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What’s New in Greater Phoenix?
October 2012
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH’S EDITION:
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| CITY NEWS |
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| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will receive a Federal Aviation Administration grant to fund an apron rehabilitation project near its busiest terminal. The $16 million FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant will allow the airport to begin the first phase of a multi-year project to replace 25 year-old pavement outside of Terminal 4. The work will begin this fall and take about four years to complete.
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| RESORT NEWS |
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| When you combine the ideal weather with a special value package at the Arizona Biltmore, autumn is an enchanted time for an escape to a luxury resort in the desert. The Arizona Biltmore’s “Autumn Enchantment Package” is available through November 15, and offers reduced room rates, a complimentary night and other extras. Included in the package are: rates starting at just $279, breakfast for two daily, third night free (three-night minimum stay required), and a reduced resort charge of only $10. The warm days and pleasant evenings in fall are perfect for enjoying all the pleasures of the Arizona Biltmore. Swim in eight pools, tee off on two 18-hole PGA courses, play on seven lit tennis courts, go on a guided hike or mountain-bike excursion in the adjacent nature preserve, or enjoy a lit basketball court, life-size lawn chess, croquet and bocce ball.The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is thrilled to be bringing the “FlowRider” experience to Greater Phoenix.The Kierland Flowrider, which opens in early October, is located at the south end of the Adventure Pool complex offering another option for wet and wild excitement in addition to the ever-popular 110-foot water slide and lazy river ride. The FlowRider experience is all about the look of surfing, the ride of snowboarding, the tricks of skateboarding, and boards derived from wakeboarding, all of which bring a fun, exciting, non-stop “wave riding” experience to the Resort! Kierland FlowRider will be open year-round to guests of The Westin Kierland Resort, as weather permits, and the water will be heated when necessary during the winter months. Flowboarding will be offered with purchase of a one-hour session for unlimited rides, and pricing will start at $20 per session.
Sun-seeking vacationers can enjoy sparkling pools, outdoor activities, spacious suites and a host of resort amenities at special rates when they book early for autumn at Pointe Hilton Resorts. From October through December, Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort will offer suites starting from $129 per night with a 21-day advance purchase. At Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, nestled in the slopes of the Phoenix North Mountains, families can enjoy hiking, mountain biking and the resort’s River Ranch, featuring acres of pools, a waterslide and lazy river. Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort guests also can enjoy acres of pools, terraced waterfalls, waterslide and poolside lounging at The Falls Water Village or take to the links at the resort’s 18-hole course at Lookout Mountain Golf Club.
On Friday, October 26, Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort will be transforming its River Ranch into a festive, “spooktacular” carnival where guests and locals are invited to indulge in Halloween treats, family-fun activities and an opportunity to give back to the Phoenix community. As an entrance fee into the 16th annual Pumpkins at the Peak, guests are asked to bring two cans of food or $5 per person to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank. Upon entering, parents and children can enjoy more than 20 activities and craft booths ranging from fortune telling to ring tosses from 5-7 p.m. For more Halloween fun, children are encouraged to dress in costumes. Live music and snack booths will also set the scene for what is sure to be a fun-filled night.
The Phoenician, Arizona’s premier AAA Five Diamond destination, has named Lee Hillson executive sous chef. In his new role, Hillson will assist in overseeing a culinary staff of more than 150 across nine kitchens, including resort restaurants Il Terrazzo, Relish Burger Bistro, the Café and Ice Cream Parlor and theOasis Grill, while contributing to menu creation and preparation. He will also provide support for in-room dining, banquet, pastry, bakeshop, butcher shop, pasta shop and garde manger operations.
For those who wish to enjoy a full day (10 hours to be exact) at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain and celebrate the resort’s decennial, the “10 Best Hours of Your Life” package is available through December 30, 2012 at $390 per person and includes starting the day with a fitness class, then soothing the muscles at Sanctuary Spa. Hours 3-4 include a snack and tea and a 90-minute spa treatment before spending a few hours lunching and lounging by the pool. Next is an hour prepping for the evening at the Sanctuary Salon before indulging in a three-course dinner at elements, the brainchild of Food Network Star, Executive Chef Beau MacMillan.
If you’re feeling lucky this October, plan a trip to Talking Stick Resort and maximize your rewards with hot casino promotions, jackpot bonuses and endless Player Rewards Club specials. Not far from gaming floor are even more opportunities to win big in the state’s largest poker room. All month long, the ARENA Poker Room invites guest to test their luck at one of the 47 tables offering daily poker tournaments with jackpots as high as $20,000.
