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Watercolorist and oil painter Rachel Eskandari began her art career with the same whimsy that now pervades her vibrant botanical forms. As a teenager, she went into her sister’s room, tore a page off the easel there and brushed on an acrylic ballerina. “I was surprised by how it turned out,” says Eskandari, who was born and raised in the Valley. Today, she paints everything from stickers to murals. And yet, Eskandari does more. She...

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Even among luxury resorts, Sensei Lanai is not your typical property. The Four Seasons-affiliated getaway is located on the private Hawaiian island of Lanai and is the brainchild of Oracle founder and billionaire jet-setter Larry Ellison. Sensei specializes in “optimal wellbeing programs,” or curated stays with experiences based on growth, mindfulness and improving guests holistically. “We’re in the center of the middle of the ocean, and it’s really private. It’s quiet,” says Kelly Georgiou, manager...

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Billie Eilish | Photo by Kelia Anne MacCluskey Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres all around the Valley. This week’s focus is on singer/songwriters. March 30 Wednesday, Wednesday: A Weekly Songwriter’s Showcase If you’re looking for an entry point into the vast Phoenix music scene, start with this weekly showcase curated by Jesse Teer of The Senators. 8 p.m., free, Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. 2nd...

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Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres all around the Valley. This week we focus on singers with soul. March 22 Daughtry Fans of the gravel-voiced Chris Daughtry believe that this North Carolina-based post-grunge five-piece is actually a solo project. But honestly, how were fans supposed to know that the fifth season American Idol finalist had a band if they didn’t use his name? 7:30 p.m., $45-$349, Marquee...

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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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On the short list of unambiguously beloved sports heroes here in the Valley, along with Larry Fitzgerald, Shane Doan, Luis Gonzalez and a few others, there’s only one – so far – that has had a big-time Hollywood biopic made about him. Quarterback Kurt Warner, who in 2009 led the Arizona Cardinals to their only Super Bowl to date, is the title character of American Underdog, last year’s saga of the struggles and triumphs of Warner...

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Some of Mesa artist Nicole Manchester’s most treasured moments have revolved around handwritten words. From saving old high school notes about crushes to re-reading cards from her grandmother, “keeping in touch through writing has always been important to me,” she says. “Writing really is an artform, and it’s an easy way to make loved ones feel special.” After nannying for many years, Manchester started her own stationery line, The Polka Dot Pug Collection, in 2015....

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Cool new lodgings are popping up around Arizona. Senna House Old Town Scottsdale’s buzziest new hotel opened in December 2021. Marvel at the succulent-draped “living walls” and dine at coastal Mediterranean eatery Cala, helmed by chef Beau MacMillan. thesennahouse.com The Citizen Hotel This Tucson hotel opened in fall 2021 in the building that once housed the city’s oldest newspaper, the Tucson Citizen. Now its tasting room is a hot spot for winos. thecitizenhoteltucson.com The Jenesis...

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The artist known as The Lady Egg recently left a smattering of paintings on Roosevelt Row in Downtown Phoenix. This pop of yellow adorns the 10-O-One Building, just down from Bunky Boutique. Another Lady Egg creation stands guard at the exit to the parking garage around the corner. This 3-D bespectacled fellow is captured in free fall, about to tumble into the dumpsters behind Pedal Haus. A distinguished egghead reads the paper behind the bike racks...

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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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How Arizona stacks up against the rest of the U.S. in a variety of public health metrics: COVID-19 … was the third-leading cause of death in Arizona in 2020: 8,430 deaths, behind heart disease and cancer   … and is expected to be the leading cause of death in Arizona in 2021: ~15,800 deaths Leading causes of death in Arizona in 2019: Heart disease Cancer Accidents Chronic lower respiratory diseases Alzheimer’s disease Stroke Diabetes Suicide Chronic...

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Studies have shown holistic health practices like yoga, mindfulness and meditation benefit children and teens as much as they do adults. Yet all too often, opportunities to learn these tools seem out of reach for kids from disadvantaged homes. Monica Samuels wants to change that. The founder of whole-body wellness facility Quasar Quantum Healing in Scottsdale has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona to help at-risk kids experiencing anxiety, depression, substance-abuse issues,...

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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...

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On February 24, prominent Phoenix muralist Pablo Luna was hospitalized due to undiagnosed diabetes. The local community quickly rallied behind him to raise funds and awareness. Silvana Salcido Esparza, who owns the vaunted Barrio Café in Phoenix, will be hosting a fundraiser for Luna’s medical expenses on March 19 from 4 to 11 p.m. The event will include an art show, food, live painting, music and a raffle. Luna’s work graces buildings in Downtown and...

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Dua Lipa | Photo by Hugo Comte  Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres all around the Valley. This week we focus on arena bands past and present. March 14 Imagine Dragons Music fans hate to love the Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons. But since superstar producer Rick Rubin stepped behind the boards of their latest record, is it only a matter of time until we all...