VERY Arizona Christmas” is performed at Grimaldi’s Pizzaria in Scottsdale or Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria. Attendance has been so good, the show has been extended until January 5th at the Encore Room at Arizona Broadway Theatre.

Husband and wife team of playwright Alexx Stuart and director Diedre Kaye relaunch their successful holiday show, “Coyote Dreams: A VERY Arizona Christmas” about a Minnesota couple who contemplate a move to Arizona. Alexx and Diedre are both from Minnesota, so Alexx wrote 20 song parodies of popular carols to tell humorous stories about Arizona from the perspective of newcomers.

The laughs are non-stop with every aspect of Arizona covered. The six actors take on various roles and take us on a journey around the state. Stuart wrote some very creative lyrics to traditional holiday tunes including, “Have Yourself a Tacky Tombstone Christmas”, “Oh Little Town Built by Del Webb”, “Santa Baby” sung by a jail bird inviting Sheriff Joe Arpaio to “come on down to my cell tonight”. And Sun City seniors would enjoy "Silver Hairs," to the tune of Silver Bells. Arizona students can appreciate "All I Want for Christmas is No AIMS Testing." He takes plenty of swings at Arizona sports as well.

The intimate setting and abundant food and drink put the audience into a jovial frame of mind and the laughter is so infectious outsiders might think the room was tipsy. Not a dry eye is simply the result of hilarious puns and cracks at familiar institutions and personalities. Kaye and Stuart have this dinner show routine fine tuned to a smooth running machine with every moment falling perfectly into place. Music, dialogue, and food all choreographed perfectly. They are more than writer and director. They are the perfect hosts for a lovely evening.

Cast include Barbara McGrath (Ahwatukee), Dan Stroud (Phoenix), Barb Ellis (Tempe), Fernando Duran (Mesa), Denise Kelleher (Fountain Hills), Wade Moran (Tempe).

Coyote Dreams East - Grimaldi's in Old Town 4000 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale doors open at 6:30 PM December 8th, 22nd, 23rd & 27th West-Encore Room at Arizona Broadway Theatre at 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria December 2nd, 9th and 30th For details, visit www.darknightproductions.us or call 480-595-7346. Tickets for dinner, show and gratuity are $41.25 plus tax. Reservations are required.

Alice Cooper’s 7th Annual Christmas Pudding Concert

Alice Cooper’s 7th Annual Christmas Pudding Concert
a fund raiser for the Rock Teen Center
by LeeAnn Sharpe

It’s almost 1am and I just got home from the 7th Annual Christmas Pudding Concert by Alice Cooper. What a show! Alice calls all of his friends and they turn out for what has to be one of the best rock shows in Phoenix this year! Starting at 7:30pm it was over 4 hours of incredible jams. My hands are sore from clapping so much!

The finale with Alice Cooper & Band had the place hopping, but then when he brought out all of the performers to sing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, the crowd went wild.

Jordin Sparks, the 2007 American Idol Winner, and her band (two guitarists and back up singers) shared her hit “Tattoo” and a new song she wrote “Virginia is for Lovers” as well as the duet from her album, “No Air” she says will be her next single release.

CTA with Danny Seraphin & Marc Bonilla belted out all of the top hits from Chicago days. Danny’s drum solos were an example of how years of experience can out perform youthful exuberance. I remember hearing him years ago and he is so much more exciting now!

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers rocked the joint with hit after hit. You can see why this Tempe band is the only independent band to have five consecutive top-10 albums on the Billboard Internet Sales Chart.

Flo & Eddie of The Turtles flooded the audience with memories of “Happy Together” and “She’d Rather Be with Me” and more. The generational gap was evident as the parents all knew the lyrics and the kids giggled at their parent’s enthusiasm. By the end they had the entire audience on their feet singing along.

Whiskey Falls provided al little country. "Proof is in the Pudding" Winners Brewed to Perfection and Shaun Patrick Moe performed with the hope that their future will follow the footsteps of former “Pudding” winner Jordin Sparks.

Rock Demarco "The World's Fastest Painter" demonstrated his talent and creating a work of art in minutes on stage. The painting was latter sold along with an autographed guitar for $13,000. Two other guitars sold for $8,000 each.

Destiny Dancers led by Cheryl Cooper opened the show with a variety of talented dancers showcasing their dance styles.

Videos were shown, as the stage was being reset for each act, highlighted past “Christmas Puddings” with each year raising more and more bucks for the Solid Rock Foundation. Last year Funds are slated for the Rock, a Teen Center. Groundbreaking is anticipated for the coming year at the present rate of fund acquisition. The website www.alicecoopersolidrock.com tells the entire story of how Solid Rock needs to raise 7.3 million for the 29,000 sq ft facility which will be located on the campus of Grand Canyon University at 33rd Avenue and Camelback. It will reach out to youth and teenagers in the surrounding community and throughout the whole valley. Panorama Hills Newspaper will have continuing articles about the Rock’s progress and how you can help with not only donations of cash and equipment, but mentoring skills as well.

Holiday Tips to Ease Stress and Live a Longer & Healthier Life

Holiday Tips to Ease Stress and Live a Longer & Healthier Life
By LeeAnn Sharpe
The holidays always seem to heighten the level of stress in our lives. What should be the most joyous time of the year often turns out to be the most stressful. After the worst year of my life, when stress put me in the hospital with a heart attack, I finally learned how to distress.

So here’s my advice to help you learn how to reduce stress before it has serious detrimental effects on your health. Stress leads to heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure, cancer, anxiety and depression. It can also create serious problems at work and dysfunctional relationships at home. So before you allow stress to control your life, think about these steps to reduce stress, prevent illness and live a happier and longer life.

First, make stress reduction a conscious decision in your life. Before you do anything think about how much stress it will create in your life. Do you need to bake, cook or decorate so much. Maybe take it back a notch. Spread it out over the entire season, not all the week of the holiday. A little each day is better than overload on one or two days.
Second, make your health a priority. We often think about diet and exercise after January 1st when everyone makes their resolutions. And sure we don’t want to deprive ourselves during the holidays. But your health is precious, and nothing is more important than taking care of yourself. So indulge in moderation. Enjoy each bite savoring the taste and smells for much longer than usual. Use all of your senses. Crush greens between your fingers and smell the fresh pine scent. Fest your eyes on each bite and take in the colors and textures before you enjoy the taste. Take a walking tour of your neighborhood or a nearby neighborhood to see the lights and decorations. Pull the family off the coach and toss a football or soccer ball around in the sunshine. Eat right and exercise!
Third, rediscover the love in your life. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. Love the animals and wildlife in your life. Did you know watching birds, puppies or kittens and getting that “ahhh how cute” feeling is actually good for your heart! Do whatever you love, read a book, watch a movie, paint, play sports, shop, or whatever gives you pleasure. Doing and being with what you love is good for you. Make the holidays more about the people, and doing what they like with you, than about the gifts. Take your Mom to a Christmas Choir performance. Enjoy a movie with your sibling.
Next embrace your faith and spirituality. Everyone can benefit from the power of prayer, meditation and turning inward for reflection. Much of the baggage we carry can be released when we mentally decide to let go and move on to be healthier and happier. If you stress over the way the dishwasher is loaded, you need to let go and believe the world will go on even if a dish comes out less than optimal. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You need the mental release to set you free. Forgive those who have done you wrong. Release that stress from your life and it’s more a gift to yourself than anyone else.

Love, laugh, enjoy and appreciate life. It’s a choice we make. You control your mind and make the choice to relax and enjoy the small things in life. Listen to the birds and stop to smell the flowers. Do all that you can to be a more relaxed person. Learning to control your stress begins with a conscious commitment to make healthy changes in your life. Just do it. It can save your life. And it can make a happier holiday season.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Dining Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

“We're not real chefs. We're real eaters.” So say Johnny Carrabba and his Uncle Damian Mandola who founded Carrabba’s in Houston, Texas, in 1986. “We're two big Sicilian boys from Texas who love to cook and eat. We love the Sicilian food our parents and grandparents cooked. We love the Creole and Southern food our family members picked up passing through Louisiana and stepping off the boat right on the dock in Galveston. And we love the Western food that's just part of being in Texas.”

My daughter and I recently had dinner at Carrabba’s in Glendale. I’ve been to the Gateway and Scottsdale locations in the past as well. They have all been good dining experiences.

House specialties include crispy calamari, chicken marsala, fresh steamed mussels, a variety of pasta with homemade sauces, and fresh fish, seafood and steaks cooked over a wood- fired grill. Traditional dishes such as margherita pizza, lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken parmesan share the spotlight. They also have a moderately-priced wine list featuring Italian and California vintages compliment the menu. A full selection of liquor and beer are also available. Little ones ten and under will enjoy the “Bambini Menu” and pizza dough is offered to keep young customers entertained.

Past visits I enjoyed the Insalata Carrabba Caesar with Chicken $10.99. It’s as good as any I have had anywhere. I especially love the warm bread and olive oil delivered to our table and kept coming. With a nice glass of wine I could make it a meal in itself!

This last dining experience was the best! They had the “Johnny” and “Damian” Specials which were combination plates with three entrée samplers and a salad along with our coupon giving us the Calamari and wine for free! What a deal!

The Calamari came with the marinara dipping sauce and was super crispy and hot just like we like it. The marinara was tasty and we cleaned the plate with bread dipping so as not to waste a drop of it! We were hungry too!

I had the Lobster Ravioli stuffed with tender Maine lobster in a white wine cream sauce with diced tomatoes, Shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, and Salmon all for $16.99.

The Lobster Ravioli was to die for! I could east a whole plate of those tasty little pillows of heaven! The shrimp and scallops were fine and the salmon just right… but oh those lobster ravioli… Did I say how much I loved them?

My daughter had the Lombardo 8 oz. USDA Choice center-cut tenderloin, Chicken Bryan, grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce and Mezzaluna the delicate half moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta and spinach all for $16.99.

So we shared and sampled everything! Culinary overload! But it was all fabulous. Her steak was perfect and the Mezzaluna very good in a mild creamy tomato sauce. They were mild but with good flavor. She wasn’t excited about the Chicken Bryan, but I thought it was good too.

Our server was attentive, informative and made the dining experience delightful.

The restaurants are popular and can get crowded so get there early! As for locations check out their website at www.carrabbas.com . There are 8 locations in the greater Phoenix area.

Review of Ballet Arizona The Nutcracker

Review of Ballet Arizona The Nutcracker
By LeeAnn Sharpe

It has been a holiday tradition to go see the Nutcracker. So year after year I go and enjoy it immensely. This year was extra special. I was privileged to introduce my niece Stephanie to her first ballet and what is more perfect for a young girl than the Nutcracker.

Opening night was cold and rain made driving treacherous. Downtown traffic was in gridlock as every venue seemed to have major events. Parking seemed impossible and we found what may have been the last parking spot in the city! The downtown was sparkling with colors and lights reflected in the rain, limos and cabs unloaded gloriously garbed men and women along with young boys and girls in party dresses and suits. Umbrellas bumped as the crowds moved briskly to various destinations. Honks and traffic cops whistles above the traffic noise completed the picture of a big city at full throttle. You could as easily been in London or New York. Phoenix has truly become a big city, although perhaps on a smaller scale.

But the scale of this production of the Nutcracker is anything but small. A spectacular world is created with such beauty and imagination it brings tears to the eye. The mastery of design and execution is flawless. From director to dancers this production is the finest that can be found anywhere in the world.

Ib Andersen has once again chosen a team of top designers from throughout the theater world to create a magical, grand-scale Nutcracker exploding with holiday charm and wonder. Choreographed by Ib Andersen , Set Design by Carey Wong and Ib Andersen, Costume Design by Fabio Toblini, and Lighting Design by Michael Korsch, the best found anywhere.

The lavish new sets and magnificent costumes from around the world make this magical holiday event such a joy. And the talent of these dancers is so incredible to watch. The leaps and lifts and twirls make your head spin.

The costumes of Herr and Frau von Stahlbaum and their children, Clara and Fritz and their party guests are more realistic of German families of the era. They provide a stronger contrast with the colorful costumes of Clara’s dreams. There are 260 costumes in The Nutcracker, requiring more than 6,500 yards of fabric. The costumes were created in 17 shops across America, including Ballet Arizona’s, with final assembly by Ballet Arizona’s costume shop personnel. During the run of the show Ballet Arizona dancers will use up to 300 pairs of pointe shoes. Most pairs of shoes last one performance. The budget for pointe shoes for December alone is $45,000.

The set design and transformation as the Christmas tree grows gigantic and the furniture disappears, leaving a huge, empty room that will soon become a battleground for an army of toy soldiers is magical. More than 100,000 Austrian Swarovski crystals were used to create the Snow scene. The production uses 25 different backdrops.
My niece gasped and then giggled as all the mice in the house have grown to enormous size. Costume designer Toblini didn’t want the mice to be too cute, so he modeled them after New York City subway rats. The Mouse King is 9 feet tall without his crown.

When the Nutcracker is revealed to be a prince who gives Clara a crown, the fantasy of every young girl is born. The Snow Queen and King and a magical journey to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy plant the seed of beautiful dreams. The dancers among the falling snow and twinkling stars transport you to a place where you wonder am I dreaming or is this real?

As always the music of the Phoenix Symphony is perfect. I was shocked to learn my niece’s elementary school’s limited music program does not teach Tchaikovsky, but they do learn rap and hip hop. That’s all the more reason to expose the next generation to as much classical music as possible.

Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker cost $1.8 million to create, involving more than 300
people. The production was made possible with a $1.3 million grant from the
Sybil B. Harrington Trust. Revenue from The Nutcracker accounts for 30 percent of Ballet Arizona’s annual income with ticket sales of more than 50,000 seats.

Once again Ballet Arizona has brought talent and inspiration to create a production of such beauty it will stay in your heart forever. To this day I can recall the Nutcrackers I saw as a child and this one seems to have grown to a much more sophisticated and beautiful place. You really must see this exquisite ballet. It will fill your soul with the magic and beauty that should be Christmas.

The Seventh Batch of Christmas Pudding

The Seventh Batch of Christmas Pudding is coming December 15th 7:30PM at the Dodge Theatre, 400 West Washington, in Phoenix. This year’s show is one that is sure to stick to your ribs. It's the same great flavor that melts in your mouth, makes you remember your favorite song, and tickles your funny bone. We expect this year to be as spectacular as ever with new music and comedic acts and some old friends, it's definitely promises to be the best concert on record!

Of course, all proceeds support the Solid Rock and Arizona's youth. So please join us.
The tasty ingredients for this years Christmas Pudding so far are Alice Cooper & Band,
Jordin Sparks - 2007 American Idol Winner and her band, CTA - Danny Seraphin & Marc Bonilla, Flo & Eddie (The Turtles), Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and Whiskey Falls.

The "Proof is in the Pudding" Winners including the Group – “Brewed to Perfection” and Soloist – “Shaun Patrick Moe”. Plus we’ll jiggle to the Comedy of Mike "Black Jack" Wilson, Brad Perry of Channel 3, Rock Demarco - "The World's Fastest Painter", and the Destiny Dancers. Don’t forget our Pudding Chef - Mark Tarbell.