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| ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT |
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| Out of Africa Wildlife Park is thrilled to announce Wildlife Photography workshops beginning this October. For the shutterbugs out there who have always dreamed of getting “those” amazing photos of wild animals, this is what you’ve been waiting for! Join accomplished photographer Kathleen Reeder in this unparalleled wildlife photography workshop that will appeal to amateur photographers of all levels as you explore the wildlife side of photography at Out of Africa Wildlife Park. Workshop dates are Oct. 12-13, Nov. 8-9 and Dec. 7-8.The Musical Instrument Museum and Arizona Opera continue their partnership to present “Arizona Opera Up Close,” a series of five concerts offering an intimate operatic experience in the 300-seat MIM Music Theater during the 2012/2013 which began this past September. This diverse five concert series combines performances by established international opera stars and rising talent. The first three concerts in the series, including a holiday concert, will be performed by Arizona Opera’s four resident artists: Bevin Hill, Laura Wilde, David Margulis, and Thomas Cannon. The final two performances feature the dynamic international stars of the final two Arizona Opera season productions, “Il Trovatore” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” These concerts offer the unique opportunity to hear and see main-stage performers in this acoustically stunning venue.
Phoenix Art Museum presents Modern Spirit: Fashion of the 1920s, a fascinating look into the meaning of fashion in the jazz age. Featuring more than 40 ensembles and accessories by more than a dozen iconic fashion designers including Gabrielle Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet and Jean Patou, the exhibition provides a stunning overview of the decade’s creative and revolutionary garments that continue to impact fashion today. Modern Spirit: Fashion of the 1920s opened on September 22, 2012 and runs through February 10, 2013 in the Ellman Fashion Design Gallery at Phoenix Art Museum.
The zombies are taking to the streets of Downtown Phoenix on Saturday, October 27. Zombie Walk 4, part of the Hallowe’en extravaganza happening from 2-11 p.m. at Heritage & Science Park, is a totally free, family friendly event featuring live music, Easley’s Lil’ Zombie Zone, Downtown Ambassadors Carnage Carnival, Rose & Crown Beer Garden with Four Peaks Brewing Company, Most Valuable Zombie contest, food vendors, makeup artists, retailers, bloodmobile, food drive and, of course, one of the largest zombie hordes in the continental United States.
Jump into fall at the 18th Annual Catlin Court Front Porch Festival & Old Towne Marketplace in Historic Downtown Glendale on Saturday, October 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a beautiful fall day in a charming historic setting with lots of activities and fabulous shopping! The more than 80 shops and eateries have many activities planned for the day, including demonstrations, make and take crafts, special treats and much more. The shops in Catlin Court showcase their specialties on their lawns and front porches, while the shops in Old Towne always have something wonderful going on inside.
Wine barrels turned into artist’s canvases are once again on display in Cottonwood, Sedona, and the Verde Valley. The barrels will be officially unveiled at the Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K Fun Run Saturday, October 6. The Grape Stomp is all about running, walking, eating good food, and tasting some terrific Arizona wines in Old Town Cottonwood’s Tasting Rooms on the Verde Valley Wine Trail. Visitors can meet the artist and collect a unique artist card featuring that Painted Barrel and artist at each participating in Old Town Painted Barrel Artist Day location. There will be cool contests and prizes for people who connect with the artists.
Head to Fountain Hills on October 31 for Halloween in the Hills. Starting at 5 p.m., trick or treat along the Avenue of the Fountains, where merchants will be handing out candy, popcorn, and treats. There will be games, bouncers, haunted houses, a petting zoo, pet adoption, and more fun things. The Pets N’ Their People costume contest will start at 6:30 p.m., and contest registration opens at 5 p.m.
Fall’s more temperate days and cooler evenings are just around the corner and to celebrate the Valley’s much-anticipated shift to outdoor living, Scottsdale Quarter announces the return of its free weekly concert series, Live at the Quarter. The eight-week series kicks off October 6 and will bring the Valley’s most popular musical acts to The Quad each and every Saturday from 5-7 p.m. Entertainment will include cover bands including Rock Lobster, Apple, and B-Platinum, as well as original groups including Vinyl Station and Shallow Water.
The Grand Canyon Dinner Theatre has extended an invitation to vets for free admission to the musical,Miss Kitty’s Grand Adventure “I’m No Mail Order Bride,” through Veterans Day, November 11, 2012. Dinner Theatre owner Elling Halvorson wants to recognize the sacrifices made by men and women in the military. The Dinner Theatre features an original play set in the early 1900’s that begins with an encounter on the Grand Canyon train platform between Miss Kitty, a young girl from Philadelphia, who has come to the Wild West to work as a Harvey Girl waitress, and a cast of characters who are bubbling over with talent and song. The actors perform on a world class stage that has a huge 200-square-foot video wall that becomes the sixth actor in the uniquely choreographed performance.
