One of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s top legislative priorities for 2013 is to simplify our state’s sales tax system.  Our sales tax is so complicated that you might be surprised to learn that Arizona does not technically have a sales tax. Rather, we have a transaction privilege tax (TPT), something that requires… Read More →

Whether you’re heading home for the holidays or you’re hosting your family, Thanksgiving can be a stressful time. A time to be spent with family and friends can quickly turn bad as the pressure is on to make a delicious and memorable meal. Thankfully, there are some tips to help alleviate some of that stress-at… Read More →

Photos of James Dean, Albert Einstein and Salvador Dali cover the walls. Dali, a painter, was a master of the creative, radical style of surrealism. Einstein, a physicist, may be considered the most influential scientist of the 20th century. Dean, an actor, was known as a rebel without a cause. What do these men all… Read More →

October may have come and gone, and we may have said “goodbye” to our Jack-o’-lanterns, but that doesn’t mean pumpkins are out of the picture. At least, not at Kelly’s At Southbridge in Old Town Scottsdale. They’ve created a new, dangerously-delicious martini to celebrate the holidays — the Pumpkin Martini. Pumpkin Martini Ingredients: 2 oz… Read More →

Sam Fox, owner of Fox Restaurant Concepts, is at it again. In early 2013, be on the lookout for Fox’s newest project, “The Yard.” In conjuction with WDP Partners, Fox is redeveloping a section of 7th Street south of Montebello in Phoenix. The Yard, a neighborhood-inspired project, will occupy what once was the Ducati and… Read More →

Ecova, a total energy and sustainability management company, announced that National Bank of Arizona – a premier bank in Arizona with more than 70 branches – has successfully implemented a complete energy management program. National Bank of Arizona (NB|AZ) can now accurately and efficiently track energy consumption and cost data monthly and leverage that data… Read More →

So true — or so false? Over the years, various superstitions and myths have been passed along from kitchen to kitchen. Because cooking can be very tricky, we often rely on these so-called “myths” to help us with our culinary challenges. While many cooks swear by these so-called myths, there are others of us who… Read More →

When it comes to date night or an evening out with the girls, I love to find new locations that offer a unique atmosphere. I am even willing to sacrifice menu options if I feel like I have discovered a diamond in the rough. For a recent night out with my sister, I decided to… Read More →

Warm temperatures have you and your date hot and bothered? With temperatures on the rise, it can make going out for date night difficult; but, going on a date doesn’t have to mean dining out. Do-it-yourself (DIY) dinners can be a fun and exciting way for couples to beat the heat this summer. Bring the… Read More →

This falls marks the 10th anniversary of the three Mastro’s Restaurants here in the Valley. Mastro’s City Hall and Mastro’s Ocean Club opened in 2002 while the Original Mastro’s Steakhouse opened in 1999. To celebrate, all three locations will sell select signature cocktails at a discounted price of $10 starting in September. In addition, for… Read More →

All hail the beer God: Praying Monk. Happy hour at this new, Scottsdale hot spot is a beer connoisseur’s dream. Enter hipster heaven, L.A. style: Reclaimed-wood-covered walls, leather-upholstered booths and sultry candlelight. As far as first impressions go, Praying Monk makes a very rustic-chic statement. The casual ambiance transports you from the usual Old Town… Read More →

On June 23rd, SOL Cocina began serving brunch with a south-of-the-border, Baja twist. When I think brunch, I picture myself, mimosa in hand, mingling and schmoozing with socialites donned in their Sunday best — nay, more like their Kentucky Derby attire (floppy hats, sun dresses, the whole shebang). But, in reality, brunch is nothing like… Read More →

Old Town Scottsdale is making room for a Chicago-style eatery, K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple, Stupid) this July — located in a sleek space next to The Venue Scottsdale and V2, a two-story, 8,000-square-food lounge opening 2013. At 900 square feet, K.I.S.S. offers exactly that on its menu ― simple ingredients in its Chicago- and New… Read More →

Dining out? Check your phone first (if you aren’t doing that already); here are some dining apps for you to consider. With today’s plugged-in landscape and social media savvy society, websites, blogs and smartphone applications are quickly becoming the go-to source for daily tasks like hunting down recipes, shopping for restaurant deals and connecting with… Read More →