It’s always a star studded event. Every year Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding brings out the best talent and personalities in Phoenix and around the US.
The Proof Is In The Pudding was born out of the desire to showcase local talent. A type of "American Idol," if you will, the Proof was designed to find local talent then allowing them to showcase their talent at the Pudding.

There are two categories: bands and soloists. The winner of each category performs on stage at the upcoming Pudding event. During our first Proof Is In The Pudding in 2004, then 14-year old, Jordin Sparks wowed the judges and everyone in attendance with her performance winning the soloist category hands down. Her performance at the Pudding was nothing shy of incredible mesmerizing the packed house at the Dodge Theatre. Now she is back as the real “American Idol”.

Visit http://www.alicepudding.com for more information or go to Live Nation for tickets at http://www.livenation.com/artist/getArtist/artistId/621582/ . VIP Package: $303.00, Reserved 1: $63.00 or Reserved 2: $33.00. Remember it benefits the Solid Rock Foundation!

Book Review: “Peeking Over the Edge… views from life’s middle”

Book Review: “Peeking Over the Edge… views from life’s middle” by Cathy Jo Marley
Reviewed By LeeAnn Sharpe

Have you ever opened a new book and suddenly feel as if you are in the company of an old friend? That’s the way “Peeking Over the Edge… views from life’s middle” by Cathy Jo Marley made me feel. She instantaneously became my oldest and dearest and wisest friend telling me stories from her life experiences. Some I would shake my head and think yes, yes, yes, she gets it! Other times I would think, I need to share this wisdom with my daughter.

It’s not a big book, only 163 pages with large enough print even fifty some things can read without their glasses. But I warn you, once you pick it up you won’t want to stop reading. That’s a problem when you pick up a good book like this as you crawl into bed thinking a half an hour will put you to sleep. Two hours later I was finishing it off!

Nothing is off limits. Weight, vanity, aging and family are all discussed. Each chapter is a brief little vignette into her life’s experiences. Each chapter begins with a poetry verse, proverb or quote. Some even have song lyrics and one ends with a recipe. She brings humor into sad situations we all face in life and shows how life goes on, maybe not as we expected, but it goes on.

If you are looking for light hearted optimistic read for someone on your Christmas list, consider going to Cathy Jo Marley’s book signing and get an autographed copy as an extra special gift.

Award-winning Phoenix author Cathy Marley will be signing her heartwarming book, Peeking Over the Edge...views from life’s middle (Infinity Publishing, April, 2006), at two locations in December. The first signing is scheduled at Karen’s Hallmark, 10639 N. 32nd St. in Phoenix, from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday December 10. The second signing is scheduled at A Peace of the Universe, 7000 E Shea Blvd, # 1710 in Scottsdale, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday December 15.

Peeking Over the Edge...views from life’s middle takes a philosophical look at those moments and memories that contribute to a life well lived. Poetically fashioned and emotionally candid, this collection of personal reflections savors the joys of life after 50. As Ms Marley says, “In my writing, I talk about love, self acceptance, connection to the world and the legacy we choose to create for ourselves by the life we live. What I have said here goes beyond my own experience to truths that apply to anyone who has achieved middle age or just hopes to someday.”

Since its introduction in May 2006, Peeking Over the Edge has received high praise. In its Small Press Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review said, “From coping with a hysterectomy, to fondly recalling distant memories, to the luxurious yet tawdry experience of reading "bodice ripper" romances and more, Peeking Over the Edge offers a candid glimpse of the simple moments in life, and the relish of adapting to new changes with aplomb. A wonderful amalgamation of insights into the pleasures of life well lived.”

The first question she raised to which I could relate, and probably anyone over fifty, is “What mark?” That is what mark will I leave on the world? Writers are especially prone to ask the question and even write it down. Some people want to leave a grandiose beautiful mark that everyone stands up and cheers. They are usually artists, actors or politicians. But I like detailed drawings where hundreds of little marks add up to create a full picture. I hope my life of little marks adds up to a beautiful image. I know my main mark, my daughter, is a pretty good contribution toward a life worth living. Cathy Jo Marley offers this book and it is a nice stroke in her life painting.

Body image, family, mush brain, aging, and pack rat life are all things I found in common with Cathy. Her elephant in the room and little beasties leave enough room for anyone to fill in their own animals. Her words resonate in different ways for each person reading her book. She says she began crafting words to reveal her hearts deepest feelings.

Most of all her optimism about the rest of her life and where it has lead her to today made me think and hope for a future open to the possibilities of love and adventure. And it reminded me to stop and smell the roses along the way.

Peeking Over the Edge...views from life’s middle (Infinity Publishing, April, 2006), ISBN 0-7414-3169-6 $14.95

THE PERILS OF PLEASURE

I will be reviewing this book soon...

an excerpt from...

THE PERILS OF PLEASURE

by Julie Anne Long
Coming February 2008!

It was early summer, and accordingly, hedgerows were a riot of Hawthorne blossoms. Horse chestnuts, beeches and the occasional old oak stood sentry over the roads, and songbirds rustled amongst all the greenery. Up ahead, around the bend, Madeleine could see the branches of an enormous oak splaying out in every direction, taking up more than its share of roadside.

"Do you know what I haven't done?" Colin said suddenly. He stopped, allowed her to catch up with him.

She sniffed indelicately. "Very little, if you believe the broadsheets."

"I haven't yet kissed you."

And then he snatched hold of her hand and pulled her behind that oak, barely giving her time to squeak.

Blessed shade the tree provided, with arms that splayed everywhere like a mad octopus. It hid two of them from the road, but not from the gaze of a gently curious sheep, who paused in its grass cropping to stare. Colin spun her about and had her up against it in a thrice, pinned between his arms, and he towered over her, staring down for a moment. At the stars in my eyes or my great white forehead? She wondered.

"Don't—" she began nervously.

"Don't what, Mad?" Colin laughed softly, in a voice that stroked up her spine like velvet. His arms dropped from the tree, went around her waist; he pulled her hips hard against his hips, very familiarly; she felt the outline of everything male about him. "Don't…what?" He whispered it this time, and when his hands went up to her face, it was she who closed her arms around his slim waist, flattening her hands to feel the hard muscles of his back, keeping him pulled close to her body, keeping the two of them groin to groin. She wanted to feel again the heat of his body over the entire length of her.

His knuckles dragged softly over her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, because his eyes were too merry and too hot and too soft and too knowing, and she, at the moment, didn't want to be known by a man who had known nearly every woman in London, if rumors were true.

She did want to be kissed.

And then his fingers opened to feather across her ears, along her throat, the nape of her neck, and she felt her head tip back trustingly into his hands.

Cradling it, he touched his lips very, very softly to the pulse in her throat.

"Oh, Mad." It was half sigh, half soft laugh.

Colin dragged his lips softly from the arch of her throat, to her ear, to her lips, which were parted, while her eyes were still closed.

"Now I'll kiss you properly," he murmured.

She knew how to do this. She'd done it before. Her body knew where it wanted to be touched, and how it wanted to fit against his, and oddly nothing had ever seemed more right. And still somehow it became a little battle, as it always was with the two of them, in part because Madeleine only felt safe in the midst of battle. Their lips brushed, bumped, nipped softly, Madeleine now afraid to surrender to this. Too late she recalled how a kiss sometimes had the power to split one dangerously, vulnerably open. More so even than lovemaking.

"Shhhh," he whispered against her mouth, although she wasn't making a sound. It was as though he wanted to soothe the battle inside her. "Shhhhh."

His hands were at the back of her neck, soothing, stroking, and he brushed his lips over hers, urged hers apart with tender strokes of his tongue, sending a rain of silver sparks down her spine, and she gave a sigh. It was part pleasure, part some unexpressed sadness. The sound of something released.

Madeleine's hands slid up to the hard blades of his shoulders, pulling him closer, and her lips fell open beneath his. His tongue, at first, was a gentle invader, warm, velvety soft, finding and twining with hers softly in a tentative foray.

He took his lips away from hers, looked into her eyes, as though looking for some sort of answer, or wanting to see what the kiss had done to hers. His own eyes were hazy with desire.

And then his firm, clever lips took hers again, more decisively this time, and she was ready. Her arms slid up his chest to wrap round his neck, and he pulled her into his body, and his iron-hard arousal pressing against her was a maddeningly erotic contrast to his soft lips, his soft tongue. He drove the kiss deeper, and she met him; their tongues touching and tangling, part dance, part duel. He moaned softly, the sound of it vibrating in his chest beneath her hands. He withdrew his tongue to bite her bottom lip gently, a sensation startling and erotic.

Then he took her mouth again, ferociously this time, and she took as much as he did, devouring, needing him deeper into her body. He tasted sweet and dark and as she kissed him everything in her was melting, dissolving, until Madeleine knew that terrifying, exhilarating sense of having no other existence outside the heady, penetrating bliss of this kiss.

And then Colin suddenly broke the kiss with a gasp.

He tucked his cheek against hers. His whiskers rasped at her delicate skin; his breath was hot and swift the crook of her neck.

He was quiet for a long time. His arms loosened on her.

Confused and strangely bereft, Madeleine's clung to him for a moment longer. Then her arms loosened about him, too, uncertainly.

"Just a kiss," he whispered, sounding dazed.

She didn't quite understand what he meant.

They remained close but not nearly as close as moments before, their breathing slowing to before-kiss rhythms.

Colin lifted his head up, looked down into her eyes. He looked as if he was considering whether to speak.

"Did you love him, Mad?"

The question surprised her so completely that she didn't have time to disguise the truth, and she was certain it was written all over her face.

Why did he do this? How did he do this?

"Life can be the very devil sometimes, can't it?" he said softly.

She stared at him.

"The very devil," she agreed thickly, after a moment.

He smiled down at her, as only Colin Eversea could smile.

And when he took her by the hand back out to the road Madeleine felt feeling as though she'd been thrown from the moon back down to earth.

*************************************
Thanks for reading! Like it?? Here's a preorder link, if you're interested!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061341584/1n9867a-20



*************************************

Copyright 2008 Julie Anne Long

Holiday Tips to Ease Stress and Live a Longer & Healthier Life

By LeeAnn Sharpe
The holidays always seem to heighten the level of stress in our lives. What should be the most joyous time of the year often turns out to be the most stressful. After the worst year of my life, when stress put me in the hospital with a heart attack, I finally learned how to distress.

So here’s my advice to help you learn how to reduce stress before it has serious detrimental effects on your health. Stress leads to heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure, cancer, anxiety and depression. It can also create serious problems at work and dysfunctional relationships at home. So before you allow stress to control your life, think about these steps to reduce stress, prevent illness and live a happier and longer life.

First, make stress reduction a conscious decision in your life. Before you do anything think about how much stress it will create in your life. Do you need to bake, cook or decorate so much. Maybe take it back a notch. Spread it out over the entire season, not all the week of the holiday. A little each day is better than overload on one or two days.
Second, make your health a priority. We often think about diet and exercise after January 1st when everyone makes their resolutions. And sure we don’t want to deprive ourselves during the holidays. But your health is precious, and nothing is more important than taking care of yourself. So indulge in moderation. Enjoy each bite savoring the taste and smells for much longer than usual. Use all of your senses. Crush greens between your fingers and smell the fresh pine scent. Fest your eyes on each bite and take in the colors and textures before you enjoy the taste. Take a walking tour of your neighborhood or a nearby neighborhood to see the lights and decorations. Pull the family off the coach and toss a football or soccer ball around in the sunshine. Eat right and exercise!
Third, rediscover the love in your life. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. Love the animals and wildlife in your life. Did you know watching birds, puppies or kittens and getting that “ahhh how cute” feeling is actually good for your heart! Do whatever you love, read a book, watch a movie, paint, play sports, shop, or whatever gives you pleasure. Doing and being with what you love is good for you. Make the holidays more about the people, and doing what they like with you, than about the gifts. Take your Mom to a Christmas Choir performance. Enjoy a movie with your sibling.
Next embrace your faith and spirituality. Everyone can benefit from the power of prayer, meditation and turning inward for reflection. Much of the baggage we carry can be released when we mentally decide to let go and move on to be healthier and happier. If you stress over the way the dishwasher is loaded, you need to let go and believe the world will go on even if a dish comes out less than optimal. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You need the mental release to set you free. Forgive those who have done you wrong. Release that stress from your life and it’s more a gift to yourself than anyone else.

Love, laugh, enjoy and appreciate life. It’s a choice we make. You control your mind and make the choice to relax and enjoy the small things in life. Listen to the birds and stop to smell the flowers. Do all that you can to be a more relaxed person. Learning to control your stress begins with a conscious commitment to make healthy changes in your life. Just do it. It can save your life. And it can make a happier holiday season.

Local Color Movie Review

“Local Color” Movie Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe

“Local Color touched my heart!” is a quote heard often from audiences in Scottsdale’s previewing of this beautiful movie in limited release at the Harkins Camelview 5 this weekend.

Director/Writer George Gallo says the film is autobiographical and a personal passion project that he had to do even when the big financial backers dropped out and he had to mortgage his home to get it done.

Gallo knows how make a film with plenty of successful films in his resume including “Wise Guys” and “Midnight Run”. His recent projects include the soon to be released “My Mom’s New Boyfriend” with Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas.

“Local Color” is the story of a young painter John Talia, Jr. (Trevor Morgan) finding a mentor in an elderly Russian master Nicholi Seroff (Armin Mueller-Stahl) living in his New York town in 1974. Frame Shop owner Yammi (Charles Durning) helps instigate an introduction with the vodka guzzling artist who has blocked out the world. Against the wishes of his overbearing homophobic father, John Talia, Sr. (Ray Liotta), John runs off for a summer in the country to learn the artist’s techniques, but the cantankerous alcoholic artist ends up teaching him more about life than painting. The imagery is a feast for the soul with beautiful landscapes and vibrant paintings.

Nicholi Seroff's wisdom and concern about the direction of art in the world is discussed in long dinner conversations with art critic Curtis Sunday (Ron Perlman) and his wife Sandra (Julie Lott), where Seroff’s colorful dialogue is punctuated with an abundance of profanity, true to the personality of the artist. The use of the “F” word earned the film an “R” rating, even though there is absolutely no violence, sex or nudity. Gallo said he couldn’t whitewash his character’s language anymore than he did without losing the essence of the man.

Carla (Samantha Mathis) is a beautiful young woman and neighbor friend of Seroff’s who awakens passion in young John. Knowing Seroff is jealous of the attention, John engages her in the purest of big screen romances and earns the scorn of his mentor at the end of the summer. Still they end up each learning from the other and all the better for the passion ignited. John sees the world through the eyes of the master, and the master sees the world through the eyes of innocence once again.