Bike Night is back at Westgate Entertainment District until November 15. The popular 10-week series draws approximately 1,000 bikers every Thursday from all over Arizona showing off their motorcycles. This event is free and features live music, vendors and restaurant/bar specials from McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon, Calico Jack’s Cantina, The SHOUT! House, and Kabuki.
“Fridays at jade” make a Fall return at Sanctuary at Camelback to kick-off every weekend from 7-10 p.m. with the music of Alice Tatum. For those who can’t get enough of jade bar’s live acts, they can now enjoy a second evening of fun every week during “Saturdays at jade”, featuring the tunes of R&B, Soul and Reggae artist, Mel Bridges, from 7-10 p.m. These events do not require a cover charge, and guests can enjoy a selection of gourmet small plates, creative cocktails and wine.
This Halloween season, Talking Stick Resort will welcome an influx of ghosts, goblins, the occasional superhero and more to its Showroom for the annual Guest Halloween Costume Contest. How spooky, silly or strange can you be? The resort will award cash prizes to the top five guests with the best original costumes. First place will take home a grand prize of $3,000! The rating panel will consist of Talking Stick Resort employees, who will judge costumes from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Participants must submit an entry form prior to entering the competition and must be in line for judging no later than 9:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at 10:30 p.m., and will have three minutes to claim their prize. The selected winners will each receive no less than $500. Contestants must be registered Player’s Reward Club Members to participate.
Childsplay, the professional theatre company for young audiences, always guarantees a theatre experience that is fun for the whole family. The 2012/2013 season incorporates original material and classic childhood tales, promoting the love of theatre that will last for a lifetime. Upcoming shows include “ROCK PAPER SCISSORS”, running Oct. 6-14, and “The Giver”, running Oct. 27-Nov. 11. All performances are held at theTempe Center for the Arts, a beautiful lakeside venue with a variety of performances and events. Tickets start at $12 per person.
Devil Dash is an adventurous 5K running race that will take place at Camelback Ranch on October 20. Racers will ascend the “Purgatory” course and conquer obstacles themed after the 7 Deadly Sins, before entering the pearly gates and the “Beer Garden of Eden”. Obstacles include climbing cargo nets, ascending Satan’s Steeple, crawling through mud pits, and darting through fire. Devil Dash is an all day running event, complete with mud, blood, beer, cheer and live music!
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| SPORTS/GOLF |
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| World Baseball Classic, Inc. has announced the international venues, pools, format and dates for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, which will begin play on Saturday, March 2. Japan will be home to first and second round pools, followed by Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Arizona, where Chase Field and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona, which were previously announced as first round venues, will host the teams in Pool D from March 7-10. Teams competing in the pool include host United States, Italy, Mexico and a Qualifier winner to be determined. The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories.Calling all automotive enthusiasts! The Scottsdale Polo Championships will have a special guest this year! Don’t miss the breakneck speed, bestial beauty and prestigious grace that will roll in October 20, when the McLaren 12C Spider makes its desert debut at the preview of Barrett-Jackson’s 2013 Collector Car Auction at the Scottsdale Polo Championships: Horses + Horsepower. Its exotic engine raucous roar will fit right in alongside the thundering of hooves and cracks of mallets emanating from the Sport of Kings action. The super car beast with its gutsy vision will reflect its equine and human counterparts on the playing field with daring players at the helm of a heavenly designed animal of strength and speed.
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| SPA |
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| The Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain has announced two brand new treatments, both available for either 60 or 90 minutes. The Citrus Lavender Softening Scrub is a full-body treatment that combines nourishing sea minerals and lavender to exfoliate the body. The Indian Jasmine Salt Scrub is a Red Flower treatment which uses the exotic scents of Indian Jasmine and Neroli in combination with softening avocado, grape seed and jojoba oils.A continuation of their partnership, Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and ASU Gammage present a fabulous “Anything Toes” in-spa promotion. This offer is valid Nov. 1- 18, and will be held in conjunction with “Anything Goes” which will come alive on stage at ASU Gammage, Nov. 13-18. While making your fall plans mark your calendar to pamper your pretty little toes and enjoy a day of relaxation, culture and the arts. Enjoy a decadent and specially discounted 50-minute “Anything Toes” spa pedicure which includes an aromatic blue foot soak, gentle exfoliation, relaxing foot massage and concludes with a therapeutic paraffin treatment. Enjoy the special rates of $60 Monday – Thursday and $70 Friday – Sunday.
