5. J&G Steakhouse
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician is world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s latest venture. Replacing Mary Elaine’s, J&G opened late last year and offers a simple, scrumptious menu of steaks, fresh fish and more.

Paying tribute to the Sonoran landscape, the décor of this penthouse restaurant incorporates the reds, golds and purples of the desert, complemented by a tempesta onyx bar. Plus, the furniture and light fixtures are custom-made throughout the main dining room, two private dining rooms, bar and terrace.

Info: 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, 480-214-8000,
jgsteakhousescottsdale.com

Johnny Rock Page

6. Johnny Rock Page
Dream big. Anything is possible. Johnny Rock Page lives by these words. After a successful career pioneering the independent ATM industry, the Ahwatukee resident says he walked away from corporate America in 2005 to pursue his dream of joining the superbike circuit. While an accident in his first year left him bedridden for three months, he came back strong and found success on the circuit – by 2007, he’d made it.

“There’s something about superbike racing that money just can’t buy,” Page says. “A good bike can’t make you qualified.”

These days, Page is a worldwide spokesperson for Verve Energy Drink, using his celebrity within the sport to help bring superbike racing into the mainstream and to build his own brand. He’s also building his own clothing line, Guardian Angel, and worked with Ganem Jewelers to develop the Guardian Angel logo into a pendant. 

“What I try to do is build things where they synergistically fit together,” the 40-year-old says. Next up is a reality show starring Page, his wife, LaDena, and their four children. Curious? Check out the demo online.

Info: johnnyrockpage.com


7. The Bag Lady
When she was 9 years old, Tracy Penwell started her first business – a worm farm in Durango, Colorado, selling worms to fishermen. “It was not terribly successful, I’m sorry to say,” says Penwell, now 50. “But I learned a lot!”

Penwell spent 20 years in the banking and securities industry, including 11 years in New York City working for Chase Manhattan Bank and the Federal Reserve.

“When I worked with the Fed, one of my side projects was to write copy for a book on small business finance,” Penwell says. “I interviewed tons of entrepreneurs and got re-infected with the entrepreneur bug.”

In 2000, she opened Rima Fine Art in Scottsdale, a gallery that showcases original paintings and sculptures from established modern-day contemporary artists and French Impressionists like Renoir.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to do a number of things,” Penwell says. “It makes it really fun when you stir the pot periodically.” And stir the pot, she has.

In 2005, the gallery owner/president started her own handbag business, Dressed Up Cat. The bags are all made from recycled components, Penwell says, and in 2008, she was a finalist for “Best Green Handbag” in the Independent Handbag Designers Awards. She was also a 2008 nominee for the People’s Choice Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The one-of-a-kind bags are available in the gallery.

Info: Rima Fine Art: 7077 E. Main St., Ste. 1, Scottsdale, 480-994-8899, rimafineart.com; dressedupcat.com


8. Ear Candy Productions
Nate Anderson, founder and CEO of Ear Candy Productions, wants to make sure every child has a chance to experience and learn music.

“I have noticed more and more that music programs are being ripped out of schools,” he says, “and I don’t see them being resurrected any time soon.”

Anderson officially started Ear Candy in October 2007 and went “all-in” in March 2008. The organization uses fundraising and an instrument drive to resurrect, create, develop and sustain youth music programs.

“You don’t have to be a musician to understand the importance of music,” Anderson says. “Music transcends all languages. It is our universal language.”

Info: earcandyproductions.org


9. Bourbon and the Blues

BOURBON STEAK Scottsdale, a Michael Mina restaurant at the Fairmont Scottsdale, features a delectable, mouth-watering menu every night of the week. And all this year, the restaurant will showcase local blues bands every Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. at its Bourbon & Blues event in the lounge. In addition to a special event menu that’s designed to allow guests to mix and match various po’ boy sliders, the Chicken and Waffles Special ($19) is served up every Thursday in the lounge and restaurant.

Info: 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, 480-513-6002,
michaelmina.net