Gallo spoke to the audience after a local screening and told how important it was he make this film, and make it his way, because it’s the story of his own youth and the mentor who guided him in his dreams. Working without major studio support, taking out loans against his home, as well as several producers doing the same, he managed to create a poignantly moving portrait of a glimpse of a moment in his life that many of us experience when inspiration takes hold and sets the course of your life. Gallo shot the entire film in only 18 days, in what he called keystone cops shooting technique, setting up and tearing down lights and cameras so fast as to be ridiculous. But he got it done and the end product defies you to find where he cut corners. The top notch cast and beautiful score, by Academy Award nominated composer Chris Boardman, accent this masterpiece of film making.
As a young man, Gallo attended college as a Graphic Arts major. After seeing Martin Scorsese's film “Mean Streets”, he was inspired to become a Film major instead. When the school informed him that he couldn't switch majors without repeating his first year's studies, he decided to drop out and ended up writing his first film, “Wise Guys”.
Gallo was quoted as saying, "Eventually, I came to understand that all of the arts are intertwined. That composition in painting is the same as structure in storytelling; that characters are the same as colors; that colors are the same as chords in music."
Armin Mueller-Stahl came out of retirement for his portrayal of Nicholi Seroff. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Shine” (1996) and more recently had appeared in four episode of The West Wing. Much has been made of Seroff’s use of profanity in “Local Color” but Mueller-Stahl made it a natural part of the foul mouthed artist’s personality, to the extent it was no longer profane, but simply the way he spoke. We’ve all known people cut from this cloth, especially old men who have been through much horror and have limited ability to express themselves and their frustration through language. They generally ask to be excused when speaking in the presence of ladies, but Seroff’s frustration with life has reduced his attention social niceties to nil. Gallo was brilliant to cast Mueller-Stahl in this role. The accent, the facial expressions, the body language, all spoke of this old man’s frustration with life. And Mueller-Stahl is a painter. Bravo for a wonderful job in painting this character.

Trevor Morgan wasn’t the first choice for the role of John Talia, Jr. Gallo’s wife Julie Lott explained how their first choice had a conflict and Trevor Morgan fell into his place. It was the best thing to happen because he was perfect. With years of acting experience since the age of six, the 21-year old actor was especially good in expressing fear when his homophobic father’s predictions haunted him as the old man opens his bedroom door to check in. Morgan was an excellent choice. The big movie studios wanted a sex scene added to the romance but Gallo insisted in real life it had only been a kiss and that was what he wanted in the story. Morgan made that kiss express more than any sex scene.

Ray Liotta as John Talia, Sr. provided the humor and quirkiness we all see in our own families. He’s a loving father and husband trying to hold on to a son ready to fly the nest. Liotta brings his usual professionalism to the role and gives us the chance to hate him and love him. It didn’t hurt that he was a family friend who actually knew Gallo’s father.

Samantha Mathis as Carla took the character right where she belonged, as the fuel to the fire that ignited between Nicoli and John. Mathis has acted since the age of three, (daughter of actress Bibi Besch). Mathis was quoted, “During the kissing scene it started to rain, which was perfect. And during the raining scene we were using hoses to simulate rain - and it started raining for real. It was as if God was saying, "Make this film." I loved the experience of working on the film and all the collaboration and encouragement. Gallo was open to suggestions and that sort of enthusiasm makes everyone want to work for him.”

The film won a Director's Choice Award at the Sedona Film Festival. That’s where the connection to Harkin’s came into play. “It's a true story,” Dan Harkins says. “We ran to each other in slow motion. We made a film deal in front of a full theater. My children loved the film and wanted to see it again.” The limited release at Harkins has been a big success.

A week after production wrapped, most of the locations used in the film were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Idealism created an impressive piece of work with its heart in the right place. It will touch your heart, mind and soul with a shared experience of anyone with a passion.
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Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is freelance writer/photographer in Glendale Arizona and can be reached at www.leeannsharpe.com or lasharpe@cox.net.

Duck and Decanter Dining Review

Dining Review
By Cowgirl Connoisseur
Duck and Decanter

On the way to a movie screening my companion and I stopped by the Duck for a light dinner. My publisher had asked me visit as he had run the notice of their 30th Anniversary Celebration in the last issue of Panorama Hills Monthly. I was curious because I remember years ago my Dad taking clients to “Duck and Decanter” for frequent business lunches. They also catered several office parties and prepared box lunches for business road trips. Yet, I had never been into their establishment.

Duck and Decanter, as it is known today, began in November of 1972 under the new ownership of Dort and Earl Mettler. A specialty food, beverage and retail pioneer, has become a monument in the lives of many valley residents. Providing fresh sandwiches, salads and soups in a unique environment surrounded by specialty foods, cheeses, wine, beer coffee, gift baskets, tea, and giftware.

Was I ever pleasantly surprised to find a shop packed with epicurean delights. Everything from sauces and spreads, dressings and noodles, dinnerware and kitchen tools are packed into shelves and rows of displays too numerous to peruse in one visit. Upstairs there’s more. It goes on and on. Food and shopping combine two of my favorite activities!

Duck and Decanter, affectionately known as "the Duck", was the first to provide central Phoenix with unique epicurean services such as wine tastings, a wine bar, and an espresso bar. Over the years, the Duck has earned over fifty prestigious awards from local and national periodicals and associations such as Mobil Travel Guide and Zagats. The awards certificates are lined up on the walls side to side and run on forever!

No doubt I was in for a treat for the taste buds. You order at the counter and they call your name when your sandwich is freshly made. A case of salads was intriguing with so many from which to choose.

I tried the southwest pasta salad with THE CLASSIC REUBEN $6.25 Choice of Corned beef or Pastrami, I took the Pastrami. Swiss cheese, sauerkraut relish, and thousand island dressing. I had it on an onion roll. Delicious!

My friend had the CHICKEN SALADS $7.25 Your choice between Creamy garlic with herbs, Curry with raisins, or Sonoran with spicy oil & vinegar. She had the Creamy garlic and it had a nice mild pleasant garlic and herb taste. It was nothing that overwhelmed, but gave good flavor. She also had the potato salad and it was nice. Nothing spectacular but very pleasant.

Their website at www.duckanddecanter.com lists a huge selection of cheese and catering options. I can see why the Duck has remained a favorite for so long. The Duck has remained jubilant for over three decades in a unique market because of its strong customer base. Customers who realize it is not only the quality of the goods they purchase, but it is the experience as well. I will be back often!

Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is freelance writer/photographer in Glendale Arizona and can be reached at www.leeannsharpe.com or lasharpe@cox.net.
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Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper

by LeeAnn Sharpe

Alice Cooper’s classic image is one of horror and outrageous antics, the macabre perversion beyond anyone else. In fact, next to Halloween masks of Frankenstein, you can find the Alice Cooper mask resplendent with the trademark black eyeliner and wild black hair. None of it would have built a rock and roll dynasty lasting 40 years if there wasn’t a solid base of really good music. Alice Cooper’s music stands the test of time as rock classics as viable to today’s audiences as they were in 1969 when he started out.

At his recent Arizona State Fair Halloween concert a mother and daughter came out to enjoy the night together. “Alice Cooper was the first concert I went to when I was a teenager and now I’m taking my 15-year old daughter to her first concert to see him too,” says Betty excitedly. The crowd was heavily populated with older Alice Cooper fans, many with families in tow.

Alice Cooper’s portfolio of work is pretty remarkable with some 45 albums. The “Poison” video on YouTube has been viewed 836,992 times! “School’s Out” is still an anthem for every kid in the world on the last day of school. “Only Women Bleed”, “Welcome to my Nightmare”, “Love’s a Loaded Gun”, and “Eighteen,” are favorites the audience mentioned.

On stage Alice Cooper is more than just a rock singer. He becomes a total performer using stage props and characters telling a story through the music. His long legs and lean form carry him in costumes as varied as a white tuxedo or a black lycra jumpsuit cut to expose his front down to the nether lands. His most frequent costume in the past has been a red devil jumpsuit. This night he dons black pants decorated with a skeleton theme, trademark black top hat and a walking stick which he throws to the crowds several times to hysterical cheers.

The emotion and torment he performs are themes the audience can relate to and contribute to the cult like following his fans maintain through decades. His voice can be pretty and melodic when necessary, but more often it is jagged and cutting punctuated with screams and howls.

So how does this rocker take his show mainstream? Alice is in commercials for the Arizona Department of Transportation reminding Arizonans to renew their vehicle registration. More humorous was his Staples commercial where he’s buying school supplies for a petulant little girl who says, “I thought you said school’s out forever.” He responds, “No, the song says School’s out for summer”. Or there’s the Marriott commercial where he tells a guy mowing his lawn to take a vacation with his family so they won’t grow up to be weirdos. Hilarious! Calloway has a commercial where Cooper is a machinist. Of course golf is one of Cooper’s favorite pastimes.

You’ve become an American icon when you appear on the Muppets singing “Schools Out” with the Muppet characters in his trademark red devil jump suit.

A frequent participant in charity golf tournaments, Alice has lent his name to a number of charity projects. The biggest commitment is The Rock, a Christian youth center at the Grand Canyon University campus in west Phoenix. Chuck Savale, Executive Director of the Solid Rock Foundation says, “To date he has helped raise $2.5million.” They are working towards a goal of $7.25M. The 29,450-square- foot center would include sports facilities, a concert hall, recording studios and sound room, coffeehouse, computer lab, a rock-climbing wall, game room, dancing space, skateboard area and other amenities. They believe it can be the model for teen centers across the U.S.

He’s often said Alice is a character he plays as far removed from himself as he can get. That separation has allowed him to maintain a stable personal life. Married faithfully for 30 years and raising three kids his life seems pretty grounded. A tour takes him to the UK, Russia, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden in the coming weeks. But he will be home in time for the December 15th Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding, a night of comedy and music to raise money for The Rock Teen Center.

Alice Cooper has taken a path he started at 16-years old, followed the curves and turns, climbed the hills and grown in the process. He allowed his music and audiences to mature right along with him as he approaches 60. His humor and outrageousness along with compassion and brains have kept his fans and built a new younger base who pull out mom and dads vinyl and say, “Can I get this on MP3?”

For more photos and extended story visit www.azphm.com/alice.htm

Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is freelance writer/photographer in Glendale Arizona and can be reached at www.leeannsharpe.com or lasharpe@cox.net

Movin' Out brings Energy to Sun City AZ

Movin' Out
By LeeAnn Sharpe
First you take the music of Billy Joel, which is so woven into the American landscape it’s imbedded deep into your memory, as a fan or not. Then you take the talent of Twyla Tharp who conceived, directed, and choreographed “Movin' Out”, for which she won the 2003 Tony Award. Next a voice that takes Joel’s lyrics and music into a storyline with emotion. Finally, add the energy of a troupe of young dancers who seem to float and fly across the stage, using their bodies to tell the story. It’s a magical combination that had the audience captivated and cheering super human feats of endurance on Opening Night of “Movin' Out” at Sun City’s Maricopa County Event Center.
“Movin' Out” isn’t a musical in the sense that there are not actors speaking roles, but dancers, dancing to the music telling the story. There are characters and a story line which tells the story of five friends coming of age over three decades from the 60’s to the 80’s. And there's live music with an incredible band singing about 30 Billy Joel songs. “Movin' Out” is more a ballet, an extraordinary dance, rock, theatre infusion, thoroughly entertaining.
The dancing is non-stop and amazingly energetic for nearly two hours. The incredible energy, especially Eddie (Drew Heflin) and Tony (John Corsa), are like the energizer bunnies doing unbelievable feats of gymnastics, jumps, spins and lifts. These are superhuman dancers! “Movin' Out” has definitely been well cast with incredible talent.
Given an amazing catalog of music from Joel, the band took it to new heights with an inspired sax and the fabulous voice of Kyle Martin.
The only fault I can find is in the lighting throwing maximum wattage into the eyes of the audience, blinding this recent cataract removed reviewer into painful squinting to see several times, especially in the opening scene. My companion also commented he wished the lighting hadn’t been so extreme. The theatre also seemed to echo and on more than one occasion I turned around to see who was singing in the back of the theatre a step behind.
The storyline follows five characters from their 1960’s high school graduation, love found and lost, becoming soldiers, off the Vietnam where James dies in battle, the sadness of a soldiers funeral and the girlfriend left to mourn, the pain of vets readjusting to life at home, the nightmare of war haunting them, a drunken brawl, and finally their reunion years later. Read the plot synopsis in the Playbill, as there’s almost no spoken dialogue to help you follow the story and characters.
The long legs of Tony (John Corsa) in Scene 2: Tony Move Out, caught my attention and his legs and leaps kept me captivated throughout. Especially in Scene 10, when he danced to “Shameless” with Brenda (Amanda Kay). The sweetly sentimental pair of James (Eric Bourne) and Judy (Karolina Blonski) were delightful as the danced Scene 3: James and Judy are Forever to “Just the Way Your Are.” It wasn’t until Act II that Eddie (Drew Heflin) came to the forefront with his amazing gymnastic feats at an unbelievable pace that had the audience applauding during several numbers. How does he keep it up night after night? Actually there are 4 dancers in the program who take turns on different nights as Eddie (played by one of four dancers: Brett Emmons, Drew Heflin, Nicholas McGough, or Andrew Pirozzi).
The real star is the Piano Man Lead Vocalist Kyle Martin who gave voice to every scene almost non-stop. What stamina to sing at such a level emoting feeling and enthusiasm to propel the dancers and storyline forward for almost two hours. His voice is comfortable and embracing, with full definition of every word as it must to make the story understood. He has a beautiful voice that brings everything required to make this show a great success.
The rest of the band is excellent with kudos to the sax men Tim McNamara and John Isley.
“Movin' Out” is entertaining and musically satisfying leaving the audience uplifted and wishing they could bottle some of that energy!

Movin' Out ran for 1331 performances on Broadway.
Movin' Out ran two days at the Maricopa County Events Center, one night at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix and has shows scheduled for Oct 30th & 31st at the Mesa Arts Center.

History Discussions Preserved for All Time

History Discussions Preserved for All Time
Podcasts & Symposiums
By LeeAnn Sharpe
October 14, 2007

Have you ever missed a great event and wished you could have been there? A noted author or historian speaks and you have a conflict in schedule and missed the talk. Or a gathering across the country that it’s not economically effective to attend, but how you would love to have heard the lecture.

Technology seems to be a double edged sword for most of us who feel an affinity to history. Where the life of a turn of the 19th century citizen seems more in line with my state of mind, technology does make research of history and the sharing of information so much easier. Once travel was required to hear and see exhibits, now many are online and more accessible than ever. Podcasts are a wonderful way to slip into events far away to get insight and perhaps plan your travel in the future to sites that truly fit your desires.

A MySpace friend who lives in Indiana turned me on to http://www.eiteljorg.org the Eiteljorg Museum of Native Americans and Western Art. Exploring their site I found numerous podcasts of interest.


Seminars on Video

Saturday I spent the day at the Sharlot Hall Museum’s 4th Annual Western History Symposium. They had 2 sessions going simultaneously hourly all day long. Luckily they videotaped the sessions and they will be available in the museum archives.

The subjects I enjoyed included “The Pleasant Valley War” by Lee Hanchett and Fred Veil. I was curious because I have personally encountered re-enactors who are willing to come to blows over the debate about this subject that took place over a hundred years ago. Hanchett and Veil provided a more civil opportunity to examine each side of the history. Basically about 19 people ended up murdered and the one person left standing after the many conflicts though tried and convicted was let go on a technicality and not retried. The audience agreed it was the OJ of another era.

