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Luke Aikens | Michael Clark/Red Bull Content Pool   Two pilots will take to the skies and make history on April 24, when they attempt a daring aerial stunt that involves equal parts pluck and prowess. It’s the first time the feat has ever been done – and it’s happening right here in Arizona. The plan, dubbed Plane Swap, is the brainchild of brazen pilot and professional skydiver Luke Aikins and he’s performing it with...

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Photo by Jessica Jameson  Two iconic Arizona institutions have teamed up to bring a one-of-a-kind dinner series to the desert. Cloth & Flame creates temporary venues for events that combine culinary innovation and community involvement. Though the Phoenix-based event company puts together pop-up dinners in unexpected places, it’s ongoing partnership with Arcosanti actually makes perfect sense. Both enterprises honor the design, art, food and community that set the Grand Canyon State apart and aim to...

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In the past two decades, nearly 6,000 soldiers died in the line of duty. In that same time, more than 40,000 military veterans have taken their own life. It’s a sobering statistic – and one that Phoenix businessman James Stratman is trying to change. In January, the founder and CEO of local supplement store Peak Nutrition founded Winter Warrior, a nonprofit in honor of former Mesa police officer and U.S. Marine Mitch Winters. In November...

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Local food and beverage maestros Mezcal Carreño and Los Sombreros recently partnered up to prepare a four-course meal and mezcal pairing to highlight the Mesa location of Los Sombreros’ brand-new mezcaleria, a cozy space with ample seating above the restaurant where guests can enjoy mezcal tastings, cocktails, mezcal-centric events and live music. The dinner, which took place on March 30, was the first event in the Mesa mezcaleria. The partnership between the restaurant and spirit...

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Photo courtesy Gabby Usinger/Egyptian It’s safe to say what’s old is new again – bell bottoms are making a big comeback and retro-cool restaurants are springing up across the country. The Valley is no exception to this vintage revival, with the arrival (or rather reincarnation) of a hip hotel in the heart of the Grand Avenue Arts District. The Egyptian Motor Hotel has sat on historic Grand Ave for the better part of 70 years....

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Crust Simply Italian, a local chain known for its Sicilian-style pizza and extensive pasta selection, recently launched a creative new concept called Calzone Connection. Calzone connoisseurs can now order specialty craft calzones for pickup or delivery from the Crust locations in Scottsdale and Chandler. A Gilbert location is also slated to open later this year. These aren’t your average Italian turnovers – small, doughy dishes typically filled with meat and cheese. Calzone Connection’s creations are...

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Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego and members of city council recently approved two actions that would bolster sustainability education and foster the talent needed for the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders. Phoenix’s one-of-a-kind Student Council Sustainability Officer Program allows Phoenix Union High School District students to implement eco-friendly events and enhance sustainability education on their campus and beyond. The city council voted to expand this unique and important program, as well as introduce an urban...

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Whether you’re looking for a fancy brunch, a family-friendly lunch or a fast-casual dinner, there’s a fair share of fare at Valley restaurants this Easter (Sunday, April 17). Fired Pie With 18 locations across the Valley, it’s easy to pop into this popular fast-casual pizza place and order a custom pie. Even easier, all locations are offering 20 percent off orders on Easter Sunday when you use the discount code “BUNNY22.” This deal is available...

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Meatball Ferris Wheel at The Sicilian Butcher | Photo courtesy The Maggiore Group Spring has sprung in the Valley, and local restaurants and bars are celebrating the season with new menu offerings. Here are nine new menus to check out this month.  The Italian Daughter Expect traditional Italian delights with a modern twist on The Italian Daughter’s brand-new spring menu. We can’t wait to try the gnocchi fritto – fried stuffed gnocchi served with house-made...

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Jared Mattson | Photo courtesy Embry Rucker Jared Mattson, who is one half of jazz duo Mattson 2 and is best known for his work with chillwave virtuoso Toro Y Moi, is coming to Last Exit Live in Phoenix on April 3 in support of his new solo project. The catch? He hasn’t released an album yet. “In a very 1980s fashion, I will be touring and grinding shows as a power trio before any...

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As curtains continue to rise on stages across the Valley after a longer-than-anticipated pandemic pause, it’s difficult to gage who is more eager for the return of in-person productions – audiences or actors. Perhaps no one is more excited than the cast and crew of Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of the iconic feel-good musical Singin’ in the Rain, which runs through April 3. The production team has made it possible for it to rain on...

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Rachaad White | Photo by Troy Beckman – Team IFA Rachaad White is on a lot of people’s radars. The Arizona State University senior was one of the most prolific running backs in college football last year, with more than 1,500 total all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns. He made a splash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine in March and is poised to be one of the most sought-after running backs in the NFL Draft...

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More than 10 percent of current Phoenicians are from Chicago, according to Bryan Waymyth, founder of the Chicago Phoenix Club. There’s even more history between the two cities beyond Chicagoans moving to the desert, from the Wrigley and McCormick families to Frank Lloyd Wright and Spring Training. “I strongly believe that Chicago and Phoenix are domestic sister cities,” Waymyth says. “There’s so much connection between the two.” Waymyth created the Chicago Phoenix Club to celebrate...

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Milling about Metrocenter Mall is a core memory of many Valley residents’ childhoods. The previously bustling shopping complex succumbed to declining appeal in the aughts and ultimately shuttered in 2020. Most of the now-deserted mall will soon be demolished and reincarnated as a 70-acre walkable district with an amphitheater, courtyards and water features that city councilmembers and developers hope will revive the area near the I-17 and Dunlap Avenue. Construction on the project is set...

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Anaik Sachdev  After his grandmother’s COVID-19 hospitalization, 9-year-old Phoenix resident Sachdev launched The Loving Library to provide COVID patients with the company of a good book. His efforts caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, who brought him onto her talk show to rhapsodize about the joy of reading. Stephen Jones  The chef-owner of the larder + the delta in Downtown Phoenix has long been lauded for his Southern cooking. In February, he was spotlighted in...