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.

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

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



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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.