“Shady Women and “Respectability” in Arizona Territory” by Dr. Ann Hibner Koblitz was an interesting presentation looking at prostitution and notions of respectability in Territorial Arizona. It was a topic that could be explored so much more than a one hour discussion. I will be interested to read Dr. Koblitz’s upcoming book “Sex and Herbs and Birth Control.” The audience was amazed at some of the interesting methods of birth control and general acceptance the ladies of the evening often enjoyed in territorial society. Even recent history demonstrated a town came into its own when the shady ladies arrived.

I especially enjoyed Ed Hulse’s “Filming the West of Zane Grey”. While everyone is familiar with Zane Grey stories, I never realized which and how many had been used in the movies. Starting with silent films through modern day Grey commanded record-breaking bucks for his day. And his stories, often told in remote Arizona locations, projected his romantic vision of the west to millions of viewer world wide. Ed’s presentation was exciting and definitely will have me looking at his collection of books he’s written about film subjects.

Unfortunately we had to leave a little before the end of “The Amateur Theatre in Prescott, 1868 -1895” delightfully presented by Dr. Tom Collins and his female associate Jody Drake, Director of the Museum’s Blue Rose Theatre. They preformed a delightful reading of the show bills and reviews.
Sessions I was unable to attend but will be in the archives include “Arizona in the Civil War” by Al Bates. I was very sorry to have missed this session as I am very interested in his topic. The terrible war that was fought between the States in the 1860s took place largely east of the Mississippi River. To Civil War buffs, the part of the war that was carried out in the West was just a short-lived side-show. But to the people of Arizona it was real and often deadly. Military forts were abandoned when U.S. Army units stationed there went to the Eastern theatre causing the Apache Indians to unleash an unprecedented campaign of attacks on settlers which, in turn, resulted in the abandonment of farms and ranches and even once-thriving communities such as Tubac. Al is currently working on a biography of Jack Swilling.

“Big River and Sacred Mountains in the 1850’s: Exploring Grand Canyon Country Before Powell” by speaker Dr. Andrew Wallace discussed the 1851 expedition of Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves as he set out to explore and map the southern portion of the Four Corners region of the Southwest.
“The Lewis and Clark Expedition” talk given by Todd Weber brings to life the characters and events of American history pertaining to the history of Lewis and Clark, the American mountain men, the Oregon Trail, and John Wesley Powell and other river explorers of the Grand Canyon. For the Lewis and Clark bicentennial of 2004-2006 Todd was on the Columbia River on board the Queen of the West as historian for the American West Steamboat Company sharing his appreciation for the stamina, ingenuity, and character that existed in those who helped shape the history of the region. His period clothing and colorful collection add to his presentations, making them visual and memorable.
When Fred Veil, a long time resident of Prescott was asked if he minded the increase in population he commented, “It brings its share of problems, but it also means more interesting activities.” Prescott has reached the age now where so many learned and successful people are retiring in the area, all of society is reaping the benefits. Volunteers and programs have blossomed as prolifically as the museum’s rose garden flowers.

Sharlot Hall Museum has acquired space across the street in the modern Granite Creek Center for a bright and spacious research library. The addition will be welcomed by researchers pale from years of being sequestered in the dark.
If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Sharlot Hall Museum, be sure to add it to your next trip to Prescott. Just a couple of blocks off the town square, it’s a delightful place to just

Ed Sharpe 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy(R) Award

Photo: Ed Sharpe of CouryGraph Productions/ Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV with 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy(R) Award for the production of "The Laura Graff Hit and Run Accident - Search For The Driver" .(Photo by Julie Sharpe)

Ed Sharpe 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy(R) Award
by LeeAnn Sharpe

Last month I turned on the television just in time to catch the second half of the Emmys and cheered when Robert Duvall won for Broken Trail.

It’s a long way from Hollywood and The National Television Academy Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter awards that cover Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and parts of California and Wyoming. Still the Emmy® Statuettes represent the highest honor bestowed in the television industry, making them the most coveted awards in broadcasting. So when Glendale broadcaster Ed Sharpe told me he had been nominated I said, “No way!” But he was, and he won!

Ed Sharpe of CouryGraph Productions / Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV in Glendale, AZ was awarded a 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy(R) Award for his production of "The Laura Graff Hit and Run Accident - Search For The Driver". He won in a new internet IPTV category that was recently added to the awards. In fact, he held all four of the nominations in the category.

The new category displays how important the internet has become, not just in local news, but in the ability of the public to view local TV from anywhere in the world. The web TV lists over 300 stations around the world who broadcast on the internet. And that doesn’t even include the thousands of independent broadcasters like Sharpe.

Sharpe has always been a leader in innovative ideas and on the cutting edge of technologies. In his history he has seen the next wave and jumped aboard to ride until the trend becomes mainstream. As a computer entrepreneur Sharpe was one of the first to educate the pubic about scanning, lasers and inkjet printing. He recently has been an advocate of government funded public access WIFI. His KKAT-IPTV produces hundreds of hours of local news and public service footage posted to his site www.glendaledailyplanet.com.

Sharpe says, "Many people have taken time to teach me videography, editing, writing, ethics in journalism and I appreciate the people who were great sounding boards to discuss ideas."

Glendale Police Chief Steven Conrad stated: "I would like to congratulate Ed on his latest Emmy! Ed is committed to providing our community with information about the efforts of public safety. This video is a great example of a great police-media relationship."

Officer Matt Barnett, Glendale Police Department PIO, who narrated the Hit and Run segment congratulated Ed Sharpe "I have worked with him many times in the past and Mr. Sharpe is a pleasure to work with and is asset to the local journalistic community."

Sharpe took his wife Bette, and daughter Julie to the presentation on the evening of October 6th at the recently completed plush Renaissance Hotel and Resort Conference Center located near the University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale Arizona.
The video can be viewed online at http://www.glendaledailyplanet.com/media/Barnett%20police%20motorcycle-3.wmv

‘‘The Kingdom’’ film review

‘‘The Kingdom’’ film review
by LeeAnn Sharpe

They are calling it “Syriana” for Dummies or Syriana” meets “Black Hawk Down". Whatever you want to equate ‘‘The Kingdom’’ to is only surface comparison. The last half hour or so of this film was so intense that I found myself on the edge of my seat. And so was everyone else! I was riveted. That’s pretty good film making when the entire audience is transfixed.

Largely filmed in Phoenix, this thriller about an FBI team solving a terrorist bombing in Saudi Arabia, stars Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper and Jennifer Garner, and is directed by Peter Berg, who also did the movie “Collateral” and the television Emmy nominated series ‘‘Friday Night Lights’’. Plenty of locals had minor roles, so it was fun looking for recognizable faces. Jeremy Priven plays a State Department contact, Damon Schmidt, who acts remarkable like Ari from “Entourage”. Ashraf Barhom who plays Saudi police Col. Al-Ghazi should get higher billing as one of the real shining stars of this film.

They call it realism of camera views, but if you get queasy with an unsteady handheld camera, take some Dramamine. This fast-paced constantly moving camera action, which seems to be so popular these days, makes me feel old and light headed. AS if I’ve had too much to drink or just not able to keep up with the youthful world of high speed cars and action. Maybe that is part of the mesmerizing effect. I hated it, but I loved it too. I do wish we had more opportunity to focus rather than getting a fleeting glance. But life is that way most of the time too.

It’s strange to think a section of the 202 Freeway in Phoenix looks like Saudi Arabia. Every time I saw those scenes it made me think, “I know where that was shot!” I lost track of the story for a second. They say Jennifer Garner collapsed on the set in Phoenix twice due to the extremely high temperature, over 115 degrees Fahrenheit. So why pick that time of year to shoot? Realism of temperature? I bet Jennifer Garner wished it was less real too.
The story goes a US base housing families of oil company personnel in Saudi Arabia that has been bombed resulting in the deaths of hundreds of US civilians and rescue personnel. The incident is based on actual bombings in 1996 and 2003. Saudi Arabia insists the investigation can be handled internally, but a group of FBI field agents led by Ronald Fleury (Foxx), try to ferret out the terrorists. The best line is “How do you stop an enemy who isn't afraid to die?” Fleury’s team includes forensics expert Janet Mayes (Garner) and bomb specialists Grant Sykes (Chris Cooper) and Adam Leavitt (Jason Bateman).

Over the opening credits the history of relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia through the last century explained all of the major events between the two nations. It explains why so many Americans are in Saudi Arabia in the first place.

The film is dedicated to the memory of Papac, an assistant propmaster on the Universal Pictures' film, who was driving on a closed portion of the 202 Freeway when his all-terrain vehicle collided with an SUV carrying director Peter Berg. Papac suffered severe head injuries and died hours after being airlifted to a local hospital.

“The Kingdom” is an intense and engaging film. This is one that shouldn't be missed. Whether it makes you stop and think about issues in the Middle East or not, it’s an action packed thrilling crowd-pleaser that might stimulate some conversation about Muslim terrorists and cultural differences. At least about the car crashes on the 202. ###

AsSalt Tour & Stephen Baldwin

AsSalt Tour & Stephen Baldwin
Stevie B brings his Breakthough Ministry to Arizona

By LeeAnn Sharpe

If a child hasn’t had an introduction to the spiritual experience by the time they graduate high school, it’s unlikely he will ever have the opportunity as an adult. Stephen Baldwin and the Breakthrough Ministry are working to give hundreds of thousands of young people the opportunity to be “born again” in a fun and exciting way. They use extreme sports as the draw and rock music and youthful speakers to deliver the message. The idea is that a youngster who has made a commitment to Christ will turn away from violence, drugs and sex and lead a righteous life.

Stephen Baldwin, born May 12, 1966 in Massapequa, New York, is an actor, best known by adults for his roles in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects or his TV Series the Young Riders (1989-1992). But the kids know him as Barney Rubble from The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), team captain Sean Linden in Slap Shot 2 (2002) and Doyle in Bio-Dome (1996). Baldwin credits his role in Bio-Dome with his popularity among the kids he seeks to reach today. They flock to him as if he’s one of them. He’s the narley skateboarding, hockey playing, kid on the street out having fun.

The youngest of the acting Baldwin brothers, with brothers Daniel, William, and Alec, Stephen had a religious conversion after Sept 11, 2001. He gave up smoking, stopped drinking. His wife, Kennya, had been a devoutly practicing Christian for several years when he had an epiphany. Their nanny from Brazil had made a prediction back in 1993, that Stephen and his wife would have a ministry, and her prediction has come to pass.

Baldwin directed and produced Livin' It and Livin' It LA films that focus on Christian athletes involved in Extreme sports evangelism after his 2003 experience in Ft Lauderdale with the Luis Palau Ministry and Kevin Palau. The goal was to distribute 20,000 videos but in the first 6 months they sold 50,000 and to date over 200,000. They also did a 100 city skateboarding tour. Through small parking lot skateboarding gatherings they have already brought the message to over 100,000 young people.

His Breakthrough Ministry, begun in January 2007 in San Diego, features skateboarding and extreme sports, Christian_rock concerts, laser light shows and fireworks. The hope is to use culturally relevant tools to reach the youth of America. They are calling it the AsSalt Tour with a December 15th event in Phoenix’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The mainstream Christian rock group P.O.D. (Payable on Death) will perform. Their song Alive was the theme for the Winter Olympics and their music has been included in many popular movies and tv shows. Stars of Skateboarding, including Christian Hosoi, Brian Sumner, Andre Genovesi and Josh Kasper will perform. BMX Freestyle, X Games Gold Medalist Bruce Crisman and Dew Tour Vert Finalist Mike Mancuso will be there too. Showing off his God given talent in Extreme Freestyle Motocross will be 3007 X Games Gold Medalist for “Best New Trick” Kyle Loza , plus many more performances, choreographed laser lights and pyrotechnics are all promised with jumbo-trons broadcasting the action up close. And admission is free, first come first served basis. They will also have a car Show and Hip-Hop Show live in the parking lot.

Baldwin will play host to the action. He says, “For me. Being born again was the most awesome thing that has ever happened in my life, and I had a pretty awesome life already.” His book “The Unusual Suspect” details his life and conversion to faith made it onto the New York Times bestseller list.

The AsSalt Tour’s purpose is to “Pierce the darkened hearts of today’s youth with the light of Christ.” It has become obvious that the youth of today are not being reached in an effective or truly relevant way. The Breakthrough believes this is unacceptable and will now take the necessary action to reach a lost generation.

The passion of the Breakthrough Ministry is to see the youth of the world become empowered and set free, so they can make better choices and become the world-changers that God intended them to be. Baldwin says, “We believe the greatest way to ensure the future of America is the rest of the world is to evangelize the youth today.”

When he first became involved in ministering to the youth of America, he asked that they not call it a “ministry” because that would be the kiss of death for his career in Hollywood. But there was no other way to describe what he was doing. It was a ministry. When he realized the prophesy his Brazilian nanny foretold had come to fruition he experienced the most powerful moment in his life. And so far it seems to have had a positive impact on his life. The phone rings off the hook offering him more work than ever.

With over 60 movies in his career Baldwin has made a pretty good living as an actor. In 2002, he participated in “Celebrity Mole Hawaii”, the first celebrity edition of “The Mole”. ABC broadcast the reality show in early 2003. Later that year he returned for “Celebrity Mole Yucatan”, which ABC aired in early 2004. In 2004, he became the host of another reality show “Scare Tactics”, which was broadcast on The Sci Fi Channel.
In 2006, Baldwin starred in “The Genius Club” for writer/director Tim Chey. The film is about seven geniuses who try to solve the world's problems in a single night. In August 2007, he was back on television when CMT cast Baldwin in Ty Murray’s “Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge”. He was among nine celebrities cast on the show. In the first episode, Baldwin was injured after taking a bad fall from a bull, breaking his shoulder blade and cracking a rib.

In contrast to his brothers Alec and William, who are noted Democrats and avid Bush opponents, Stephen is a Bush supporter. Calling himself an Independent, Baldwin makes occasional appearances with Republican political figures and, in April 2007, was a special White House guest for the annual White House Egg Roll.

“People constantly ask me for details of my "Damascus Road" experience (see Acts 9) that made me give my life to Jesus Christ. Most assume I hit bottom and had nowhere else to turn. They're wrong.” For more of the story read his book “The Unusual Suspect”.

Breakthrough Radio airs Sundays 12pm-1pm on 1360AM KPXQ. They advertise “This ain’t your grandma’s radio show” gearing the message to the young people, taking calls and sharing their message of faith.

A website with incredible music and graphics attracts young people looking for a connection at http://www.stephenbaldwin.com/break4.htm. The AsSalt Tour is just a part of his ministry. The Tour will hit Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas and Nashville. http://www.assalttour.com/. The 330 Youth Movement gives kids a direction.

Stephen Baldwin’s first and final words at a recent luncheon here in Phoenix at North Christian Baptist Church were, “I’m on a very powerful journey that’s extremely fun for me and I’m inviting you to join me, but I’m going with or without you.”

Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is a freelance writer and can be reached at http://www.leeannsharpe.com/


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Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon
Dining Review
By Cowgirl Connoisseur


The old time cowboy restaurant is almost a thing of the past with all of the modern development taking over much of Arizona’s cowboy country.