Throughout October, The Spa at Talking Stick Resort will further extend the health benefits of its already relaxing and rejuvenating services by incorporating authentic Moroccanoil products into its signature treatments. October’s Soufflé a la Spa offers include: Soufflé Reprieve Body Massage, a warm Argan oil and Shea butter body massage followed by a Moroccanoil conditioning hair treatment and orange blossom hand and foot exfoliation for $119; Repair & Prevent Facial, renewing exfoliants and infused nutrients provide a deep cleanse and nourishing moisture leaving the skin balanced, tone and youthful for $119; and more.
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| DINING |
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| It’s finally happened: Matt’s Big Breakfast has larger digs, which means hungry breakfasters no longer have to wait outside in the hot sun for an indeterminate period of time in hopes of getting a table. The new location, located about a block north of the former spot, is big enough to seat 50 people (twice as many as before) and has its own bathroom (finally!). Although it’s left the quaint house of its former glory, Matt’s has retained much of the same charm with a retro-style coffee bar, lamps, and chairs. The restaurant will maintain the same hours and menu, and chef-owner Matt Poole is planning to convert the old location to a takeout-only business with a limited menu – so even if the infamous line moves over to the new location, service will become more streamlined in the near future.Think there are already enough coffee shops in downtown Phoenix? Think again. Fresh on the heels of newly opened Songbird Coffee & Tea House is Eight Day Coffee & Culture. Downtown’s newest caffeine slingers boast a menu of community-traded beverages, including Land of a Thousand Hills coffees from Rwanda and Thailand. The café will also host rotating local art shows and live music on First Fridays and for other special events.
Looking for a tasty brunch or a cup of Japanese cold brew coffee? Stop in at Vovomeena for local, independent, and authentically crafted coffee, breakfast and brunch. Vovomeena comes from a partnership between Tuck Shop and Astor House co-owners DJ Fernandes and Jessica Ruiz. The menu includes breakfast staples like pancakes and eggs, as well as unique items like Mexican Benedict, a southwest twist on English muffins with Canadian bacon.
The signature Downtown Phoenix welcomes the opening of Uno Mas Mex1can Grill, city-dwellers have a fresh new option for fast-casual dining. The restaurant, owned by Valley resident Carlos Moreno Garcia, caters to downtown’s businesspeople and visitors with its fast, authentic, and affordable food served in takeout containers. Uno Mas is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, with extended hours for downtown events such as sporting events and First Fridays..
Ever dream of having a chef craft a meal tailored to your specific tastes? Now’s your chance. Province atThe Westin Phoenix Downtown is launching an interactive culinary package that includes a meet and greet with the chef, expert nutritional advice, a shopping trip at the Phoenix Public Open-Air Market, and then a customized three-course lunch. Guests will discover health benefits of fresh market produce and learn how to select the best seasonal items. After strolling through the farmers’ market, guests will relax with a beverage of choice while the chef cleans, prepares, and cooks a three-course luncheon using that morning’s fresh market finds. This package is available Saturdays through October 27.
Humble Pie will donate $2 from select menu items to the Phoenix affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a minimum donation of $2,500. The restaurant’s “Pink Menu” includes appetizers, pizza, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and, of course, pink lemonade.
deseo at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa reopens with new menu items. You’ve counted down the days until their “Summer Siesta” was over, and now you can look forward to coming back AND trying six new menu items! Chef Roberto Madrid is excited to have added the following dishes to his already acclaimed menu: hawaiian ruby red tuna, crab empanada “curcuma”; beef anticucho; pan-seared halibut and toasted fideo pasta; grilled loup de mer over torta chayote, and smoked paprika garbanzo beans. deseo is open seven days a week, 6 – 10 p.m., and the lounge opens at 5:30 p.m.
Agave, the Arizona Spa at The Westin Kierland has transformed the once weekly “Healthy Eating Class” to an all-new “Farm to Table” Lunch! spearheaded by Michele Rusinko, certified halth Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. The monthly informative and interactive lunch will lead guests through a recommended diet, delicious (and easy!) recipes, and how to embrace a healthy lifestyle with simple, nutritious dishes using fresh, local produce. $35 per person includes prepared meal, and upcoming dates are Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, all at 12:10 p.m.
Beginning October 13, and continuing every second Saturday of the month until April 2013, LON’s at the Hermosa patio will be transformed. There will still be the same seating and amazing views of Camelback Mountain, however guests and Valley residents alike will be able to experience a new kind of weekend dining with LON’s Brunch & Bazaar. Part daytime dining; part open-air market, the LON’s patio will transform into an outdoor marketplace complete with produce from local farmers; cooking demos will be presented by Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco and his culinary team, as well as Pastry Chef Trevor Tucker and Spirit Guide Travis Nass, with tastings for $5 each; and a variety of products used by Chef Pacheco in the LON’s kitchen will also be for sale.
