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After years of decay, these mid-century motor lodges are bouncing back. The Aloha  A retro beach atmosphere permeates this 1950 property in Chandler, which reopened in May following a three-year renovation. alohaarizona.com Egyptian Motor Hotel A 1950s shrine to Egyptian kitsch in the Grand Avenue District, the Egyptian reopened this spring with a rock ’n’ roll vibe and modern Mexican pop-up from Chilte. egyptianmotorhotel.com High Country Motor Lodge Mountain vibes meet 1960s design meets an...

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As the food scene grows throughout the Valley, the west side of Phoenix continues to surprise customers with mouthwatering dishes from across the globe. Check out these three unique places to have your next meal. Get a Taste of India at India Garden India Garden is one of the only Indian restaurants on the west side of Phoenix serving traditional Indian and Nepali cuisine. Upon entering the restaurant, you will be greeted with amazing customer...

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Over the last two decades, buying a home has shifted to a mostly digital landscape. Potential buyers are now searching for homes online first and the lion’s share of the homebuying process is taken care of virtually. Following this trend, Scottsdale real estate referral company HomeLight recently acquired Accept.inc, a Denver-based financial technology lender that gives homebuyers a way to submit all-cash offers. With this acquisition, HomeLight becomes the largest agent-focused cash offer program in...

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THE SCENE Bars and restaurants are playing it fast and loose with the word “experience” these days. Calling a dimly lit bar a speakeasy and charging $20 for a cocktail does not an experience make. But over at the Century Grand compound on Indian School and 36th Street – the playground of cocktail innovators Jason Asher, Rich Furnari, Jeff Holland, Mat Snapp, Kailee Asher and Jax Donahue – true experiences abound. At each of Barter...

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Which world wine region does Arizona compare to? It’s a question I’ve been answering for years. My answer? No other region. There are similarities in grape varietals to other regions. I have had Grenache from the south of France that mirrors our expressions of Grenache. A grape like Vermentino, through the lens of Sand-Reckoner, comes close to benchmarks from Corsica and Sardinia. Some qualities of our wine remind me of the Old World, like earth,...

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After delving into his personal history with abuse and addiction in his 2019 memoir Mascara Boy, news anchor turned mental health advocate Brandon Lee returns to his lived experiences in his debut children’s book. SPLAT! Brandon’s Big Fit ($16.99) – co-authored with fellow Emmy-winning journalist Jordana Houchins – was inspired by the trauma-informed mood swings and outbursts Lee experienced as a bullied and abused child. In the rhyming story, young Lee finds a lifeline in...

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You probably already know firsthand – or have otherwise heard through the grapevine – that Napa Valley is a sacrosanct wine region. We don’t need to convince you of its viticultural virtues, but we can tell you about some of the area’s new hospitality ventures that just so happen to pair great with a world-class glass of vino. Stanly Ranch Set on more than 700 acres in the heart of wine country, this historical working...

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If there’s one thing living during a pandemic has taught us, it’s the importance of hand hygiene. Scottsdale inventor Mike Rafko, a former Honeywell executive, spent the past two years developing what he believes is the first automatic self-sanitizing door handle. The VitaTouch dispenses quick-drying, non-sticky hand sanitizer and is designed for high-traffic public areas like restaurants, event venues, schools and commercial businesses. vita-touch.com

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Upon walking into Ghost Donkey, a new cocktail concept in the heart of Roosevelt Row, you’ll first notice the twinkling ceiling lights and the crowd gathered around the bar. The bar is warm and welcoming, bathed in pink neon lights. Under the color-changing lights, you’ll notice funky décor, including a life-size donkey statue wearing a sombrero, that transports you to a summertime fiesta in Mexico. On weekends, Ghost Donkey and its sister establishments (Cham Pang...

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  Scottsdale Quarter is now home to Etta, a picturesque neighborhood restaurant serving up tasty wood-fired eats and serious Italian getaway vibes that will blend seamlessly into your perfectly curated Instagram aesthetic. As I pull open the fashionably oversized wooden door that guards Etta’s idyllic entryway and step out of Arizona’s grueling summer heat, I am greeted by a cool gush of air and the smile of a friendly hostess who offers to show my...

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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’re focusing on legacy acts. July 20 REO Speedwagon, Styx and Loverboy Any rock band can put together a ballad, and then there’s REO Speedwagon. Tracks like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You” are rock radio staples. And Styx are no slouches either. Epic tracks like “Lady” and “Babe” have...

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What does illustrator and graphic designer Stormy Nesbit do in her free time? She puts brush or pen – or, in some cases, scissors – to paper and she creates. “Art, when there are no clients involved, is where I can express myself freely,” says the Minnesota native, who earned her master’s degree in visual communication design from Arizona State University and has lived in the Valley for seven years. “No one is requesting anything...