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon located at I-17 Exit #225 west on Pioneer Road can still hold claim to good old-fashioned cowboy food and entertainment. They claim to be “Where Arizona’s Old West is re-discovered and the taste of Arizona’s new west is found”

Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon sits on the Pioneer Living History Museum old west town property, although you can enter the restaurant without going into the museum proper. Many events combine the restaurants food with everything from weddings, corporate parties to the September Wild Western Festival. www.wildwesternfestival.com

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 6am to 9pm, Pioneer serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable old west style dining room and bar. Sunday they have an All-U-Can-Eat Buffet Breakfast sure to satisfy any appetite from Hoss to Little Joe. Thursday night is All-U-Can-Eat Spaghetti & Meatballs, darn near featured in every Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. Friday night is the “Famous” All-U-Can-Eat Fish Fry. Gather up your posse of family and friends for this one! Saturday night is Prime Rib and All the Fixin’s. The food has always been of generous portions and cooked to your request.

Friday through Sunday you can enjoy entertainment from honkey-tonk piano to cowboy singers. Pioneer can also host your parties for weddings, corporate events or team building. Bring your out-of-town guests in for a taste of the old west. Their website at www.westerndestinations.com tells you all about a variety of activities available.
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Midlife Madness Review

Midlife Madness Review
By Lee Sharpe

You may have missed the last chance for “Midlife Madness” a play by Jennifer Kirkeby that closed Sunday, May 20th at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. And if you did, it’s too bad. It’s a delightful little company in an intimate new venue. It delivers just what’s expected and more on the topic of midlife madness. The “more” is the relationships with good friends and the hilarity they can bring to life.

When invited by Director, Diedre Kaye, who selected the play to co-produce with her husband and Darknight Productions partner, Alexx Stuart, to see the production on Friday night, the first thought on my mind was where to park. Having never been to the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, but I drive by there frequently on my way to the 101 I didn’t remember seeing any parking. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of parking around the city park area to the south, adjacent to the theatre. As I parked, a courtesy shuttle arrived to deliver me to the theatre curb. What a nice treat.

Peoria Center for the Performing Arts brand new multi-theater performing arts building is a delightful design by Westlake Reed Leskosky with a “craggy copper clad roof hovering above a base of masonry which evokes the color and forms of the desert basin and distant mountains” or so says their website. The complex features 250 seat and 80 seat theaters with support spaces as well as exhibition and educational spaces. The design and experience was very pleasant.

Inside the brand new facility was a crisp clean cool functional design. It’s a blank pallet for artist to create their art. I stood on line at will call to learn there were actually four productions going on in the same facility that evening. Darknight Productions performance of “Midlife Madness” was in a small theatre on the south side of the larger theatre where another company, Theatre Works, was performing “The Miracle Worker”. The snack bar, although limited in selections, was very economically priced.

“Midlife Madness” author Jennifer Kirkeby of Minnesota attended the production opening, but was not at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts as the production finished it’s run. Diedre Kaye says, “Jennifer and I have been friends for years and used to perform together in Minneapolis. When I read the script, I knew I wanted to be the first to produce and direct it. The relationships in this play are so special and so reminiscent of the times we had together in theater in Minneapolis. I was thrilled when Jen gave us permission to do the world premiere.”

The playwright admits the play is somewhat autobiographical when she responded to audience questions following the opening night performance. “Yes, many of the stories are true – except I never had an affair with a Mime.” And now, according to Kaye, she can claim another piece of the story is true. The lead character and playwright in the story, Susan, (played by Jenny Mulcahy) gets a review of her new play “Midlife” that says, “The audience loved it. They laughed, they cried, they bought the t-shirt.” Except for buying the t-shirt (there were none), the same was true for the audiences of Kirkeby’s newest play which premiered May 11th.

At the center of this production is Susan, played by Jenny Mulcahy, the midlife single woman always on the prowl for men. Her apartment is the primary set where the stories unfold. Susan has the beautiful sun tanned glow, and low cut breast accentuating wardrobe of the looking for love, but not so much commitment women you can find in any bar or gym in town. Mulcahy plays the role well in a happy, almost giddy light hearted style that makes us warm to her even in her most obviously self-centered moments. Like the wine Susan drinks constantly, her dry wit flows through the script arousing everything from snickers and mild chuckles to belly laughs, and “oh my god I’m gonna pee my pants!” from the audience. The only criticism I can lay on Mulcahy’s feet, or actually on her breasts, is the makeup line fell far short in the final scene gown, creating a very distracting glow under the bright lights. The secret is out, you’re not really that tan! Not to worry, the performance was wonderfully entertaining.

Trish, played by Alaina Beauloye, and Susan are best friends who find their way through new and old relationships as they reconfirm their unconditional love for each other. Trish is the straight man to Susan’s delivery of hilarious lines. It’s hard being the straight man and getting the timing and tone just right and Beaulove has a great sense and connection for delivery with Mulcahy. As the married and unappreciated wife and mother, she hits midlife looking for more and finds it in a fling with a mime from her daughter’s birthday party who showers her with passion and admiration. A gorgeous blonde, Beaulove plays Trish as vulnerable and easy prey for a conman. Betrayed when her best friend writes about her secret extramarital affair, she quickly overcomes the hurt to engage in the infectious laughter they generate as they retell their stories of performing together blended with the trials of growing older that keeps the audience laughing with them.

Especially enjoyable was Rick played by Tom Koelbel. Rick’s recent breakup with his lover Mark caused him to search for emotional support through Performance Art (his warm ups are precious!) and his friends Susan and Trish. It’s as much fun watching the girls watch Rick perform as it is to watch him. Koelbel’s stage presence is so strong from the first moment he appeared it seemed he might overwhelm the rest of the cast, but he tones his character to “play well with others”. An amusing unsolicited review came in the restroom during intermission when a woman told me, “You know he’s not really gay!” I responded, “Oh really?” And she said, “He just plays it so well!” There you have it! Koelbel has talent and I’m sure he could play most any role well. He is exceptionally entertaining and enjoyable in this production.

The fine troupe of actors is rounded out by Rolando Zee’s ability to create two distinctly different characters as Ross, the personal trainer at the girl’s gym, and Milton, who has the steamy affair with Trish. Zee’s stage, film and modeling credits are impressive as is his incredible physique. For much of the production his character is little more than eye candy. But the few lines and two characters he portrays demonstrate he has acting talent as well. The gym scene was great. How to be a crazed hold up man while two women are doing a hysterical comedy act is tough. But Zee pulled it off and took the fall as well as any professional stunt man. He will certainly have a long and successful career in acting.

Music was from Lisa Koch CD’s “Tall Cool Drink and Both of Me” available online at www.heylisa.com. Director Deidre Kaye says, “Her music fit perfectly into the storyline.” Menopausal women will love her lyrics.

So if you missed this delightful production you will want to mark you calendar for the next show by Darknight Productions to be held in old town Scottsdale beginning next October. You can see a preview on June 14th - Murder at Savings & Loan Ballpark (s.lo.b.)by Alexx Stuart. It’s a parody of the Diamondbacks and baseball in general. The location is Grimaldi's Pizzeria at 4000 Scottsdale Road (southwest corner of First Avenue and Scottsdale Rd.) It promises to be great food and a very funny show! Tickets are $40 and include play, dinner (4 courses) tax and gratuity. Grimaldi's was just voted "Best pizza in the valley that isn't Bianco"

For more information or tickets see http://darknightproductions.tripod.com/ or call 480-595-7346.

Buffalo Chip Saloon And Steakhouse

Buffalo Chip Saloon And Steakhouse
by Cowgirl Connoisseur

The Buffalo Chip is a cowboy's standard hang out in downtown Cave Creek. It has a real western, kinda rough and tumble feel and it comes by it naturally. All those cowboy boots kicking up their heels dancing and hootin' and hollarin' can leave a mark! "Live in the now, but play in the 1800's" is their motto. Aside from the televisions, you could be walking into an 1880's style bar.

The restaurant is open 10am to 10pm with standard cowboy fare. Big Buckin' Burger and Fries at $6.95, 3/4 lb 100% beef chuck, hand ground and pattied, on a toasted bun with cheddar cheese. You can add Bacon, Green Chiles or Red Chili for $1.00 each. On Fridays, it's "All-You-Can-Eat" Cod, Walleye, Lake Perch and Catfish with fries and slaw $9.95 from 5 to 10pm. The fish is hot and delicious and they keep it coming. What a deal! Be sure to get your fill by 10pm, because the tables get pushed back and the dance floor appears and lookout, it gets crazy. They hand cut their own choice steaks and cook the steaks and burgers are on a Mesquite grilled to your likes. Of the hundreds of steaks I've had at the Chip, every single one has been good, tender, juicy and tasty. They are served with cowboy beans, salad, and a honey butter biscuit. It's nothing fancy, just simple straight forward cowboy dinner and uumm ummm good.

Not in the burger mood? How about a Mesquite Grilled Chicken Sandwich, for $7.95, it is a large grilled chicken breast, hot melted cheese, green chilies, tomatoes, and lettuce on a toasted bun, served with fries. Or a Pit Smoked Pork Sandwich and Fries, $7.95, 3/4 pound of smoked sliced pork topped with melted cheese, coleslaw and served on a toasted bun with a side of BBQ sauce. Or the Smoked Brisket Sandwich and Fries, $7.95, 3/4 pound beef brisket with melted cheese on a toasted bun with a side of BBQ sauce. For the salad lover try the Grilled Chicken Salad, $7.95, Platter of iceberg lettuce, slivered purple cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes with a grilled chicken breast, toasted croutons and side of ranch dressing.

The Chet "ATKINS" Platter, is $11.95, it has smoked pork, beef brisket, and grilled chicken breast with dry BBQ rub and a side of low-carb home-style coleslaw. Pit-Smoked Beef Brisket, for $10.95, is one pound of pit-smoked beef brisket with cowboy beans, coleslaw and honey butter biscuit. Or try the Chicken Saloon, for $10.95, chicken breast, tossed green salad, and a honey butter biscuit.

But the most popular item is the 12 oz. choice handcut Ribeye Steak, for $16.95, served with cowboy beans, tossed green salad, and a honey butter biscuit. Cooked to your order with these guidelines, Rare = Cool Red Center, Medium Rare = Warm Pink Center, Medium = Thin Pink Line in Center, Medium Well = No Pink, Well = May Still Be on Fire!

As a center attraction for cowboys in a western town for so many years, the Chip is nothing fancy. But that patina of so many wild nights has a certain attraction. This is where life really happens. It can get wild. Pretty young cowgirls come in their best western ware and dancing boots to two-step with cowboys in Wranglers and fresh Panhandle Slim snap button shirt and of course Stetson hat. They meet on the dance floor and share a few long necks and the next thing you know there are two kids and dog in the back of his Ford F250. Yep, many a romance has begun under that roof.

The atmosphere is just what city folk and tourists want to absorb. The Buffalo Chip even caters to tour groups and parties with a little western town out back. You can listen to the live music, shoot pool, or throw horseshoes, sit next to a fire pit and enjoy beautiful Black Mountain with a cold one!

There's plenty of music and dancing going on with Wednesday Karaoke 8pm to Midnight using one of the best sound system around. Thursday and Sunday you can enjoy free dance lessons (that's cowboy dancing ya'll) from 7 to 8pm, and Live music and dancing with The Pat James Band 8pm till Midnight, every Thursday through Sunday. And check out Mel's Auction out back where you can bring anything in from 7to 9pm to get sold, and of course you're welcome to buy!

The first Sunday of every month during the Fall and Winter from 7 to 9pm the Chip goes theatre with "Murder at the High Noon Saloon", a Comedy/Interactive Theater and Dinner Show. They serve a Prime Rib, Cowboy Beans, Tossed Salad, Sourdough Biscuit and Dessert for $35.00.

So the next time your gang of cowboys and cowgirls gets real hungry and has some energy to burn, do what we do. Say,"Meet ya'll at the Chip!" Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, is located at 6811 East Cave Creek Road, in Cave Creek.

Black Bear Diner

The Black Bear Diner
By Cowgirl Connoisseur Dining Review

There once was a time when you went to a diner for a meal and found good solid nutritious food in hearty portions and as delicious as Mom’s cooking. Not many of those places survive in the modern fast paced world.

If you yearn for a diner of yesteryear, mosey into The Black Bear Diner. They have two locations in north Glendale at 6039 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, AZ 85306, (602) 843-1921 and in Phoenix, at 2410 W. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 298-2671. The franchise, out of Mt. Shasta, California, says they have 35 Diners and are still growing! Other Arizona locations include Bullhead City, Goodyear, and Lake Havasu City.

Their menu is an old-time newspaper with stories about local events in the past. On my last visit I enjoyed the California Scramble $7.69 for breakfast. It’s scrambled eggs with avocado, spinach, tomato, onion, and jack cheese. It came with potatoes (your choice of hash browns or diced) and bread (your choice of toast or biscuit). The waitress asked about how you liked everything cooked – regular or crispy. The biscuit was the biggest fluffiest most delicious I’ve ever eaten. And the eggs were fabulous!

Others in my party had the Ham and Eggs $7.69 with pancakes, Hungry Man Steak and Eggs $9.99 and another had the Pancakes Mama Bear stack $4.69. Everyone had too much to eat and couldn’t finish their plates. Servings are extra generous and delicious.
The menus for lunch and dinner are both so extensive and economically priced, you are sure to find what you like. Lunch menu sandwiches are generally about $7.99 and dinner averages about $11.99. A large Senior Menu is mostly about $7.99 for dinners.
Their menu notes they have been trans fat free at all locations fo the last 3 years. Their menu says good old fashioned comfort food. And everything on the menu looks very comforting to me!

The décor includes extra large deep booths and tables where you won’t feel cramped even if your hubby is a double X. And there are stuffed bears everywhere to compliment the pine and rough wood trim. Two giant sleeping bears in the reception area are said to wake up and hug patrons on occasion. It’s a family friendly very comfortable place. Jason and his staff did a good job to make us all feel welcome and happy to return.

They have a website at www.blackbeardiner.com with a gift shop.

Alchesay National Fish Hatchery & William Hart Alchesay

Alchesay National Fish Hatchery & William Hart Alchesay
A forgotten part of Arizona history
by Lee Sharpe

One day we took the turnoff for Alchesay National Fish Hatchery, four miles north of Whiteriver between Mileposts 342 and 343 of AZ 73. A signed paved road heads northeast along Whiteriver a little over 4 miles to the site. Dad wanted to show the kids where all of the fish we had been catching and eating all summer came from. The Hatchery was magical with millions of trout from tadpoles are raised to 6 to 8 inch fish ready to be distributed in the local lakes and rivers.

We were camping along Whiteriver for the summer. Dad went back to Phoenix to work during the week while Mom and the kids stayed in a small trailer in a campground. It was heaven on earth for kids. Dad would return with supplies each Friday and take us on adventures. His knowledge of history meant long talks about the various historical markers, camps and sites.

