TO-GO TO-GO healthy food for a happy world 44TH + CAMELBACK | 602.429.6222 | 90TH + SHEA | 480.240.4400 IAMAFLOWERCHILD.COM Page 22 July 2015 By Michelle Donati-Grayman Anyone who has survived an Arizona summer knows that keeping cool is a must. From splash pads to resort pools, the Valley is home to a number of wet destinations that offer a reprieve from the scorching summer sun. SPLASH PADS Splash Playground at Tempe Beach Park – Located on the south bank of Tempe Town Lake, the Splash Playground at Tempe Beach Park is a free, 1-acre playground that features water cannons, slides, a waterfall, spray arches and more. This month, the playground is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Leapin’ Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns at the Phoenix Zoo – Leapin’ Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns are two water play areas included with admission to the Phoenix Zoo. The lagoon offers a splash pad that is perfect for babies and toddlers. The caverns are more suitable for older children, featuring caverns that contain stalactites and stalagmites. Shaded benches and a changing area are available. The zoo is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through August 31. RESORT POOLS The Oasis Water Park at the Arizona Grand Resort – Voted one of the Top 10 Resort Water Parks by the Travel Channel, this AAA Four Diamond resort in Phoenix is one of the country’s largest resort water parks. The 7-acre park features three eight- story water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, a children’s water play area and more. The resort has a summer Stay & Play package that includes a $50 resort credit, kids-eat-free offer and six wristbands to Oasis Water Park. Rooms start at $159 per night. Sonoran Splash at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – This luxurious AAA Five Diamond property in Scottsdale is home to five pools. This includes the Sonoran Splash pool, which turns into a pool party at night, complete with fog, disco lights and music on weekend nights. New this summer is SplashRider X-treme, a thrilling, spinning water adventure. The resort’s Sip, Savor and Splash package offers a $50 daily resort credit. Rooms start at $169 per night. WATER PARKS Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix Water Park – Arizona’s largest water park sits on 25 acres in Glendale. It features several thrill rides, including Maximum Velocity, the world’s first dueling water coaster, as well as a funnel ride, bowl ride, half-pipe ride and a six-lane racing slide. For those seeking less of a thrill, the park offers a family raft ride, lazy river, wave pool and Boogie Board Beach, and an interactive water play area for smaller children. This month, Wet ’n’ Wild Phoenix is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. General admission is available online at a discounted rate of $31.99. Children 2 and younger are free. Hang ten: Water play offers reprieve from summer heat The Sonoran Splash Pool at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess turns into a Techno Glo pool party at night. Also at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is the SplashRider X-treme, a spinning water feature. Follow us on

Christ Church In Christ We Grow That Others May Know LC-MS Lutheran Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 A.M. –Traditional 8:30 & 10:30 A.M. –Contemporary 12:30 P.M. –Spanish Service 6:00 P.M. –Youth-Led Service Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M. Saturday Worship 5:00 P.M. Sunday School / Bible Classes 9:40 A.M. (Nursery Care At All A.M. Sunday Services) 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL PRESCHOOL - GRADE 8 (602) 957-7010 (602) 955-4830 visit our website www.cclphoenix.org e-mail us at christchurch@cclphoenix.org MINISTRIES: YOUTH YOUNG ADULTS SENIOR ADULTS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FAMILIES & CHILDREN MUSIC GROUPS FOR ALL AGES SUPPORT GROUPS, INCLUDING: CELEBRATE RECOVERY Page 23 July 2015 By Alessandra Dagirmanjian You may know Wally Collins as one of Arcadia’s beloved restaurateurs and owner of Wally’s American Pub n’ Grill. Or, perhaps, you know him as the winner of the Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Contest? Yet, you may be surprised to discover that Collins is also a burgeoning local artist. After retiring from the restaurant business and leaving the daily restaurant work for two of his sons to manage, Collins decided to take on a new adventure, which eventually became his passion for painting, sculpting and crafting uniquely inspired art. Wally’s artistry truly developed when his wife gave him his art shed for Christmas three years ago, which now sits in their back yard filled with his latest art pieces. Collins’ air-conditioned sanctum is layered with a large patchwork female portrait, a whimsical long-legged Hemingway statue, American flag inspired acrylic pieces, and an adorable painting of his grandchildren’s feet in a row. The space has quickly become one of his favorite places to spend his time. “I could stay out here all day long,” said Collins. Much of Collins’ past and current work are inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s famous portrait and various artistic periods, such as the Cubist Era of Picasso, Matisse’s Impressionism and Andy Warhol’s Visual Art Movement. One such work includes a colorful pop-art rendition of Hemingway’s portrait, a creative blending of Warhol’s design and the novelist’s well-known features. Collins also enjoys working with more unique forms to create pieces like his large-scale cigar box skyline sculpture or his painted-plate mosaics. “Right now, I’d have to say sculpting is high on my list because it allows three- dimensional creativity and is more exciting to work with. I’ve tried all kinds of media to see what sticks with me,” said Collins. Collins had worked as a restaurateur for 42 years. He owned three restaurants in Reno, and designed Cooperstown in downtown Phoenix before opening Wally’s in Arcadia in 2002. Two of his sons, Chris and Matt eventually joined the family business, which now includes five restaurants: Wally’s (two locations) Grassroots Kitchen & Tap (two locations) and Twisted Grove Parlor + Bar. Having lived and worked in Arcadia for 24 years, Collins formed long-lasting relationships with his regular customers and always made the new ones feel just as welcome. “To me, the greatest aspect of being in the business is the people you have coming in on a regular basis who enjoy being in the location and talking to you.” Collins loved the everyday challenge of the restaurant business but had kept his artistic side in his back pocket for too long. “I had always wanted to paint, but never had the time,” said Collins. Collins never took painting classes; instead, he jumped into his new hobby feet first, constantly trying and retrying new forms until he found the methods he loved. He continues to find new inspiration from various colors, interesting structures and the Thursday night Art Walk in Scottsdale. Collins has not sold any of his paintings or sculptures, but he has brought them to charity auctions, where one of his pieces sold for $1,200. This summer, he is making his third trip to the Ernest Hemingway Colloquium, bringing some of his favorite Hemingway-inspired pieces. For the most part, though, Collins simply loves walking out to his shed and working every day. “It’s been almost a new career at 65.” Arcadia resident Wally Collins in his studio amongst his many works of art. PHOTOS BY AMANDA GOOSSEN Beloved local restaurateur reveals his artistic talents