46 MAY 2018 Our site is mobile-friendly and our archives are searchable. Visit us via the browser from almost any device: www.arcadianews.com. FIND US ON THE GO! By Jennifer Marshall Does a juicy filet mignon or a perfectly seared salmon excite your gourmet taste buds? If you’re salivating right now, then you’re ready for Arizona Restaurant Week, which runs for ten days May 18 through May 27. This culinary event, celebrating its 11th year, offers a platform for chefs to showcase their cuisine and for you to sample new restaurants. With so many options, it’s like taking a culinary world tour without ever leaving Arizona. The concept is simple. A restaurant’s chef creates a three-course prix fixe dinner menu and charges either $33 or $44 per person. To start, you choose one item from a selection of appetizers, salads or soups. For the entree course, you select one dish such as chicken, beef, pork or fish, and some establishments offer vegetarian options. Course three is all about satisfying your sweet tooth with a list of delectable desserts. Sadly, you may only pick one. Don’t worry though, you can always come back again to try that other dessert you were dying to taste. In fact, chefs hope you’ll be so enamored with their food that you’ll keep returning time and again. With this type of popularity, reservations, while not required, are recommended. According to Arizona Restaurant Week media contact Susie Timm, of Knife & Fork Media Group, the event is so popular it’s become a real occasion for some people. “We have people from all over the Southwest who fly in for Restaurant Week,” said Timm. “They stay for five nights, and they try a different restaurant every night. We also have many people locally who go out all 10 nights.” You have the Arizona Restaurant Association and a couple of local restaurants to thank for giving you the deliciousness that’s Restaurant Week. About a decade ago, they joined forces with the aim of making Phoenix a dining destination. During this time, many local restaurants were coming on the scene, and numerous chain restaurants were opening their doors. Whether mom-and-pop or big corporation, they all desired to see their businesses flourish. Thus, Arizona Restaurant Week was born. “We followed the model of other cities that have done this around the country and have had much success,” Timm said. “Now, Arizona Restaurant Week is looked at nationally as one of the most successful restaurant weeks in the United States.” Timm adds there should be plenty of restaurants to serve diners ready for a taste adventure. “I had more restaurants signed up in early April than we did a year ago,” Timm said. “So, we should have a really nice mix all over the Valley.” For more: arizonarestaurantweek.com. Arizona Restaurant Week: Variety is the spice of life We have people from all over the Southwest who fly in for Restaurant Week!” Barrio Queen’s Chiles en Nogada. Pasta Brioni’s Linguine Pescatore. Flemings Steakhouse’s Walnut Turtle Pie.

47 MAY 2018 By Megan Forrester Who would have guessed the simple stroke of a paint brush could make so many people smile? That is the mission for Free Arts of Arizona, the state’s only non-profit organization that delivers no-cost, creative, and therapeutic art programs to children ages three to 21 who have faced trauma such as abuse, neglect and homelessness. Each year, artwork from all across schools in the Arcadia community is gathered and put on display at Arcadia High School for the one-night Agora Arts Festival, where all the proceeds from purchasing items made by the National Arts Honors Society benefit Free Arts of Arizona in further achieving its goal. The word “agora” which comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning “gathering place,” is usually the center for a city’s civic life, which is clearly parallel to the idea of this festival to bring the Arcadia community closer together. This festival, directed by Cira Riccio, a visual arts teacher at Arcadia High School, takes about two months of preparation, which includes setting a date, gathering people who are interested in being a part of the festival, as well as establishing a unique experience for the community to have each year. “We change it up differently every year,” Riccio says, “The art teachers here take time to play a part in it and figure things out and see how we can make it fun and a great event for the community.” This year’s two-hour event was held on Saturday, March 29 and offered a variety of activities, including henna tattoos, chalk art, as well as an interactive pottery wheel along with student performances from the Arcadia Jazz Ensemble, Arcadia Dance and several others. Visitors admired works of photography, paintings, and even 3D art of students from Echo Canyon, Ingleside, Hopi, Arcadia and Tavan while indulging in food from Fantasy Funnel Cakes, Broke Brothers Catering and street tacos. “It doesn’t get any better than eating tacos and looking at art,” Riccio says. “It’s usually always a great turnout and this year was just like any other- so it was really nice.” Not only was this event representing the efforts of Free Arts of Arizona, but the main purpose of this festival is to enable students to display their artistic capabilities in front of their loved ones. “For any art teacher, our goal is to show parents, family, and friends how much time, effort, creativity, love, and passion that is put into our student’s artwork and how hard they work,” Riccio says. “Just to see how proud they are to see their work shown to everyone is very rewarding.” This festival is enjoyable for the visitors and community members, but for the student-artists, this annual experience helps them realize that their dedicated work is worthwhile and valuable. “It’s the one time of the year when the visual art students are able to be the heroes of Arcadia,” Riccio says. “They deserve it and they earned it so it’s kind of our giveaway to them.” Arcadia Agora Arts Festival helps students showcase creativity PHOTOS BY MOLLY OPHEIM, SCOTTSDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT It doesn’t get any better than eating tacos and looking at art!” Local Dentist Helps Uninsured Adults Paid advertisment Dr. Sophon Heng D.D.S. caters to those people who don’t have dental insurance. Dr. Heng provides comprehensive dental care exclusively to uninsured adults in a modern, yet modest office in Phoenix. Dr. Heng grew up in Seattle and graduated in 2001 from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, and he relocated to Phoenix after graduation. “After watching the dental profession change,” said Dr. Heng, “I felt it had to be done a different way: ‘A Non-insured Way.’ We use the latest technology and treatment, yet we keep our facility modest and control our business overhead, which allows us to offer lower fees to serve the people in the community.” For example, Dr Heng’s office charges $499 for a lifelike crown made with latest materials and technology. His crowns are guaranteed for life against breakage or defects. There is never a charge for a so-called crown build up. Other dental offices could customarily run from $800 to $1200 or more for a similar crown in this area. Also, other general procedures in Dr. Heng’s office run 30-60% less than those typically charged. For example, $499 for a root canal, $499 for immediate denture (each), cleaning starts at $30. Patients often remark they find Dr. Heng’s office a breath of fresh air in an age where profit and greed driven corporations and “banksters” are invading every aspect of our lives, including our health care. “We have had a great response from all of our patients and we have met so many wonderful and appreciative people.” said office manager Channa. “We treat all of our patients like we would our own family.” “We explain to our patients that we don’t cut corners on care, treatment or materials,” said Karen, dental assistant. “We pride ourselves in treating people not just their teeth. We love dentistry and feel great about providing excellent care. We are driven by our desire to help others.” Many of Dr. Heng’s patients are young adults and seniors who have no dental insurance or have only a limited policy that gives them a few benefits and then charges more for their other needs. There is never a charge for an exam and x-ray, consultation and second opinions. Dr Heng offers no gimmicks, just modern quality dentistry at an affordable cost. Sophon Heng D.D.S. 602-703-1195 2600 N. 44th St., Ste. 106 | Phoenix, AZ 85008