Alchesay Hatchery specializes in raising small native, rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout of 6–8 inches. Visitors are welcome to view exhibits and stroll along a self-guided tour on 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Alchesay was the name of a famous Sierra Blanc Apache Indian Scout. Chief (Sgt.) William Hart Alchesay, b. 1853 d. August 6, 1928, served as a Sergeant in Company A, United States Army Indian Scouts in the Wars with the Plains Indians. He was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor for his bravery during the Winter of 1872-1873, in the Tonto Basin Campaigns. His citation reads “Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches”. One of 14 Native Americans who were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Indian Wars, Alchesay’s Medal was awarded on April 12, 1875, the result of a personal recommendation from General George Crook.

Later he became a respected Chief of the White Mountain Apache Indians, and participated in the 1886 Campaign that ultimately ended in the capture of Geronimo. A respected counselor to Indian Agents, Alchesay even met with President Grover Cleveland to discuss Indian issues. General Crook’s aide, Captain John G. Bourke (also a Medal of Honor recipient), described Chief Alchesay as “a perfect Adonis in figure, a mass of muscle and sinew of wonderful courage, great sagacity, and as faithful as an Irish hound”.

Alchesay is buried at the Fort Apache Indian Reservation Cemetery in Whiteriver Arizona.
Jim, Blanquet, Elsatsoosh, Kelsay, Kosoha, Machol , Nannasaddie and Nantaje also received the Medal of Honor during the Indian Campaigns. Alchesay is honored in the Arizona Veteran’s Hall of Fame. To this day the Alchesay name is common among the Whiteriver Apache tribes. In fact, the Whiteriver High School is names Alchesay. There’s an Alchesay Canyon and Bridge along Hwy 88 mile post 241.

Sources:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1865_ind/alchesay.html
http://www.arizonahandbook.com/white.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6404098
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hometownheroes/az.html
William Alchesay: JAN 06 Arizona Highways
http://www.arizonahighways.com/page.cfm?name=Disc_MagRef_People&page=2
http://nativenews.net/nnn_history2003.shtml
http://www.azdvs.gov/Files/Hall%20of%20Fame/HoF%20Nomination%20Packet%2007.pdf
http://www.mccoy.army.mil/vtriad_online/11121999/red%20cloud.htm
http://www.buffalosoldier.net/IndianWarAfricanAmericanIndianScoutMedalofHonorRecipients.htm
http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/search?q=su%3AAlchesay.&qt=hot_subject
A visit to the Arizona Capitol Museum revealed several more facts about William Hart Baha Alchesay.
The Arizona Legionnaire Newspaper had an article on July 24, 1978 that displayed a picture of Alchesay with a rifle. It mentioned, “he made frequent trips to Washington DC on behalf of the Indians. Through his actions Indians were paid a fair price for their land. Senator Carl Hayden was a great friend and made sure they got fair treatment
A book Alchesay, written by Col HB Wharfield brought forth many details of Alchesay’s life.
A copy of the Medal of Honor citation is on display at Alchesay High School in White River, AZ.
The Mesa Tribune 8/13/73 page 11 article by Frank Tyndall, of Mesa, and State Director of the Medal of Honor History Roundtable discussed erecting a marker on Alchesay’s grave in White River Arizona. He comments he has the support of two of Alchesay’s grandsons and great grandson and great granddaughter. The White River Apache tribe agreed to pay the expenses for materials. He commented about the honor that should be given to Alchesay for his efforts in securing the surrender of Geronimo. Alchesay was always a peacemaker and a friend to the white man. He told his people, “Learn the ways of the white man but stay true to the beliefs of the Indians.”
Tyndall also wrote to the US Postmaster to urge the creation of a postage stamp honoring Alchesay.
According to a letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Department of the Interior dated Dec 6, 1957, Chief Baha Alchesay as he was known by his own people, was the last hereditary chief of the Apache. When he died on Oct. 11, 1952 at 67 years of age, he was widely recognized as the last in a long line of great chiefs. His funeral was attended by Arizona Governor Pyle.
No chief replaced Alchesay in his family line. He believed the time in history had passed for passing on the title in the hereditary line. Now the democratic process better fit the demands of the modern world. Since the Reorganization Act of 1934, an elected chairman had officially managed the tribes affairs. But they had never gone against Alchesay’s wishes. Unable to speak English Alchesay had to work through interpreters.
Born in approximately 1853, of the Red Rock Strata Clan, named for the red cliffs on the east side upper slopes of Carrizo Creek near the mouth of Mud Creek, Alchesay’s birthplace was near Limestone Creek. His Uncle Pedro was the chief at the time. Pedros cousins Molly and Cora were both married to white scouts, one names Corydon Eliphalet Cooley.
Pedro had recently negotiated a deal with Chief Diablo for more land for the tribe. They had moved in early 1850 from their haven in the Turnbull Mountains area to the Upper Carrizo in the general region of Forestdale. The land Diablo allotted them was 8 miles north of the present day White River agency office.
When Alchesay was a scout for General Cook, he was armed with a .50-70 Springfield rifle and a .50 caliber Spencer Model 1865 carbine. He was under the command of Capt. (Bur Major) George M. Randall in charge Company I, 23rd Infantry. They left Camp Apache in late November 1872 moving out along the Crook Trial south into Tonto Junction with the Salt River on to Camp McDowell.
In March 27, 1873, under Capt Randall along with Scout Cooley took over a large Rancheria on top of Turret Mountain (Peak) south of Camp Verde capturing renegades. Three days prior the group of renegades had killed three white men, including George Taylor, in Wickenburg.
The summer of 1873, Alchesay deserted the Army on June 10th but surrendered on September 1st. It was common for Indian scouts to go home or wander off during the summer when hunting was poor. The time off didn’t seem to bother their superiors and a simple apology mended their record.
Family was a big part of life in the Apache communities. Alchesay’s first wife was tah-jon-nay. He had two children with her, a son Wheeler and a daughter Nellie Benito. His second wife was Dora who gave him six children. Herbert, Sidney, Otto, Eva, Nancy and MaryAnn.
Wheeler’s daughter Genevieve Baha was employed by the Phoenix Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years and provided much of the information for Wharfield’s book on her grandfather.
Most of the children took the Baha name with only MaryAnn taking the Baha-Alchesay name. Eva married Isaac Kessay. The Alchesay name is widely known in Apache country today.

Bloody Basin and Native American History
Bloody Basin and the Tonto National Forest have a rich heritage reaching thousands of years into the past. Originally home to several prehistoric Indian groups who hunted and gathered wild plants in the Mazatzal Mountains and Sierra Ancha and along the Salt and Verde Rivers and their tributaries, it was colonized more than a thousand years ago by a related group of people known today as the Hohokam. The Hohokam were accomplished farmers, craftsmen, traders, and warriors who built large towns and villages and dug hundreds of miles of irrigation canals along the Salt and Gila Rivers around Phoenix. Centuries of trade and conflict then gave rise to several distinctive new cultures, the best known of which is the Salado people of Tonto Basin. About 600 years ago, the effects of several hundred years of droughts, floods, and warfare took their toll on the Salado, the Hohokam, and their neighbors, and most of these people left the Tonto area, never to return.
Later, the Apache, members of the southern branch of the Athapaskan linguistic family, arrived in the area, emigrating from the Mackenzie River Valley of western Canada. The Apache fought with their neighbors, the Maricopa, Yavapai, Havasupai, and Hualapai, descendants of the Hohokam, and later with the Anglo trappers, miners, cattlemen and settlers who followed in the mid-1800's. Of all the tribes in the area, the Tonto Apaches were perhaps the most feared. They showed little mercy to the interloping people, they were highly mobile, unpredictable, and difficult to capture. Further south, their cousin Geronimo eluded capture for years using similar tactics in similar terrain.
Along with the Yavapai, the Tonto Apaches were the dominant band in the area, and feared for their ferocity and endurance. As Anglo settlers moved into the area in the 1860's, they were constantly on guard against attacks from the Yavapai and Apaches, who lived primarily by hunting, gathering and raiding. In 1863, the Arizona Territory was created from the New Mexico Territory, and in 1865 the Army sent a small force of 300 volunteers from California and established Fort McDowell 18 miles east of Cave Creek in an effort to bring the Indians under control. Following Indian trails, the Army built roads linking Fort McDowell with Phoenix and Fort Whipple (present-day Prescott), which provided the access to this rugged country. The 4X4 trail we enjoy today are the result of the trails built by the Cavalry and early pioneers.
-The Army skirmished with the Indians for a decade, with mixed results. As a result of the public outcry, the military organized the Tonto Basin Campaign. The commandant of the operation was General George Crook, recently assigned [June 1871] to the Southwest after establishing his reputation as an Indian-fighter in the Snake War in Idaho and Oregon.
"During the winter of 1872-73, nine small, mobile detachments, using Apache scouts recruited from the reservations, crisscrossed the basin and the surrounding tablelands in constant pursuit of the militants. They wore down their quarry, forcing as many as 20 clashes, during which they killed about 200. One outfit, under captains William Brown and James Burns, won a decisive battle at Salt River Canyon on December 28, the Battle of Skull Cave, against a band of Yavapai hostiles who had fled their reservation at Camp Verde and hid out with the Apaches.
Patrols and skirmishes continued throughout January and February 1873, with Maj. Brown, Lieut. Frank Michler, Lieut. Albert E. Woodson, Capt. Thomas McGregor, among others, involved in clearing the Superstition Mountains. Bourke told of one engagement.
All through the Superstition Mountains, we worked as carefully as we had worked in the more northern portion on our trip to MacDowell, but we met with less success than we had anticipated; on the morning of the 15th of January, after a toilsome night-climb over rough mesas and mountains, we succeeded in crawling upon a small rancheria where the first rays of the sun had surmounted the eastern horizon; but the occupants were too smart for us and escaped, leaving three dead in our hands and thirteen captives-women and children; we also captured the old chief of the band, who, like his people, seemed to be extremely poor.
On 11 March a band of Tonto-Apache Indians attacked a party of three men, killing them all. One of the men was taken alive and tortured. According to Maj. Azor H. Nickerson, "They...took him up to a sheltered spot among the rocks, stripped him of his clothing, tied his hands behind him, fastened his feet together and commenced to torture him by shooting arrows into his naked body, taking care not to hit a vital spot."
The atrocity spurred a punitive expedition which tracked the hostiles to Turret Mountain. Here the Indians suffered another crushing defeat on 27 March 1873 when Capt. George M. Randall, 23d Infantry, led a charge into a unsuspecting rancheria on Turret Peak, killing twenty-six Indians.
According to Bourke:
Randall made his men crawl up the face of the mountain on hands and feet, to avoid all danger of making noise by the rattling of stones, and shortly after midnight had the satisfaction of seeing the glimmer of fires amid the rocks scattered about on the summit. He waited patiently until dawn, and then led the charge, the Apaches being so panic-stricken that numbers of the warriors jumped down the precipice and were dashed to death. This and the action in the cave in the Salt River Canon were the two affairs which broke the spirit of the Apache nation; they resembled each other in catching raiders just in from attacks upon the white settlements or those of friendly tribes, in surprising bands in strongholds which for generations had been invested with the attribute of impregnability, and in inflicting great loss with
comparatively small waste of blood to ourselves.
One further item needed to be cleared up for the operation to be a complete success. That was the defeat of the Tonto chief Delshay and his band. Delshay was variously known as Wahpoo-eta or Big Rump. Crook called him "The Liar" and Bourke knew him as the "Red Ant." The chief was described as being "An exceptionally large Indian with broad shoulders set high, which gave the impression that he stooped. In spite of his weight he was very agile and swift of foot. He seldom walked but "lumbered" along at a slow trot and was reputed to tire out even his swiftest runners. While many of the Indians wore ornaments, I do not recall any but Del-che who wore only a single pearl button in the lobe of the left ear. Asked why he wore only one in the left ear, he replied that one in the right ear would interfere with his bow or gun while
shooting." The heavy-shouldered Delshay was one of the most feared leaders in the Tonto Basin, so much hated by the whites that he was once shot by the post surgeon at Old Camp Reno for no apparent reason other than his presence presented the opportunity. His favored tactic, to avoid casualties, was to surrender to any American forces that threatened him, and then to return to the Mogollon Basin when he had the chance.
Capt. George M. Randall, thanks to his Indian Scouts, surrounded Delshay's camp on upper Canyon Creek on 25 April. As his command fired their first volley, Delshay waved a white truce flag, and with some misgiving, Randall accepted his surrender and took him into the White Mountain reservation. Delshay would flee that place, citing abuses by other Indians, and eventually wind up living at Camp Verde. General Crook, in his Autobiography, conveyed Delshay's reasons for surrendering this last time.
Delshay commenced crying and said he would do anything he would be ordered to do. He wanted to save his people, as they were starving. Every rock had turned into a soldier, and his people were hunted down as they never had been before. He had nothing to ask for but his life. He would accept any terms. He said he had had one hundred and twenty-five warriors last fall, and if anybody had told him he couldn't whip the world, he would have laughed at them, but now he had only twenty left. He said they used to have no difficulty in eluding the troops, but now the very rocks had gotten soft, they couldn't put their foot anywhere without leaving an impression by which we could follow, that they could get no sleep at nights, for should a coyote or a fox start a rock rolling during the night, they would get up and dig out, thinking it was we who were after them." 2
It was Crook's Tonto Campaign, and more specifically the Battle at Turret Peak, that resulted in the name "Bloody Basin" being given to this locale. The Battle of Turret Peak also resulted in the award of four Medal of Honor's being bestowed upon the troops of the 5th Cavalry.

Gordon Biersch Dining Review

Dining Review
Gordon Biersch

by Cowgirl Connoisseur
I generally give a restaurant three tries before writing a review to get a good feel for the average experience and taste more of the menu. In this case, I only have two personal experiences, but my dining companion has been there a total of five times.

Gordon Biersch is a brewery/restaurant located adjacent to the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale south of Glendale and East of the 101. Their website at http://www.gordonbiersch.com/ says it all started with the dream of two passionate guys named Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch. Their dream of exceptional beer and delicious food became a reality on July 6, 1988 when the first Gordon Biersch opened in Palo Alto, California. Acquired by Big River Brewing Company in 1999, Gordon Biersch now has 17 locations in 13 states and Washington D.C.

The Glendale location is brand new, a part of the exciting WestGate project tied into the Arena and Stadium and Hotel/Convention Center complex driving mass crowds of sports and entertainment seekers to the west valley. It has a distinct advantage of benefiting from the intense traffic pre and post events. And the local business trade has found it an enjoyable lunch spot as well. It’s close enough to park in the Arena west parking lot and walk to the restaurant before or after games.

Each Gordon Biersch restaurant features a unique décor and atmosphere that provides an inviting space for social gatherings, casually sophisticated dining occasions, and private dining events for groups from 15 to 500. This location has a warm modern southwest feel. It’s a large open dining room with views of the kitchen and curtained side rooms for private groups. The booths are comfortable and the noise level was low and comfortable for normal conversation. Our server was attentive and the food arrived in a reasonable time, even in the pre-event dinner rush.

I enjoyed the Cedar Plank Pecan Crusted Salmon Topped with a Honey Pecan Crust and seared on a Cedar Plank, with a Dill Cream Sauce, served with Jasmine Rice and Seasonal Vegetables $18.50. I was a little disappointed that the Honey Pecan Crust seemed to be more an afterthought spooned on topping rather than an actual crust, but it was still flavorful and cooked to perfection.