Continuously recognized by Wine Spectator with their coveted Award of Excellence since 1996, the LON’s at the Hermosa wine list is nothing short of spectacular, and as such will be kicking off their Wine Dinner Series in October. Each dinner will feature a wine reception and four-course wine-paired dinner for $99++/person. The lineup for the 2012-2013 season includes DeLille & Doyenne on Oct. 25, and Arizona Wine on Nov. 15.
Embark on a cross-country road trip down the main streets of America at Proof, an American canteen, debuting late October at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Featuring homestyle comfort fare sourced exclusively from the 50 states, this relaxed restaurant promises to fast become a casual neighborhood hang-out, perfect for a relaxed dinner together, an evening with the family, or drinks with friends.
El Chorro invites folks to raise a glass and celebrate the Valley’s most beloved season with special seasonally-inspired menu of fresh fall cocktails. With oversight from El Chorro’s expert bar manager, Peter Brown, the menu features 10 cocktails each created by a member of the restaurants bar staff. Guests can enjoy classic cocktails such as the El Chorro Margarita and a Moscow Mule which combines vodka, ginger beer and fresh muddled mint and lime, served in a traditional copper mug. For those looking to mix it up, the Notorious F.I.G., a unique blend of Figenza fig vodka, fresh mint and orange topped with soda water and the Handy Shandy, a beer cocktail featuring Blue Moon, peach schnapps and orange juice are sure to be new fall favorites. Ranging in price from $7.50 to $12, El Chorro’s full fall cocktail menu is available now through the end of autumn. Beginning October 1, guests can enjoy these and other libations during El Chorro’s happy hour, Monday-Saturday from 4-6 p.m. with a complimentary hors d’oeuvre buffet from 5-6 p.m.
Arizona doesn’t have a state fruit, but if it did, it would undoubtedly be the red fruit of the prickly pear, called tunas. While these gems aren’t easy to find in either grocery stores or restaurants, there is one place you can go to taste prickly pear fruit in a number of ways: Tonto Bar & Grill in Cave Creek. Co-owner Eric Flatt gathers them in the desert and on his Roncho Manana property, and the harvest is put to good use by executive chef Ryan Peters and pastry chef Amanda Crick. The prickly pear fruit are pureed and then wind up in a wide variety of dishes, from savory demi-glace for pork and prickly pear barbecue sauce for salmon to sweet Prickly Pear Pops and red velvet cake. If that’s not enough ways to taste this rare cactus fruit, you can wash it all down with a prickly pear margarita.
The Handlebar & Grill Tempe, a modern American beer garden with a bicycle theme, opened September 19 in the historic Mill Avenue District. The Handlebar Tempe menu features 24 draft beers on tap, beers from around the world and local favorites, unique beer cocktails, wine, a full bar and non-alcoholic beverage options. Designed to mimic a city park, the large patio is enhanced with lighted trees, park benches and an outdoor fire pit. There are hooks around the patio so patrons can hang their bicycles and many tables are communal, encouraging conversation among guests. The dining menu at The Handlebar Tempe is made up of local gourmet bratwurst and sausages, hand-cut fries, hamburgers and Belgium pretzels, complemented with an assortment of dipping sauces and toppings. All food is made to order and the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. daily. The Handlebar Tempe is the latest venture by Julian Wright, Arizona State University alumni and proprietor of La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar and Canteen Modern Tequila Bar.
Every time a new restaurant opens in the Valley, people talk, hype is created, and expectations run high. Yet, fairly often the buzz dies quickly as people realize that the new kitchen on the block does not in fact make all of their culinary dreams come true. Enter Davanti Enoteca, which opened last month after several previews of the interior, the menu, and Chef Peter DeRuvo’s overall vision. Now that Davanti Enoteca is open and we’ve had our first taste, we’re happy to report that it lives up to its stellar reputation, providing a large selection of sharable modern Italian fare that’s a much-needed break from boring pastas and tired old sauces. Entrées include housemade orecchiette mixed with sausage, bright green and bitter rapini, grated Pecorino, and chiles; and polpo con rafano with seared octopus tentacles with zingy horseradish aioli, potato fingerlings, celery root, Marona almonds, and Finnochiona salami. To finish, there are several flavors of gelati and sorbetti, Italian classics like afogatto, and for the adventurous, a goat cheese cheesecake with caramel sauce.
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For more information on any of these events or updates, please contact the
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Department.
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