A family-friendly adventure awaits on Oahu’s fabled North Shore. By Kristin Caliendo When I passed by baggage claim at the Honolulu Airport, I had this feeling that I’d forgotten something. This trip, I was traveling lighter than usual––98 pounds lighter to be exact (the combined weight of my two young children). When the chance to take a solo trip to the North Shore of Oahu presented itself, no one had to ...

On Target How to successfully identify the audience you need to reach. By Chris Smith   Identifying and understanding your target audience is crucial to maximizing your sales potential and exponentially growing your business. You’ve spent a lot of time creating and perfecting your product or service, but the work’s not done yet––and your final offering shouldn’t be either. In order to determine the bes ...

Dining Out Writer and former waiter M.D. Thalmann on the current state of the restaurant experience.   So, I got my start in the real world as a food server/bartender. I worked my way up from the dish room, to bussing tables, and eventually to the glory of bringing well-to-do seniors an ice water, a bowl of lemons, and artificial sweetener so they didn't have to pay for lemonade. I was in the restauran ...

Sweet Summer Essentials School’s out for summer, and that means backyard lounging, vacation, grilling, beach cruising, and soaking up the sun. You’ll be stoked with the following summer must-haves. There’s something for everyone. By Nadine Bubeck Beach Bikes The coolest rides ever. These high quality completely customizable cruisers are fit for biking the desert, city, or beach. Design your bike by color, a ...

Afternoon Delight Traditional afternoon tea is perfectly paired with buttery chocolate pecan scones. By Leann Grunwald There is something very special about traditional afternoon tea. This British custom is an exquisitely beautiful way to entertain. History is uncertain as to when afternoon tea was first introduced in England, but the celebration became fashionable in the 1840s. Credit is given to Anna, the ...

Ask Dirk A guy’s perspective on matters of the heart and home. Dirk, I’ve read some of your stuff and my mom seems to like it. Anyway, I need some advice. I’m a recent college grad on the job market and I’ve obviously got tons of time on my hands. I’ve never been lucky with the ladies. In fact, I’ve never really been on a date. There’s a girl who works at the local Starbucks whom I’m very interested in, but ...

Grand Canyon University debuts its North Valley golf course. By Cassandra Johnson This year brought a new player to the local golf scene: Grand Canyon University debuted an updated golf course. You may know the Grand Canyon University Golf Course as the former Maryvale Municipal Golf Course, part of the City of Phoenix Department of Parks and Recreation. Phoenix has a new 30-year partnership with GCU, which ...

The 80 Percent Myth  Golf pro Scott Sackett on why putting a percentage on how hard or soft you’re trying to swing is a bad approach. I often hear announcers and range patrons alike provide swing tips to golfers of all skill levels and one I hear frequently is, "Swing at 80 percent, that's what all the great players do."  I never really questioned this myself until I started using TrackMan during each lesso ...

Route 66  State historian Marshall Trimble on America’s storied highway in its heyday.   Of all America’s great highways, none epitomized Americana during the 20th century more than storied Route 66. Stretching across the heart of the country from Chicago to Los Angeles, it rambled nearly 2,500 miles through Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Route 66 has inspired writers, poets, songw ...

HIIT Reach your fitness goals through high intensity interval training. By Kim Miller and Shannon Dougherty Photos by Stephanie Heymann Photography Shot on location at Orange Theory Fitness McCormick Ranch If you’re looking to burn more calories and make your workout more interesting, HIIT (high intensity interval training) might just be your answer. HIIT can be accomplished doing cardio or weight bearing e ...

Muggle Fun The Wizarding World of Harry Potter worth every bit of the hype. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski   Rising from the middle of Universal Studios Hollywood is the intimidating, black Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is part of the new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lives up to every bit of the hype. Hogsmeade Village is straigh ...

Summer Reading By Julie Carlson   BLACKHEARTS  By Nicole Castroman Castroman’s novel is set in 17th century England. It features Edward “Teach” Drummond, who will later become the pirate Blackbeard. The other viewpoint in the novel is from Anne Barrett, a maid of mixed race, within the Drummond household. Both characters dream of escaping their everyday lives for adventure. Teach longs to return to the ...

Constance McBride  Local mixed-media artist creates sculptures that detail the aging process. By Nicole Royse   Constance McBride is a local artist creating figurative clay and mixed-media sculptures that examine the aging process and its effects on the human body. Skillfully rendering the human form in an intriguing variety of work with a tremendous amount of detail, her creations are a brilliant exam ...

STAY-CAY We have the scoop on seven Arizona hot spots you’ll want to experience this summer––all splurge-worthy without a hefty price tag. By Nadine Bubeck       Most Luxurious: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North fourseasons.com/scottsdale (480) 515-5700 10600 E. Crescent Moon Dr., Scottsdale   Probably the most serene spot in the Valley. Ideal for romantic getaways, friend-cations, or ...

Road Trippin’  Hit the open highway with your family this summer using the happy road trip plan. By Kristin Caliendo  “Mommmmmmm! Addie hit me!” “Leif is so annoying, he’s picking his nose right in front of me.” “Don’t make me pull this car over!” Sound familiar? Somewhere between my kids flicking bodily fluids at one another and Yuma, my dreams of driving into the sunset while catching up on my latest nove ...