My companion ordered the Gorgonzola Pear Salad with Pecan Crusted Chicken in Marzen Vinaigrette $12.50. It was a bit on the bland side and required another dose of the dressing to give it a boost.

Okay so it was a so-so dining experience. Maybe a solid 3 stars. But I was willing to give it another try.

Let’s go for the Appetizers. Quick Fried Calamari with Spicy Marinara $9.25. We had Calamari the last visit and it was delicious! A good sized portion hot, fresh and crispy. The marinara sauce was just right and we could have used about half again as much for dipping! My companion loved the Lump Crab Cake with Asian Slaw and
Cajun Remoulade $10.95 We could have selected Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries $5.75, Shrimp and Chicken Potstickers with Asian Barbecue Sauce and Hot Mustard $8.95, Bruschetta with Garlic Parmesan Crostini $8.25, Crispy Artichoke Hearts Topped with Parmesan, served with Lemon Aioli $8.95, Blackened Ahi Tuna Served rare with Cajun Remoulade $10.75, Crab and Artichoke Dip in a Sourdough Bread Bowl $9.95.
Or Glazed Chicken Wings with Sweet Chili and Ginger $8.95 or a Chef’s Sampler $14.95, Brewer’s Feast Sampler $16.95, Tapas Roasted Garlic, Bruschetta, Olive, Relish and Hummus served with Herb Flatbread $8.25, or Southwest Egg Rolls Pulled Chicken, Black Beans, Corn, Roasted Red Peppers and Pepperjack Cheese served with a Roasted Jalapeno Ranch Dipping Sauce $8.50.

Their menu says “Traditional pastas with big flavors to complement our Lager Beers.” Looking at the pasta menu of Fire Roasted Chicken & Fettuccine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes in a Pesto Cream Sauce $15.25, or Pasta Jambalaya Chicken, Shrimp, Ham and Andouille Sausage tossed with Orzo Pasta $15.25, or Linguine Marinara Fresh Mozzarella, Marinara Sauce and Parmesan Cheese $11.50, or Goat Cheese Ravioli Sauteed Mushrooms, Spinach, Pine Nuts with Fresh Rosemary in a Brown Butter
Sauce $14.95. I tried the Ravioli and really enjoyed the combination with a good beer.

Entrees offered include Barbecued Salmon with Asian Barbecue Sauce, Balsamic Grilled Red Onion, Spinach and Sweet Ginger Rice $18.95, Gorgonzola Bone-In Ribeye 18 oz., topped with a Signature Gorgonzola Butter. All steaks are served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables $25.50, Flame Grilled New York Strip A hearty 14 oz.char-grilled Strip Steak $22.95. The Bistro Steak Medallions Char-grilled Aged Beef Medallions marinated in Ginger Soy Sauce $19.75 were a good light steak choice. They also offer Bistro Steak Medallions & Crab Stuffed Shrimp $22.50, Teriyaki Flat Iron Steak Grilled to perfection and topped with a rich Teriyaki Sauce, served alongside Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Asparagus $17.95, Meatloaf Made with Ground Beef and Italian Sausage served with Brown Gravy and Garlic Mashed Potatoes $14.95, Chicken Marsala Sauteed with Shallots and Mushrooms in a Marsala Wine Sauce over Linguine $14.95,(my companion ordered the Chicken Marsala and I tried a bite or two as it’s one of my favorite meals and I must say their chef pleased me with his version of this classic dish.) Pecan Crusted Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables $14.95, Chicken Piccata Lightly dusted in Seasoned Flour and sauteed with a White Wine Butter, Lemon Juice and Caper Sauce, served with Jasmine Rice and Fresh Vegetables $14.95, Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna served rare with Red Peppers, Baby Bok Choy and Sweet Ginger Rice $20.95, Cajun Pasta Andouille Sausage, Grilled Chicken and Shrimp and Louisiana Spices with Fettuccine in a Tomato Cream Sauce $15.95.
Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with Asian Vegetables and Jasmine Rice $14.75. (Another dining companion tried the Chicken Stir Fry and was very pleased. It wasn’t too sweet or spicy for her tastes and the vegetables were crisp and not overcooked like some she had experienced.) Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry with Asian Vegetables and Jasmine Rice $16.75, Chicken Parmesan Breaded Chicken Breast topped with Marinara and melted Mozzarella Cheese served with Pesto Cream Linguine $14.50
They offer a selection of Pizzas including, Classic Pepperoni $11.75, Pepperoni & Mushroom Pizza with Mozzarella Cheese $11.95, Chicken & Artichoke with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Basil $11.95, Roasted Garlic & Chicken Pizza with a White Sauce, Roasted Garlic and Pulled Chicken $11.95, Hawaiian Pizza with Mozzarella Cheese, Diced Ham and Pineapple $11.95, Pepperoni & Sausage with Mozzarella Cheese $11.95,
Veggie Pizza Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto with Artichoke, Mushrooms, Spinach and Roma Tomatoes $11.50, Fresh Mozzarella with Roma Tomatoes and Basil $10.95, Barbecue Chicken Pulled Chicken, Onion, Cilantro and Mozzarella over our Märzen Barbecue Sauce $11.95, or a Create Your Own Start with Tomato Basil Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese $10.75 Each topping: $1.00, Meats: Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Ham, Vegetables: Mushrooms, Roasted Red Peppers, Artichoke Hearts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Red Onions, Spinach, Roasted Garlic, Pineapple.

I must comment on the beer. After all Gordon Biersch is a brewery. Their website educated me saying, “The first thing to know about brewing is that basically, it's cooking. The brewer is a chef, the brewery is his kitchen and the brew kettle no more than a pot. Granted, at 1,500 liters, it is a very, very large pot. The recipe for Gordon Biersch beer contains only four ingredients as dictated by the 500-year-old German purity law called Reinheitsgebot. (Rine-HEIGHT-ski-bot') The German Purity Law that dates back to 1516 which says beer can only be made with 3 ingredients, Barley. Hops and water. Interestingly, at the time no one knew that yeast was involved in the process. (It was in the air.) So yeast has since been added as the fourth ingredient. Many people use color to classify beer, but an even more basic distinction is between lagers and ales. Most microbrews are ales. They are made from top fermenting yeasts and are typically stored for about two weeks. Most ales are fruity and complex in flavor. Gordon Biersch brews mostly lagers. Lagers use bottom fermenting yeasts and are stored for about five weeks after brewing, which results in a crisper, smoother flavor. Gordon Biersch brews beers that range in color from gold to auburn to brown and to black, but most of our flagship beers are lager style resulting in what we think are wonderfully drinkable brews. The bottom line? Judge a beer based on taste not color.”

We tried GOLDEN EXPORT a smooth, refreshing lager, lightly hopped with a dry finish. The demand was so high when it was first brewed in the 1870s, that it was “exported ” to other regions in Germany. I don’t claim to be an aficionado of beer, but I know what I like and this is a fine beer. And we tried MÄRZEN (Maert-zen) a dry, auburn-colored, Bavarian lager with a mildly sweet finish. It was originally brewed in March (“Marz ” in German) an store in caves to be drunk during warmer weather. I can see why the Germans like their beer. This one is especially nice with a steak.

So after a couple of visits I have moved it up to a 4 star dining experience. Gordon Biersch, 6915 North 95th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85305, phone: 623-877-4300 fax: 623-877-4305, Hours Sunday – Monday: 11am – 11pm, Tuesday - Thursday: 11am - 12am, Friday – Saturday: 11am – 1am. They offer specials on appetizers $4.95 from 4-6:30pm and 10pm to close if you arrive after the games. Tell them the Cowgirl Connoisseur sent you!
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Glendale Arizona Internet Broadcaster Receives 5 Emmy® Nominations.

Glendale Arizona Internet Broadcaster Receives 5 Emmy® Nominations.

Photo: Jennifer Jones KPHO and President of the Rocky Mountain NATAS Chapter Presents Ed Sharpe of CouryGraph Productions/ Glendale Daily Planet/KKAT-IPTV With 5 Emmy® Nominations! (Photo by Bette Sharpe)
Glendale Arizona Internet Broadcaster Receives 5 Emmy® Nominations.
Ed Sharpe of CouryGraph Productions, www.GlendaleDailyPlanet.com, KKAT-IPTV, Glendale, AZ, was honored to receive five 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy® Nominations August 28th at the award nomination ceremony in Phoenix.

Four separate 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy® Nomination Parties were held simultaneously in Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. The Phoenix Emmy® nomination party was held at the Friday's Front Row Sports Grill at 401 E. Jefferson Street, Tuesday, August 28th from 6pm - 8pm.

About Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV And CouryGraph Productions
Glendale Daily Planet, the parent organization of KKAT-IPTV was started in 2004, as the first community journalism news site in Glendale and perhaps all of Arizona. Serving The Metro West Side of the Valley of the Sun, Glendale Daily Planet has witnessed, participated in and recorded the further rejuvenation of the downtown core, the meteoric rise of the 'Glendale Sports Empire' and the restoration of historic sections of the town.

“We here at KKAT-IPTV are most proud of the ability to have a continuous 24/7 stream of archived footage online.” Sharpe comments. “But when a special event arises, we have the ability to go live interrupting the pre-programmed content to cover the event. With the advent of higher speed EVDO radio cards and compact portable satellite terminals, the options are limitless.”

“Residents can now catch stories of interest on their schedule, taking advantage of the on-demand character of Internet media. No more waiting for 5 or 10pm news and no need to program the TiVo. Important stories remain available, a mouse click away, and for years to come in the online archives.”
In addition to his work with KKAT-IPTV, CouryGraph Productions and the Glendale Daily Planet, Ed Sharpe is the webmaster for MCA-I Chapter 44 in Phoenix Arizona and a member of the National Media Communications Association-International Association.
A Glendale resident since 1974, Sharpe also is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), Society of Broadcast Engineers(SBE), Investigative Reporters and Editors(IRE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Professional Journalists(SPJ), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation (SMECC) and other associations. He has been actively filming important events in the history of Glendale for several years. He has been a vocal supporter of Glendale and helps to maintain her history as well as guide the area into new technologies.

“I’ve always been a pioneer using technology to push the envelope in communication, as well as respecting and preserving it’s history,” says Sharpe.

The work of Sharpe’s CouryGraph Productions and other participative community journalists and engineering staff may be viewed, 24-hours a day, seven days a week at http://www.glendaledailyplanet.com/ .
CouryGraph Emmy® Nominations In Category 72, Advanced Media – Arts / Entertainment, Sharpe’s film “Sphere Factor!” competes with only one other nomination. The story of an imaginary crime fighter, portrayed by Sharpe himself as writer, producer, director, actor, videographer, and editor, truly exposes the mind of an interesting character.
Remarkably Sharpe has taken all four nominations in Category 73, Advanced Media – Breaking News-Continuing Coverage. “Glendale High School Alumni Event” includes detailed coverage of the Sheriff’s Department helicopter as well as a collector car show.

Also nominated is “Heroism—First to Respond” , “The Laura Graff Hit and Run Accident - Search For The Driver”, and “Rose Lane Aquatics Center” which shows off the refurbished Rose Lane Pool, originally built in 1966. Sharpe’s video shows off the family-friendly facility including a beach-entry pool with play structures, spray pad, in-pool misting systems, water slide, six-lane competitive pool and diving tank.
The 2007 Rocky Mountain Emmy® Awards will be held at the brand new Renaissance Hotel and Resort in Glendale on Saturday, October 6th - more details to come. Be sure to keep an eye on http://www.rockymountainemmy.org .
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Submitted by LeeAnn Sharpe

Michael Crawford
Peoria KIA
By LeeAnn Sharpe

“I wanta see ya in a KIA,” is the catch phrase you hear from Peoria KIA General Manager and 20% owner Michael Crawford. He dramatically inflects his voice to extremes so it catches your attention and stays with you. It’s an effective marketing tool because kids are out there mimicking him and adults are saying “who is that guy?” Families come to his showroom on Saturday enthusiastically coaxing him to say his slogan.

Born in South Chicago, raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Crawford moved to the Valley in 1979 and has been in the car business ever since. Mel Clayton Chevrolet was where he started. He’s been at Peoria Kia for the last 4 years.

Michael Crawford is everywhere these days; TV commercials, infomercials, magazines, newspapers and radio. He’s even in negotiations with Bravo producers to make a reality tv show about his life. As the pitch man for Peoria Kia you wonder if this smiling, fast talking, car salesman is really as upbeat all the time as he seems, or is it his stage persona. He says, “I’m like this 24/7.”

And he really does seem to be the real deal. His employees and customers all seem to love the guy. He gets hugs every time he walks the showroom floor with incredible energy and a charismatic personality.

A family man, Crawford is married to Gloria and they have fraternal twin daughters Giovanna and Makalya. He lights up when he talks about his girls. He works 80-85 hours a week these days, so his family time is private and special.

The first thing Michael Crawford will tell you is he’s out to break the mold when it comes to the stereotypical perception of “car salesman”. He wants his salesman to be respected and loved and happy. So that’s how he trains them to treat the customers, with respect. My bottom line is 100% customer satisfaction.

“I really want to hit home about how some auto dealers use deceptive advertising promises. What they say or put down in print, they really need to back it up. We need to change the perception of automotive dealers,” His goal is to get the industry to accept truth in advertising. Double rebates and other false advertising claims are bad for the industry. Crawford fires off, “When they say they will double the rebate, you can’t do that! Please, you are smarter than that! People know the truth. That’s misleading.”

“What I guarantee is there isn’t a soul on this earth who will work harder to get you behind the wheel of a brand new or pre-owned Kia at a price you can afford. Is that a guarantee I can get you approved. No. But what that’s doing is that it doesn’t matter if you have been surrounded by unfortunate circumstances. I’m gonna look at you as we are all equal. A lot of people are looked down on because of their situation. Other dealers run their credit and walk away from them and won’t even listen to their stories. They don’t care.” He trains his sales staff to treat the customer with respect, listen to their story and work hard to get them what they need to achieve customer satisfaction.

Crawford tells his employees in motivational sales meetings “Do you understand that it’s already in the books. Let me go deep with you. A lot of people can’t get this in their mind. God knew you before you were in your mother’s womb. It’s all there in the cards. You just gotta want it. You can have a higher IQ than I do, the difference is I want it more, so I will succeed. I get up every morning working for the best corporation in the world. It’s me incorporated. I’m the CEO, President, Vice-President. So what’s my stock worth? I have a game plan. I come to work everyday and whatever I do is better than I did yesterday. I know I have the God given talent. All I need is the application. The difference is I just want it more. Are you willing to sacrifice to get there? I was always willing to sacrifice to get to the top, as long as no one else got hurt.”

“My number one goal in life is to be wealthy enough to not have to work and spend all the time I possibly can with my children and truly be the best father that I am capable of being. And I can help all those people in need, truly in need. I have given away thousands of dollars and cars and other things to people truly in need.”

