On Wednesday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Arizona Department of Transportation unveiled six new “Welcome to Arizona” signs that will greet drivers as they enter the Grand Canyon State. The new signs will replace the state’s previous highway signs, which have been welcoming travelers for nearly three decades. The revamped designs will be erected in early 2020. The fresh, new signs feature colorful cartoon imagery of some of Arizona’s...

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Popular ridesharing app Lyft recently announced the winners of its fifth annual Lyftie Awards, which recognize the top destinations in cities across the country. This year, the Lyfties expanded to more than 50 new markets, including Phoenix. The Melrose District won the award for “Best Late-Night Neighborhood,” while Talking Stick Resort Arena was recognized as the “Most Celebrated Venue” and Clubhouse at MĀYĀ won “Most Celebrated Bar/Restaurant.” “Lyft believes in improving the lives of our...

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Interactive art installations are popping up everywhere, from candy-coated exhibits to taco-themed wonderlands. At Tempe Marketplace, guests can enjoy a holiday-themed installation called Candy Cane Lane, which features more than 100 pieces including 7-foot tall gingerbread men, 6-foot-tall lollipops, a huge hot cocoa mug with marshmallow seats, enormous Hershey’s Kisses and a giant gumball machine that blows around plastic balls. “I think people are looking for more experiences when they’re coming to centers and having...

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The historical Norton House on 22nd Avenue and Washington Street, which was built by William R. Norton in 1895, sat vacant for decades. Now, thanks to real estate developer Daniel Alexander, it’s a charming bed and breakfast called The Norton Inn. Guests can rent the whole house or one of its three bedrooms, which includes a bridal suite. Alexander says the Victorian house is a great venue for weddings. “We put 1,500 square feet of...

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Phoenix-born and Nashville-based country singer Chelsea Bain puts a lot of emotion into her music. “My goal is always to make somebody feel a deep emotion that makes them react… makes them cry or makes them jump around or even just dance to it a little bit, just so they feel something,” she says. Her punchy, personality-driven songs are influenced by “a lot of really confident, powerful women” that range from Shania Twain to Joan...

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Writer Amy Silverman believes everyone has a story worth telling. “We all have something to say, something to report,” she says. “People are way better writers and storytellers than they give themselves credit for and sometimes what you really need is permission to tell your story.” Silverman gives people that permission during her live storytelling series Bar Flies, which is held once a month at Valley Bar. Each event has a theme and features five...

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Mead is decidedly having a moment. In fact, a new meadery opens in the U.S. every three weeks. There are now five in Arizona. The Valley’s most recent is Scale & Feather, a medieval-themed meadery that set up shop in Avondale in May. For the uninitiated, mead is wine made from fermented honey. Scale & Feather’s mead is made in giant, egg-shaped tanks that co-founder Ben Chaney affectionately refers to as “the dragon eggs.” He...

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Downtown Phoenix got its first full-service grocery store several weeks ago when Fry’s Food Store opened on First and Washington streets. The highly anticipated store boasts an innovative urban design and cutting-edge technology, along with all the amenities of a typical Fry’s including online ordering and pick-up, made-to-order sushi, a deli, a bakery and a pharmacy. But the state-of-the-art store isn’t the only new development for Downtown denizens. In fact, Fry’s is just the first...

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Craving a craft brew? Stop by PHX Beer Co., a recently opened brewery and tap room in a renovated warehouse on Washington Street. The upgraded space features a 20-barrel system on the main brewery floor and a tasting room with a mix of high and low top tables and a fully remodeled wraparound bar. Garage doors allow patrons to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the beer-making process. Guests can also enjoy games like bag toss,...

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Donut lovers rejoice! A celebration dedicated to the sweet treat is taking place at Margaret T. Hance Park this Sunday, November 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Downtown Donut Festival will feature more than 20 local donut purveyors including Bosa Donuts, Jake’s Donuts & Treats, Pokitrition, Berrie Kabobs and Alien Donuts. Live music will be provided by New Wave Order, The Maya Spectra and Davina. The all-ages event will also feature lawn games,...

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Following a successful first year featuring 800 festivalgoers and five local bands raising funds for North High School’s music program, the Coronado Historic District’s micro-music festival, WayneFest, will return to Coronado Park on Saturday, November 16 from 3 to 9 p.m. A $20 ticket includes two samples from local eateries like Gallo Blanco, Ollie Vaughn’s, The Larder + the Delta, Taco Chelo and Belly. Four Peaks is also partnering with the festival to provide beer...

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AZ Barrels, Bottles and Brews, which returns to Salt River Fields for the second year on Saturday, November 23 at 2 p.m., started as a “passion project,” says the venue’s director of marketing, Chris Bonnell. He and the Salt River Fields’ director of ticketing and special events, Shaun Northup, are both craft beer connoisseurs and wanted to showcase the great beverages coming out of the Grand Canyon State. “We wanted to highlight the breweries, distilleries...

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There’s no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen for Ghost Ranch chefs Rene Andrade and Robert Centeno. In fact, they just launched a monthly series where they invite other locally renowned chefs into the kitchen with them to create a unique five-course meal. The first guest chef is Samantha Sanz of Talavera on Wednesday, November 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. Andrade, Centeno and Sanz are all from Nogales and each dish...

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If you’re alcohol-averse, it can be hard to find delicious drinks sans booze. That’s why Sushi Roku at W Scottsdale recently unveiled its new mocktail menu, which features three handcrafted concoctions with all the flavor and fanfare of a regular cocktail without the alcohol. As more people jump on the “sober curious” bandwagon, the demand for healthy, alcohol-free alternatives to traditional cocktails is growing. Sushi Roku is at the forefront of the trend. Are you...