Crawford broadcasts a program direct from his “The Hello Arizona Studio” right in the Peoria Kia showroom every Saturday 1-3pm on KPXQ the Christian Radio station. He says, “They decided I was perfect for their programming. The radio station, they also own a sports radio station, sales rep was trying to get me to advertise and I didn’t want it. He kept talking to me and he called one Sunday morning and had seen my infomercial and I had been working with this black woman who had a low credit score. She had been disrespected at other dealerships. They looked down on her like a triple minority because she was black, and a woman, and had low credit score. Then she heard I was a Christian and decided she should go see me. I worked hard to get her approved. And she jumped up and cried and cried so happy when we got her a deal. And she says Michael, Jesus sent me to you!” So this sales rep went to his people and said this guy would be great on the Christian radio show and they had a time slot open. Michael felt he had a sign that God wanted him to reach out to more people. So now he’s on the radio.

“This woman was disrespected by several other dealerships. It’s not her fault she had been in an bad situation. She has six kids and her husband ran off with the car because he’s a crack head. She can’t get to work. I worked really hard to get her a car. Love thy neighbor. That’s what it’s all about. If everyone would just love their neighbor think of how the world would be,” Crawford continues. “If you have the ability to help them, if more people truly “loved thy neighbor” we wouldn’t be sending these young men to Iraq before they have an opportunity to father a child. It’s so sad that they lose their life before they have the blessing of a child.”

His face reflects a real concern for the people in need. He talks about what he feels is right from his experience for his audience. This past week the topic was “I am who I am because of Him.” A recent customer experience had impacted him. A man of wealth had the impression he was all that. Crawford wanted to remind us all where our true wealth resides and from Whom it comes.

Crawford’s ministry is without any divinity training. He worries about ministry training, that it’s about raising money. “I’m getting the word out there because He wants me to. He propels me into action. Sometime I say something and I think, I didn’t mean to say that. I had stuff prepared to talk about and I got totally off that. It just came out. And it came out great. That’s the Holy Spirit baby!”

“When you are in the corporate world and I try to make everyone believe as I do, I can’t do that. Will I let you know I’m a Christian? Yeah! You can see in my show room the sign on the broadcasting studio. But I don’t try to sell you my beliefs. The reality of it is, just be real. That works for me. I’m just me. The moves I make reflect my beliefs and my faith. When I talk, I talk with all of the happiness from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, and people see how my faith is real and how my faith is reflect in how I treat people. My door is always open. I give my cell phone number out for anyone to call me directly. I talk the talk and walk the walk.” When have you ever heard of a GM handing out his personal phone number?

Being a Christian prevents Crawford from doing anything deceptive in advertising. It prevents him from worrying about the money. “It’s not just about the money. It helps me stay with my mission statement that it’s about total customer satisfaction. Now no matter how hard you work, you won’t be able to satisfy everybody. You just won’t. You as a businessman can’t always do it. But I’ll tell you one thing. As long as you tried every single morning you will build a name people respect. First phase, you build a name, and second phase, you work to keep it. You don’t ever sway from those values, that faith. Never compromise yourself. Have those principles and values. Customer satisfaction has to be worth more to you than anything else.”

So what does the future bring for Michael Crawford and Peoria Kia? “In another year or two we would like to open another store or two here in the Valley.” (We includes majority owner Dana Moore.) And whatever He (the big boss upstairs) wants me to do. Right now I am doing what He wants me to do.”

The 2.9 acre Peoria Kia dealership is at 91st Avenue just North of Bell Road It’s the #1 Kia dealership in Arizona and #3 in the world. Michael Crawford works hard to keep it that way!

One last question he asked, “If you were guaranteed Heaven would you go right now?” Think about it.
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Wildflower Bread Company Review

Wildflower Bread Company Review
by Cowgirl Connoisseur


Wildflower Bread Company is a Scottsdale based chain with Arizona locations including Tempe Square (SW Corner of McClintock & Guadalupe), Sonora Village (SW Corner of Loop 101 & Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.), Deer Valley Towne Center ( SW Intersection of Loop 101 & I-17), Chandler Fashion Center (SW Intersection of Loop 101 & Chandler Blvd.), Wildflower Village (SW Corner of Baseline & Val Vista), Palm Valley Pavilions West (SW Corner of Litchfield & McDowell), Arcadia Commons (Indian School & 44th Street), Prescott Gateway Mall (Intersection of Highway 69 & Gateway Blvd.), and The Shops at Piñon Pointe (Intersection of Highways 179 & 89A).

It’s a simple order at the counter and the server brings you your food. You get your own drinks and refills. Sandwiches, pasta, soups and salads, muffins and breads make up most of their menu. Bread is their passion and all of it is baked fresh daily. What a huge difference fresh bread makes in a delicious sandwich!

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a wide variety of selections beyond your usual breakfast sandwich. Breakfast is served until 10:30am on weekdays and until 2pm on weekends. How about the Honey-Cured Ham & Brie Frittata with eggs, ham, brie, sautéed apples, sage and leeks, served with Wildflower Home Fries and buttered toast for only $5.99. Or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes which are Wildflower’s signature pancakes, with ricotta cheese and lemon, served with blueberry compote, sweet creamy butter and hot maple syrup at $5.69. The lemon contrasted with blueberry is a wonderful combination. The Roasted Tomato Feta & Egg Sandwich with scrambled eggs, roma tomato, feta and basil on a buttered Ciabatta Roll at $4.19 is a huge improvement over a McMuffin! This is a much nicer way to start your morning.

Lunch is prices from $6.49 to $6.99 for sandwiches like the Roast Beef & Gorgonzola with rare roast beef (94% fat-free), gorgonzola, roasted red pepper, red onion, romaine, tomato and herb mayo on Sourdough for $6.79. I really enjoyed their Wildflower Chicken Salad with chicken breast, red and green peppers, green onion, lemon, garlic and mayo with tomato, cucumber, romaine and clover sprouts on Nine-Grain at $6.79. My gentleman friend enjoyed the hot Spicy Meatball sandwich with swiss, giardinera hot peppers and Wildflower marinara on a grilled Ciabatta Roll for $6.99 The Harvest Apple Pork with slow-roasted pork with apple, leek, sage, arugula and swiss on grilled Pasilla Chili Rye at $6.79 looked tempting and I will try when the weather is cooler.

The salads are wonderful! Oriental Chicken with field greens, grilled chicken breast, red and white cabbage, cucumber, carrot, celery, green onion, jicama, cilantro, sesame seeds, crispy noodles and almonds with Oriental dressing at $6.99. They use a lot of jicama which you don’t find often but adds a nice crunch!

They serve up to six varieties of fresh homemade wholesome soup daily that are a wonderful meal in themselves. Made with natural ingredients and they always offer at least one vegetarian selection. You can try soup in their award-winning Sourdough bread boule or with your favorite sandwich or salad. By the cup $3.29, bowl $4.29, or soup in a Bread Boule is $5.29. You can even buy Soup by the Quart at $8.99 and feed the whole family. Their website gives the ingredients and complete nutritional breakdown of each soup for those counting calories or carbs.

Pasta is served from 3pm on and includes a Butternut Squash Ravioli topped with roasted walnut cream sauce and nutmeg sublime for $7.29. My favorite is Smoked Salmon Alfredo with sundried tomato, capers and linguini, topped with parsley and grated parmesan for only $7.29! Or how about the Three Cheese Ravioli topped with Wildflower marinara, parsley and grated parmesan for only $6.99. Pesto Chicken with Linguini grilled chicken breast, feta, roasted red pepper, spinach and pesto, topped with parsley and grated parmesan $7.29, Linguini with White Clam Sauce tender clams in an herb broth, topped with parsley and grated parmesan $6.99, and many more.

I go to Wildflower Bakery for meetings often because the atmosphere is usually subdued and quiet enough for comfortable conversation. They also have free wifi and it was relatively fast compared to many places in the valley.

It always seems to have a steady crowd. But the service is pretty quick and I’ve never had a problem finding a good table. When the weather is good I like sitting out on the front patio.

I also like to snag a cranberry muffin ($1.89) from the bakery case with a display so tempting you may have to close your eyes! They also have freshly made breads, cheesecakes, cupcakes and brownies, and cakes. Recently they had a baguette for a dollar you could drop into a box and grab your bread as you left.

Their hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays
Prices: $5-$7 sandwiches; $4-$7 salads; $7 pastas (after 3 p.m.) Info: (480) 838-9773 or wildflowerbread.com Locations include:
6428 S. McClintock Road Tempe phone 480-838-9773 fax 480-838-9469
15640 N. Pima Road Scottsdale phone 480-991-5180 fax 480-991-6279
2805 W. Agua Fria Freeway Deer Valley phone 623-879-6819 fax 623-879-6829
3111 W. Chandler Boulevard Chandler phone 480-821-8200 fax 480-821-8211
3425 E. Baseline Road Gilbert phone 480-507-9565 fax 480-507-9566
1360 N. Litchfield Road Goodyear phone 623-935-1131 fax 623-935-5557
4290 East Indian School Road Arcadia phone (602) 850-8585 fax (602) 850-8586
3250 Gateway Boulevard Prescott phone 928-717-1700 fax 928-717-1707
101 N. Highway 89A Sedona phone 928-204-2223 fax 928-204-9449
16059 N. 82nd Street Scottsdale Corporate phone 480-951-9453 fax 480-951-9464


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The Simpsons Movie Review

The Simpsons
By LeeAnn Sharpe

After 18 seasons, 400 episodes, 23 Emmys, and a Time Magazine’s award for “Best Television Series of the 20thCentury” The Simpsons is now an animated full length feature comedy movie based on the animated television series. Once again Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he created.

For 18-years we have followed the wacky exploits of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie in the town of Springfield. But until now Springfield was located in the minds of the creators, not actually in a state on the US Map. But a contest won the state of Vermont the “right” to premiere the movie and become the official home state of the “The Simpsons Springfield”.

The trailer and commercials give you a good idea of a general feel for the movie, much like the television series. Homer’s new pet pig not only leaves hoof prints on the ceiling with Homer’s help, he insures Homer can create the usual number of monumental blunders to put the world in peril and Marge angry. It’s a wonder Marge has stayed with Homer all of these 18 years. She has been on the verge of leaving and actually left once or twice only to be lured back into his zany web. Maybe Marge is there to teach us the deeper meaning of love in marriage and true forgiveness. Nah.
Directed by David Silverman the film was produced by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai and written by eleven of the television series' most prolific writers: Scully, Jean, Brooks, Groening, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti, Ian Maxtone-Graham, and Matt Selman. It stars the regular television cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, and Tress MacNeille and features Albert Brooks in a prominent guest role, as well as Tom Hanks and Green Day in smaller ones.
There had been previous attempts to create a film version of The Simpsons, but they failed because of script length and lack of staff. This movie’s production began in back in 2001 when plot ideas were conceived, re-written about a hundred times, resulting in "two films' worth” of finished material cut, including cameos from Isla Fisher, Minnie Driver, Erin Brockovich and Kelsey Grammer. Promotions with 7-Eleven, who transformed select stores into Kwik-E-Marts, MySpace, and Burger King the flick has to be a winner before it even premiered in Springfield, Vermont.
Basically, if you enjoy The Simpsons, you will enjoy the movie. If you’re not already a fan it’s unlikely the movie will convert you to the fold.
The plot includes the band Green Day performing on Lake Springfield ending up killed because of the polluted lake, Grampa has a vision, Lisa holds a seminar entitled "An Irritating Truth", Homer adopts a pig, dumps pig's waste into the lake. Russ Cargill, head of the EPA, tells President Schwarzenegger that Springfield is extremely polluted and the government must take drastic action and the EPA places Springfield in a giant glass dome. It gets even crazier from there when the Simpson's flee to Alaska, see a television advertisement with Tom Hanks promoting a new Grand Canyon, to be located where Springfield is and Marge and the kids decide that they must save the town from government destruction, but Homer refuses to help the town that tried to kill him. Not to give away any big secrets, (SPOILER) the film ends with everyone restoring Springfield, including the Simpson's house, back to the way things were. They had to, of course, or their world would come to an end. And who would want to have a world without The Simpsons.

“Shadows of the Silk Road” Review by LeeAnn Sharpe

“Shadows of the Silk Road” by Colin Thubron, 2007 HarperCollins Publishers
Review by LeeAnn Sharpe
“Shadow of the Silk Road” records 68-year-old Englishman Colin Thubron's journey along the greatest land route on earth, The Silk Road. In his 9th travel book Colin takes us along, without a camera, only his elegant prose to describe the land and people. From the heart of China, Xian, into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan and the plains of Iran and into Kurdish Turkey, Colin Thubron travels for some seven thousand miles in eight months along routes he had been before many years ago.
“Making his way by local bus, truck, car, donkey cart and camel, he travels from the tomb of the Yellow Emperor, the mythic progenitor of the Chinese people, to the ancient port of Antioch in perhaps the most difficult and ambitious journey he has undertaken in forty years of travel,” reads the dust jacket. The contrast of then (his previous experiences) and now, examination of the ancient and current conditions, provide a glimpse of how history has treated this most ancient of lands and people.
Without a camera, Thubron must paint a picture for us to see what he sees and that is the beauty of his prose. You can see, hear, smell and taste all he experiences in explicit detail. And you hear the voices in his head as he senses danger and fear in this insanely dangerous part of the world. Language is seldom a barrier as his gift for talking to people and getting them to talk to him is intriguing. Speaking Mandarin, Russian or the mélange of the many tongues along the way, he always finds a translator and or driver willing to take the time with him to explore.
We learn through his discussions with the common people there has been good and bad in the changes they have seen. China, transformed since the Cultural Revolution, has cities with all of the trappings of Paris or Rome and other towns untouched by the modern world. It has people making it rich and others in extreme poverty. Religion all but extinguished in the past is resurging in unusual ways. It’s a society without a conscious as we know it in the west. All of the stereotypes of China are just that and totally out of step with the reality of China today. The internet has opened the world to China. A generation ready to abandon their own world for what they view as a better world are quick to jump aboard the consumer train. Change in China is at an extremely fast pace with markets opened to her commodities worldwide.
The former Soviet held countries are faced with false nationalisms and an identity crisis on so many fronts. Ethnically Chinese intermixed with races of multiple invasions though the centuries from Alexander’s armies to Tamerlane and Genghis Kahn. Since the Soviet withdraw, factories have closed and workers are unemployed. On some level people felt better off under Soviet occupation. They have found the cost of freedom leaves them hungry.
True boundaries are not political borders, but the frontiers of tribe, ethnicity, language and religion. “It is a magnificent and important account of an ancient world in modern ferment,” reads the book jacket. So true, as the people of this ancient world survive upheaval after upheaval and still manage to get up each morning and go about their lives. Few places are untouched by the prejudice of where their people came from, their religion, or their class.
“Shadow of the Silk Road “encounters Islamic countries in many forms. Some are seemingly hard line totally devout in public, yet speaking another line in private. The young are playing a waiting game until the old mullahs die off and they can effect real change. The extremists we hear about are a small minority in most Islamic countries. The majority of their “faithful” go through the motions, and follow the traditions not even knowing the words they pray.
The only shortcoming of Thubron’s book is the fate of women and children. They are absent for most part as is the case in most of the Islamic world. A strange man would not have access to women. We briefly encounter a few women of great strength and courage. But most are elusive.
Still this story was intriguing and insightful about a part of the world most of us will never experience. And as Thubron often found, is quickly fading, being erase